2. Preparing the Light Bulb Shape for Data Linking
Before you link to the data, you can make a few
changes to the light bulb shape that will make life easier later.
First, rename the rows so that they match the labels. Second, turn the light bulb into a master shape.
These steps aren’t absolutely necessary for data linking, but they provide good practice nonetheless.
Preparing the Light Bulb Master Shape
1. | Continue working with Ch7 Shape Data.vsd.
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2. | Select a light bulb shape and set its data to empty or default values.
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3. | Rename
the Shape Data rows so that they are more meaningful. This step is
important if you are using the Database Wizard, less so for Link Data
(Pro and Premium users).
- a. Make sure that the Developer tab is visible in the Ribbon.
- b. Select your light bulb shape and edit its Shape Data fields using the Define Shape Data window.
- c. For
each field, replace the default row names with meaningful names.
Replace Row_1, Row_2, Row_3, Row_4 with Power, Model, BulbType,
DateSurveyed.
- d. Click OK to accept the changes.
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4. | Show the Document Stencil via More Shapes, Show Document Stencil. The local stencil for the document appears.
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5. | Drag the light bulb shape into the Document Stencil.
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6. | Click on your new master and change the name from Master.X to Light Bulb DBW (DBW for Database Wizard, which is the first method you use to link data).
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7. | Save the drawing. |
