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 Auto Width,Callout Width,Callout Scale,Callout Origin,Callout Offset X,Callout Offset Y,Callout Offset Z,Callout Title,Callout Title Color,Callout Title Background,Callout Description,Callout Description Color,Callout Description Background,Callout Stroke,Callout Stroke Color,Callout Line Color

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.

Object Type

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 Auto Width

0 = off, 1 = on

Callout Width

Accepts values between 0.3 and 4. Values outside of this range will be capped.

Callout Origin

Accepts values mentioned in UI dropdown:

Center
Top
Bottom
Left
Right
Front
Back
Top Back
Top Front
Top Left
Top Right
Bottom Back
Bottom Front
Bottom Left
Bottom Right
Back Left
Back Right
Front Left
Front Right
Top Back Left
Top Back Right
Top Front Left
Top Front Right
Bottom Back Left
Bottom Back Right
Bottom Front Left
Bottom Front Right

Callout Offset X, Y and Z

Callout Title
Corresponds with Callout properties