11.07.00 saving conditions (creating styles)

A Style is any Condition saved for use in other Bids - basically, a Style is a template created from an existing Bid that is used for creating a new Condition.  Using Styles allows the same Condition to be quickly added to multiple Bids and makes it easier to be consistent from Bid-to-Bid.  Styles are stored in the Style Library and are available for use in all Bids in the database.  See Master Database Tables - Style Library and Sets for a refresher on the Style Library.

Style Sets are groups of Styles (saved Conditions) that can be added to a Bid all at once.  The articles that follow explain how to create and use Style Sets, this article explains how to save one or more Conditions as Styles.

• Learn more by viewing the online Video

• Because the Style Library groups Styles according to Condition Type, every Style should be assigned a Type.

• If the database is set to 'Require Logins', the current user must have Styles/Sets-Full Access to add or modify Styles.  See Setting Employee Access Levels for more information.

Saving an Existing Condition as a Style

To save a Condition as a Style,

• Select the Condition(s) to save - to save multiple Conditions to the Style Library at once, press the <Shift> or <Ctrl> key and click on the appropriate Condition or, select all current Conditions at once by pressing <Ctrl> <A> while the cursor's focus is in the Condition window
• Right-click and select Save to Style Library

A Confirmation dialog opens verifying that the Condition is to be saved as a Style.

• Click Yes to save to the Style Library

If a Style already exists in the database (exactly the same name...), a prompt asks you to confirm whether or not to overwrite the existing Style...

• Click Yes and the existing Style is updated with the new information

• Click No to cancel the process - open the Condition Properties, rename the Condition and then save it as a different Style

The new Style is listed in the Style Library (if the Condition is not assigned to a Type, it will be added to the Style Library under the generic group "Unassigned").

Creating a Style from Scratch

• Open the Style Library by clicking Master > Style Library and Sets

• In the Styles panel (left side of dialog box) click the New button - The Style Properties dialog opens

• Notice, the Style Properties dialog box is basically the same as Condition Properties - a Style is really just a saved Condition, the only difference is the name of the dialog box.

• Setup the Style Properties as necessary, for more assistance with setting up a Style, follow the steps for Creating a Condition
• Click OK

Styles may be modified at any time, for example, to assign a different color or change a result without, without affecting any bids in which they were used.

• Remember, a Style is simply a Condition saved for future use.  It shares the same basic Properties screens as Conditions.

To modify a Style

• Open the Condition Style Library dialog by clicking Master > Style Library

• Select a Style and then click Change or double-click a Style - the Style Properties dialog displays

• Use "Duplicate" to duplicate an existing Style to make a new Style with similar properties.

• Make whatever changes are necessary
• Click OK - the original Style is updated (this does not affect existing Bids that used this Style)

• Modifying a Style only affects future uses of that Style.  Conditions created using a Style are not updated to reflect changes to the Master Style.

Creating a Condition Using a Style