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Using Custom Properties for Sheet Counts

Using Custom Properties for Sheet Counts

Using Custom Properties for Sheet Counts

(OP)
Our SW templates and sheet formats contain this note on sheets 2 and subsequent of our drawing format, which is straight from SW Help and it works great:

SHEET $PRP:"SW-Current Sheet" OF $PRP:"SW-Total Sheets" and that results in a display of "SHEET 2 of 2" as intended because our standard drawing template automatically contains a sheet 1 with full border and a sheet 2 (copyable as sheet 3, 4, 5 etc.) with abbreviated border.

However, our engineering VP has another non-standard method he wishes to use for SW files.  In our new drawing world as he envisions it, not every file will start with sheet 1.  For the purposes of my question, just accept this.  I can't change his mind.

Now to the specific question.  I created a custom property $PRP:"First_Sheet" which allows the CAD person to enter in the Custom Properties the desired sheet start number.  Let's use sheet 24 for this example.

What I need the note above to do is to add this "First_Sheet" value to the note to arrive at the correct numbers.  For example (I know this syntax does not work, but this is the functionality I need), what the Note must do is:

SHEET $PRP:"SW-Current Sheet" [PLUS the value of First_Sheet] OF $PRP:"SW-Total Sheets" [PLUS the value of First_Sheet]

My functional additions are in [ ] brackets.  In this example starting with sheet 24, then the second sheet would say instead of SHEET 2 OF 2 it would say SHEET 25 OF 25.  If a third sheet was added it would say SHEET 26 OF 26 and the second sheet would change to SHEET 25 OF 26.

My bottom line question is this:  does any of the forum membership know of a syntax to accomplish this?  FYI I am very willing to break the note into multiples to be able to add the value of "First_Sheet" to any appropriate other value.  But I am not sharp enough in SW to figure this out from my miniscule knowledge of how the custom property function is coded in SW.

 

RE: Using Custom Properties for Sheet Counts

The only way I can think of to accomplish this is to actually insert some blank sheets at the beginning of the file.  

There is a remote possibility you might be able to use a general table with an equation.  You could create the table and then hide the columns for "First_Sheet" and the actual sheet number, just showing the final values you want.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

RE: Using Custom Properties for Sheet Counts

(OP)
Thanks, handleman, I had a pretty good idea I was asking for something the SW coders didn't anticipate.  However, I don't blame the coders since our new system is a cobbled together mish-mash to try and prevent the engineering VP from looking bad for decisions he has made to radically remake our processes.

If they had made our new system one part, one drawing instead of his "dream", we would be flying much higher now.

Nah, me bitter?  Why do you ask?  LOL

RE: Using Custom Properties for Sheet Counts

It is possible to calculate the sheet number using an equation in a general table.  You can make a one-column, one-row table that contains only the equation

=`"First_Sheet"`+`SW-Current Sheet`

but you'll get a box with a number inside.  I can't figure out any way to make the table have no border, nor can I figure out a way to link a separate note to the value of that cell.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

RE: Using Custom Properties for Sheet Counts

(OP)
You are certainly way ahead of me.  I got pulled into another project but I intend to come back to this, I hope, soon.

Thanks for the info.

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