WorkLink Create: Import csv into active step
Let's start with answering this question:
When is using this feature useful for your projects
- When you plan on mass creating (empty objects) or primitives
- When you plan to mass create/update existing/new objects, this is what can be controlled:
- The object's transform values (x,y,z)
- The object's callout properties
How to import a csv
- Go to File > Import > CSV into current step
- Recommended to leave Delimiter type on Auto-detect
Choose the measurement system to determine how to interpret the values in the csv file.
How does this feature work
By importing a .csv with standardized headers:
Object Name,Object Type,Transform Position X,Transform Position Y,Transform Position Z,Transform Scale X,Transform Scale Y,Transform Scale Z,Callout Width,Callout Title,Callout Title Color,Callout Title Background,Callout Content,Callout Text Color,Callout Background Color,Callout Line Color,Callout Offset X,Callout Offset Y,Callout Offset Z
You can download the header template here.
And a prefilled example here.
By default, we use "," as a delimiter, but in case your inpur fields do not allow it, we also allow importing using different delimiters (to your preference).
Such as:
-
, (comma)
-
; (semicolon)
-
\t (tab)
-
| (pipe)
The importer has an auto detect function as well for your convenience.
Important! Any unit in the csv that is related to physical size is interpreted as meters (independant from the system of measurement specified in a user's preferences). We are planning to allow users to specify different measurement systems upon import, but for now, please convert your values to meters before importing.
Explanation of each header
Object Name
Matches Step Hierarchy name:
- If a name matches to an object already existing in the scene → update values.
- If not, creates a new object by the defined object type.
- If no object type is defined, an empty object is created.
- Newly created objects are parented by an auto generated empty called “Import”, that functions as a group.
- If “Import” already exists (with Transform values position 0, rotation 0 and scale 1), newly created files are put in that parent.
Allows an author to define the object type for newly created entries.
Available options are:
- Empty Object
- Cube
- Sphere
- Plane
- Cylinder
If the name doesn’t match any of these, an empty object will be created.
This column is ignored if the “Object Name” was already found in the Step Hierarchy, in that case the existing object’s properties will be overwritten with the values from the csv.
Transform Position X, Y and Z
Corresponds with Object Properties Transform Position. If a cell is empty, the existing or default values will not be overwritten.
Transform Scale X, Y and Z
Callout Width Callout Title
Corresponds with Callout properties
Callout Title Color
Requires a hex value (eg. #000000)
Callout Title Background
Callout Content
Callout Text Color
Requires a hex value (eg. #000000)
Callout Background Color
Requires a hex value (eg. #000000)
Callout Line Color
Requires a hex value (eg. #000000)
Callout Offset X, Y and Z
Practical example
This csv:
Would result in an import like this: