Clones

Clones can be an effective way with the countersheetsextension to swap in different parts from the same SVG drawing into different counters. The template can contain a clone of some object (or group) in the image and then some counters can instead use some other object (or group). For example this is one way to give different counters different icons. It is very similar to using external images (see Set Image) but sometimes it can be easier to work with the templates if all the different possible icons are available to edit right there in the same drawing.

To use this feature create a Clone (alt-D, or Edit > Clone > Create Clone) of an object (or group) and make that part of the counter template (see Editing Templates and Templates). Leave the cloned object somewhere away from the template(s) in the drawing, not in the group of a template.

Give the clone (in the template, not the cloned object) an id. Say icon.

Create a few (other) icons. Give each one a useful id to refer to later.

In the CSV file create a column with heading same id as the clone (eg icon).

For each counter in the CSV column give the id of the icon object (or group) to use. The clone in each created counter will become a clone of that object (or group) instead of the original clone. Leave the value empty to keep the original (although it might be more clear if the original object also has a good id and to use that id for those counters instead of just leaving them blank).

One difference between using external images (Set Image) and clones is that with external images they will be forced to the same size set on the image in the template. The clones will always have the size of the cloned object (modified by any transforms on the clone or groups it is part of). Another differnce is that external images are likely to have better performance and can reduce memory usage and save time when working with large countersheets.

See also: Set Image, Editing Templates, Editing Counters