Working With Workspace Files; Overview - AMX NETLINX STUDIO V2.4 Instruction Manual

Working With Workspace Files

Overview

NetLinx Studio utilizes a new concept for working with multiple projects/files simultaneously: the
Workspace file.
A Workspace represents at least one Project (containing at least one System), however a Workspace
can contain multiple Projects. Each Project in turn can contain multiple Systems. At any time, you
can create a Workspace file (via the File > Save Workspace option). Once created, you can re-open
that Workspace file to recall the NetLinx Studio workspace, exactly as it was when the Workspace
file was created.
All Workspace information is saved in an XML formatted file with the .APW file extension.
The File > Save Workspace command only saves the Workspace (APW) file itself,
and does not save changes made to the System files contained in the Workspace.
Use the File > Save All command to save the Workspace file and all of the System
files it contains.
One advantage of the Workspace file is that it serves as a time-saver: Once you have saved a
Workspace file, (containing a particular set of Projects, Systems and System Files), the next time
you open the application, you can simply open the single Workspace file (File > Open Workspace)
to load the Projects/Systems it contains. This way you bypass the need to open each Project,
System and System File individually.
All Projects and associated Systems and System files are linked to the Workspace, so that you can
add and remove Projects and Systems without having to make copies of the files. NetLinx Studio
also allows you to copy and paste Projects within the Workspace; in the case that you need to create
several similar Projects you can quickly generate multiple Projects and modify each one as
necessary.
Since all System files are linked to the Workspace, when you open a file for editing,
you are opening and editing the actual file, not a local copy. It is important to
understand that in the event that the file is linked to multiple Systems, any changes
made to the file will be reflected in every instance that the file is used (not just the
System that you were in when the changes were made). Even if you don't have
multiple links to the same file, you should still be careful about altering the file. If you
are linking to a file that other people might use, they will be affected by the changes
you make to the file. So, if you intend to make changes to a System file, and you want
those changes to be specific to only one System in the Workspace, you should make
a copy of the original file (under a different name), make your changes, then remove
the original file from the System and link the new file to the System.
Workspace files also allow you to build (compile) multiple Projects/Systems. The Build Workspace
command compiles every file contained in the Workspace.
It is important to note that in NetLinx Studio (v2.0 and later), there is no concept of Projects outside
the context of a Workspace. A Project can only be opened by adding it to a Workspace. This is to
support the file linking aspect of the program.
NetLinx Studio (v2.4 or higher)
Working With Workspace Files
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