The link provided below is a previous discussion on adding the current date in a text field when plotting. We currently use the $DATE$ and text substitution with our pen table. We also use $FILEL$ and when we are working on files hosted in our ProjectWise Managed Workspace the file path shows the PW path rather than the local copy path.
I am looking to replace the $XXXX$ text substitutions with Text Fields, but I am finding some issues.
1. When inserting a text field and selecting File Properties the only options available are Date Saved and Date Created.
The Date saved is not helpful if you are opening a project that was not actually worked on the day you are plotting it. Opening the file and printing would show the last date saved.
2. The File Name property shows the local copy rather than the PW path.
We need the PW path. If a subconsultant looks at a pdf file and would like to reference that file to one of their files they will have issues locating the file on PW. I've run into this many times. Even looking at our own files. If we have the PW path displayed it aids others in locating the files so you don't need to track down the person who knows where the files are located.
You can also see the Date plotted field is empty in the File Properties dialog. This probably would not be valid either since it would most likely display the date the file was printed last rather than the current date.
I defined the variable described in the post linked below, but I am not having any luck. Has there been any progress? At least for the date? I can't believe that this has not been addressed at this point and I am baffled why Current Date is not available. There has to be some way to extract this information and place it in a Text Field.
communities.bentley.com/.../621644
mwlong said:The link provided below is a previous discussion on adding the current date in a text field
The way to mark text for substitution at plot time (e.g. $FILEL$) has been around for decades. What we need is a way for environmental data to appear in a text field. That idiom is not available to us, although it could be obtained in a straightforward way through an extension of the current (Update 16) MicroStation technology.
$FILEL$
The text editor dialog lets us create a text field. The text field can display a property of an element, model or the DGN file. None of those options includes a value such as the current date.
What's needed is an additional option Environment. The Environment option would let us choose the date, time or other aspect of the host computer such as computer name or user name.
It's possible that one could achieve that by defining an Item Type that we attach to the DGN file. That instance would be available as additional file properties. Those would be eligible for inclusion in a text field.
mwlong said:We need the PW path
I'm assuming that your asking for a PW logical path and not the physical local path where files are copied while you work on them. That would require a MicroStation extension application for PW Explorer. Post an Idea!
Regards, Jon Summers LA Solutions
Jon Summers said:I'm assuming that your asking for a PW logical path and not the physical local path where files are copied while you work on them
Yes, that's what I was stating. The location of the local copy is not relevant to any other user. Others need to be able to locate the files on PW and the local path to another user's C: drive is no help.
Jon Summers said:The Environment option would let us choose the date, time or other aspect of the host computer such as computer name or user name
Yes, that is what we need. The current date is the minimum needed.
Microstation CONNECT - 10.17.2.61
ORD - 2021 R1 10.10.1.3
ORD 2022 R1.1 - 10.11.3.2
ORD 2022 R3 - 10.12.2.4
Microstation v8i SS 10 - 08.11.09.919
Power InRoads v8i - 08.11.09.615
ProjectWise - 10.0.3.453
mwlong said:The current date is the minimum needed
What other data would be useful from an Environment symbol provider?
The only information the DOT requires currently would be File Name (we add the path for our reference), Date plotted. We do have the User Name as well. Computer name is irrelevant.
mwlong said:Insert Field - Current Date
Here's a possible solution. I've created an Item Type library Environment that includes Item Type DateTime. DateTime has several properties including CurrentDate and CurrentTime.
Environment
DateTime
CurrentDate
CurrentTime
The definitions of properties CurrentDate and CurrentTime contain an Expression that gets a formatted version of the current date or time.
Attach Item Type Environment to the DGN file through Project Explorer. Create some text elements. While editing text, insert a Text Field. Assign the DateTime.CurrentDate property to the text field. You end up with this...
DateTime.CurrentDate
Here's the DGN file that contains that annotation and the definition of Item Type Environment...
DateTimeExpressions.dgn
Answer Verified By: mwlong
Jon,
Thanks for the information and the time you put into this. It is much appreciated. I will give this a shot and let you know how it works.