Property Editor Configuration

Property Editor instellingen

The settings for the Property Editor can be modified in the file PropertyEditor.xml which is located at the following location:

Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\NXTdim [version]

The XML file can be changed using your favorite plain-text editor such as Notepad, Notepad++ or Microsoft XML Notepad.

Changing XML files using a dedicated XML editor is generally easier because the structure of the file is more clearly displayed.

Every field in the Property Editor writes to either one of the standard iProperty fields, or to a 'Custom iProperty'. Furthermore, it can be specified whether a field is required or not. Depending on the Inventor environment, different fields can be specified. For certain environments a set of optional fields can be used.

Separate configurations can be set in PropertyEditor.xml for the following environments:

ipt	Inventor Parts
iam	Inventor Assemblies
ipn	Inventor Presentations
idw	Inventor IDW Drawings
dwg	Inventor DWG Drawings

A Property row must have at least the following fields:

name	Name of the Standard or ‘Custom iProperty’ in Inventor
type	Type of the iProperty (Standard/ Custom)
alias	The name as displayed in the form
required	Indicates whether or not the Property is required to fill (true/ false)
readonly	Indicates if a Property can be edited in the Property Editor dialog. A property that is set as 'required' cannot be 'read-only'.
maxlength	Optional setting that limits the maximum number of characters that may be used.

An overview of the different fields that can be used is given below.

Textbox

To create a textbox in the Property Editor, as shown in the image above, use the following XML-code:

For a Standard iProperty

For a ‘Custom iProperty’

In case the ‘Custom iProperty’ doesn't yet exist in the Inventor document, is automatically created.

In the list provided below, all possible Standard iProperties are given that can be used in all sections. In every row the XML tag 'Alias' may be customized to meet your needs. You can use the XML tag 'required' to specify if the value is mandatory.

Combobox

By definition, a combobox may have a custom value, in addition to the listed items. A combobox has the XML attribute 'listonly' set to 'false'. There is no limit to the number of items in the list.

Remark: When a multi-value list is used, the property row does not end with '/>' but with a single '>'

The property tag must be closed at the end with </property>

<listitem>Machine Group 1</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 2</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 3</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 4</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 5</listitem>

</list>

</property>

Listbox

In contrast to the combobox, the value of a listbox is limited to the items listed. A listbox has the XML attribute 'listonly' set to 'true'. There is no limit to the number of items in the list. An example is provided below:

<listitem>Machine Group 1</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 2</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 3</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 4</listitem>

<listitem>Machine Group 5</listitem>

</list>

</property>

Attention must be paid if using special characters in the list items. The following notation needs to be used. Do not forget the the semi-colon!

& (ampersand)	&
< (less-than sign)	<
> (greater-than sign)	>
" (quotation mark)	"
' (apostrophe)	'

BOM Structure

By including the following XML tag in the XML file, a list 'BOM Structure' will automatically be shown in the Property Editor dialog. This option can only be used in the 'ipt' and 'iam' sections.

Physical Properties

By including the XML tag below in the XML file, automatically the 'Physical Properties' section will be added to the Property Editor dialog. This option can only be used in the 'ipt' section.

Drawing Status

By including the XML tag below in the XML file, automatically the 'Drawing Status' dropdown list will be added to the Property Editor dialog. This option can only be used in the 'idw' and 'dwg' sections.

Date Properties

The Standard Date iProperties can be used in the various sections. It is important that the proper name of the standard property is included in the section of choice.