Sequence Clause for the Add Policy Command

This clause defines a scheme for labeling revisions. With this clause, you can specify the pattern to use when an existing object is revised. This pattern can include letters, numbers, or enumerated values. For example, you could have revisions labeled “1st Rev,” A, or 1.

To define a scheme for labeling revisions, you must build a revision sequence. This sequence specifies how objects should be labeled, the type of label to be used, and the number of revisions allowed. When you create a revision sequence, use the following syntax rules:

Rule Example
Hyphens denote range. A-Z signifies that all letters from A through Z inclusive are to be used.
Commas separate enumerated types. Rev1,Rev2,Rev3,Rev4 is a sequence with four revision labels. Rev1 will be assigned before Rev2, which will be assigned before Rev3, and so on.
Square brackets are used for repeating alphabetic sequences. [A-Z] signifies that the sequence will repeat after Z is reached. When it repeats, it returns to the front of the label list and doubles the labels so that the next sequence is AA, AB, AC, and so on.
Rounded brackets are used for repeating numeric sequences. (0-9) signifies a regular counting sequence. (When 9 is reached it will repeat and add a 1 before the symbol).
A trailing ellipses (…) means a continuing sequence. A,B,C,… signifies the same thing as A-Z. 0,1,2,… signifies the same thing as (0-9)

These rules offer flexibility in defining the revision labeling sequence. Although you cannot have two repeating sequences in a single definition, you can include combinations of enumerated values and ranges within a repeating sequence. For example, the following revision sequence definition specifies that the first object should be labeled with a hyphen and the first revision should be labeled I, the second II, the third III, and so on. After the fifth revision, all revisions will have numeric sequencing.

-,I,II,III,IV,V,(0-9)

If your location requires a numeric value, for example, for pre-released revisions, and then an alphanumeric scheme after that, the approach should be to change the policy at the point when the revision scheme should change. A separate policy is created and applied to a new revision, providing different states, signatures, and so on as well as a different revision scheme. For example, if a revision sequence is defined as:

0,1,2,...,-,[A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,T,U,V,W,Y]

the automatic sequencing will never get beyond the number counting, so the entries after that are ignored. Two policies should be established for the object type with revision sequences defined as follows:

0,1,2,...

and

-,[A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L,M,N,P,R,T,U,V,W,Y]

If you want to exclude certain letters (such as I, O, Q, S, X, and Z in above), you must indicate only those you want to include as above. Use of a sequence such as [A-H,J-N] skips the letter I when automatically entering the revision during object creation, but does not prevent manually entering it during object creation or object modification.

If you enter blank spaces within the definition of a revision sequence, 3DSpace uses the blank spaces literally. (In general, you should not use blank spaces within a revision sequence.) Consider the following examples:

Revision Sequence Interpretation
A, B, C "A"

" B"

" C"

A,B,C, "A"

"B"

"C"

1st Rev, 2nd Rev, 3rd Rev "1st Rev"

" 2nd Rev"

" 3rd Rev"

1st Rev,2nd Rev,3rd Rev "1st Rev"

"2nd Rev"

"3rd Rev"

After you define your revision sequence, simply insert it into the Sequence clause using the following syntax:

sequence REVISION_SEQUENCE

  • REVISION_SEQUENCE must follow the syntax rules given above.

For example, the following policy definition uses an enumerated revision sequence:

add policy "Engineering Proposal Process"
   type Proposal
   format Text
   sequence Unrevised,1st Rev,2nd Rev,3rd Rev,4th Rev;

In this command, when a file named “Proposed Solar Vehicle” is checked into an object of type Proposal, it is named in the window as Proposal, “Proposed Solar Vehicle”, Unrevised. After the first revision, the object is given a revision label of “1st Rev” (in place of Unrevised). As it is further defined, 3DSpace progresses through the enumerated sequence values until it reaches “4th Rev.” Since this sequence is non-repeating, no further revisions are allowed.