Original Article Date: Oct 25, 2004

With many thanks to Thor Leslie for this very powerful tool to assist with the repetitive task of filling in data fields. Most definitly a nice addition for the production user.

What will Enter Data Fields do?
The following list describes each of the buttons and fields:

Edit Single Issues the standard MicroStation Fill In Single Enter-Data Field command.

Clear Data + New With just a single click, this button clears a data field of any text and prepares it for new text.

Zap Empties the selected data field from any text.

Keyin/Text Fields 1 to 6 These are fields for storing text that will be used over and over again.

Numbered Buttons 1 to 6 These buttons will place the text in the adjacent keyin/text field into any identified data filed.

Today’s Date Shows the current system date and will enter it into a selected data field.

Varied Date Shows a varied date which will be placed into a selected data field.

+ and - Are buttons to increase or decrease the varied data.

Rev Will insert the selected revision description into a data field.

Select Revision Description A combo box of available revision descriptions.

How to use Edit Fields.
Download 224.zip and extract EnterDataFields.mvba from the zip file.
Place the mvba in the folder pointed to by MS_VBASEARCHDIRECTORIES
Keyin vba load EnterDataFields to load the project.
Keyin vba run DataFieldsStartup.LoadEnterDataField to run the macro.


Additional Usage Information:
Any text can be placed in text fields, you can then recycle this text into any data fields by one of two methods:

1. Select Edit Single, identify the data field followed by placing a data point on the text field.
This will extract the text from the form and automatically fill in the selected data field.

2. After the text has been added to the text field, hit the adjacent numbered button and identify a data field.
The text will then be extracted from the form and be placed in the data field.

Any subsequent data points in another field will result in that field being updated as well until a reset is issued.

If a data field is already populatd with text, use the Clear Data + New button.

If you simply need to clear out a series of data fields use the Zap button and identify each of the data field. Reset to exit the command.

Inserting the current system date in a data field is as simple as pressing the Today’s Date button and identifying the data field(s). Note that this will use the operating systems date format. If this is not in the desired format use the Settings - Control Panel – Regional Settings – Date tab to set the desired format.

If you want to insert a date which is not the current date (but within a few days of today’s date) then adjust the date up or down using the + or – buttons. Then using the Varied Date button identify the data field(s) you wish to populate. The date buttons are particularly useful in title block and revision issue enter data fields.

When a revision description needs to be filled in, a company standard list can be used. Simply use the combo box pull down and select from the available list the desired description. Then push the Rev button and identify the desired enter data field to populate.

Note that the revision description can be altered once it is in the combo box area. The altered description will remain for the current design session or until another description is selected from the pull down list. Using this method to fill in enter data fields gives consistent descriptions and spelling to all drafting personnel.

This program is supplied as is. This program does not come with support. AskInga, Bentley Systems Inc., and the author of the program assumes no liability for damages direct, indirect, or consequential, which may result from the use of this program. Use this program at your own risk.

AskInga Article #224