What Are Overwrites in a View Frame?
Overwrites let you customize an individual dimension, annotation, or component's presentation on a view frame — without changing the rule-driven template itself. Each view frame has its own overwrite list, opened via the corresponding item under the View Frame tab.
The three main overwrite types
Dimension overwrites — record the changes made in a dimension via properties window. Also create records for created dynamic dimensions, so you can adjust it for one specific case without affecting the other dimensions in the same chain.
Annotation overwrites — record new created annotations and its settings.
Component overwrites — record the component visibility configuration in the view frame.
How an overwrite is named
An overwrite's name mirrors the data tree name of the object it belongs to, built from the object's own name plus its parents — for example Shaft0.Car.Frame..
Prerequisites
An active view frame with existing overwrites.
View Frame Overwrites docking window open.
Steps
Create an overwrite.
Select the dimension, component, or annotation you want to customize, then change its settings as needed. A related overwrite record is created automatically.Duplicate an overwrite entry.
Overwrites can be copied within the docking window using the Search and Replace dialog. Each overwrite needs a unique name. Some name selectors are already shown in the dialog:
- Any Shaft IndexShaft*.: the overwrite is active for all shafts in the view frame.
- Any Index*.: the overwrite is active for all shafts or list components.
- Bank 1 onlyShaft*{Bank1}: the overwrite is active for all shafts in bank 1.
- Bank 2 onlyShaft*{Bank2}: the overwrite is active for all shafts in bank 2.
- First Shaft in BankShaft*{First}: the overwrite is active for the first shaft in both banks.
- Last Shaft in BankShaft*{Last}: the overwrite is active for the last shaft in both banks.Combine selectors.
The shaft selectors can also be combined:
- Bank 1 only + First Shaft in BankShaft*{Bank1,First}: the overwrite is active for the first shaft in bank 1.
- Bank 1 only + Last Shaft in BankShaft*{Bank1,Last}: the overwrite is active for the last shaft in bank 1.
- Bank 2 only + First Shaft in BankShaft*{Bank2,First}: the overwrite is active for the first shaft in bank 2.
- Bank 2 only + Last Shaft in BankShaft*{Bank2,Last}: the overwrite is active for the last shaft in bank 2.Edit the overwrite name manually.
The name can also be edited directly in the docking window's Name column. All standard selectors can be entered manually, plus two more that aren't shown in the Search and Replace dialog:
- IndexFromEnd*{IndexFromEnd,-x}: especially useful for list elements, such as brackets. The overwrite is active only for the specific component located that many positions back from the end of the list.
- IndexFromStart*{IndexFromStart,+x}: the overwrite is active only for the specific component located that many positions forward from the start of the list.Find and filter overwrite entries.
Three improvements make the Overwrites docking window easy to work with: stable index-based ordering, a value display column for dimensions and annotations, and column-based filtering.
Filter records using conditions such as Equals, Starts with, Contains, and Does not match.Reset an overwrite.
Select the corresponding item (the overwrite record highlights) and press Delete. This removes the overwrite entirely, returning that dimension, annotation, or component to its default.NOTE: For dynamic dimensions there is always two overwrites records: one for the dynamic dimension rule itself, and one for the dimension's own properties.
Result
The view frame's overwrites are created, duplicated, or removed as needed — with anything you delete falling back to the default view frame state.

