Add New Design or Copy Existing Design

The application supports multiple designs within a single Work Request. Perhaps you have a few design alternatives that you are exploring to satisfy a job. You can keep track of those designs within the same Work Request while they are in progress. At any stage, you can:

• Add a new design to an existing Work Request.

• Copy an existing design within a Work Request. This is a quick way to “jump start” a design alternative.

This is a little different than the Create a New Design functionality, which adds a new design without a parent Work Request. Add New Design works when you already have the Work Request, and you want to add another design to it.

To Add a New Design or Copy an Existing Design, follow these steps:

1. Click the Work Request once to highlight it in green, OR click an existing design to highlight it in green.

   

   IMPORTANT:

   What is the difference between clicking the Work Request or the design?

   • If you begin this process by clicking the Work Request, the application assumes you intend to add a brand new design to the Work Request.

   • If you begin this process by clicking an existing design, the application assumes you intend to copy the existing design.

   This occurs at Step 3b below where you choose the Source Design. If the Work Request is highlighted in green, the application starts you with a “New Design.” If a design is highlighted in green, the application chooses that design to be the Source Design.

   The takeaway is that if you want to create a new design, it is quickest to click at the Work Request level. If you want to copy an existing design, it is quickest to click at the design level. But, neither choice “locks you in” at that decision, and you can always change the Source Design later.

2. Click Add.

   

   TIP: Do you not see an Add button? This functionality must be turned on in Solution Center > Designer > Client Application > General > Allow Designs to be Copied.

3. In the Create Design dialog:

   1. Type a Name.

      • This field is required.

      • You can rename it later, if necessary.

      • The name cannot be the same name of a design within the same Work Request. In other words, the name must be unique within that Work Request.

   2. For Source Design, you can two options:

      1. Choose “New Design.” This adds a new design within the Work Request. It has no existing work or metadata.

      2. Choose an existing design. This copies the existing design into your new design. This includes all metadata and all design work.

         • If you are online, you can copy any design within the Work Request. If needed, the application downloads the design as part of the copy process.

         • If you are offline, you can only copy designs that have been previously downloaded.

   3. Type relevant Design Notes. You can edit these later, if necessary.

      

4. Click Create.

   IMPORTANT:

   • If you have connectivity, this design is saved on your company’s server. This is also a little different than the Create a New Design functionality, where the design is only saved on the local machine.

   • If you currently do not have connectivity, it is saved the next time you are online.

   • If you are copying an existing design, Custom Properties for the Design, if present, are also copied into the new design.

At this point, you can open your new design and get to work.