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Object Tables

All objects inserted into the graphics will automatically create a corresponding data set in the respective object table and vice versa. An object being inserted into an object table of objects will appear as a graphic object in the CadnaA main window. The object tables are listed on the Tables menu using object categories. A check mark in front of an item on the Tables menu indicates that at least a single data sets is available.

Opening a Table

Open table using Keyboard Shortcuts

Symbols from the toolbox can be selected using keyboard shortcuts. For example, switch to edit mode by pressing the key combination CTRL+E, or to the road by CTRL+S (see CadnaA-Toolbox in the manual „Introduction to CadnaA“).

The respective object table can be opened using the same character key, but without pressing the CTRL key and can be close by the ESC key. For example, press the key s to open the road table, or key b to open the railway table. On the table, the first data set is highlighted automatically.

Open table via the Toolbox

An object table is opened as well when clicking the respective symbol in the CadnaA toolbox while holding the ALT key pressed.

Synchronization

The tables and the graphics are synchronized. When a data set in a table is selected, the corresponding object in the main window is highlighted. Even an individual polygon point will be flashing when editing the object’s geometry (via its dialog Geometry). This features ensures knowing what polygon point actually is edited.

Editing a Data Set

Data sets may be inserted, edited, copied within and deleted from the tables (details described below in this chapter).

Deleting a Data Set

For deletion of a data set from the table either use the DEL key or the command Delete from the object’s context menu. The deletion of a data set can be undone by the command Edit|Undo.

Deleting all Datasets

Selecting the Delete command from the table context menu while holding down the CTRL key will delete all date sets - after confirming a safety prompt.

Table Window Size

The size of a table window can be changed by dragging its borders using the mouse. The new size of the table window is kept for each object table separately, until the size is changed or CadnaA is closed.

Inserting a Table Row

As long as no object has been entered, the table consists just of the header with no rows. To create a new data set, insert a new row either

  • via the context menu or (clicking with the right mouse button into the table) or
  • by pressing the INS key.

Using the context menu, a new row can be entered before or after the current data set (commands Insert before/after). A new row for entering of data is inserted. By pressing the INS key and the new row is inserted before the current row.

Editing Table Cells

The cells of a table can be edited. If a value depends on that of another cell, the value will immediately be updated when an input parameter in the other cell is edited.

Example

  • Open the table Road on menu Tables|Sources.
  • Enter a new table row.
  • Enter a figure for MDTD, for example 10.000.

When setting the focus to another table cell the emission level is displayed on column „Lme Day“.

  • Now, enter the „Lme Day“ directly, e.g. by entering 80 dB(A) and set the focus to another cell.

Consequently, the MDTD value is deleted as it is no longer relevant for the specification of the emission.

Features for Editing

The following features for editing are available:

  • Clicking a table row will not result in the entire row being highlighted but just the table cell (in inverted colors). This cell becomes the active cell which can be edited. The corresponding graphical object will also be highlighted.
  • The up and down arrow keys (↓ ↑) serve to navigate from one data set to the next one, and the left and right arrow keys (→ ←) between cells in a row.
  • The marked cell can be edited by entering text or a value. Any existing value will be overwritten.
  • There are two editing modes: Overwrite (default) and Insert. In overwrite mode, any existing text is overwritten (and thus deleted completely). The insertion mode is activated by the F2 key. In this mode, text can be modified or deleted it using the BACKSPACE and DEL keys. Using the arrow keys (→ ←) enables to move the insertion mark |.
  • To terminate editing in the overwrite mode, either
    • by the left or right arrow keys (→ ←): The cursor moves on to the next cell of the same data set or
    • by the up or down arrow keys (↓ ↑) or the RETURN key: The cursor moves on to the next row, but stays in the same column.
  • In insertion mode, just press RETURN to stop editing. This will also result in the cursor being moved into the next data set in the same table column.
  • Press the ESC key to exit the edit mode and to restores the previous value.
  • Pressing the RETURN key, while not in the edit mode, results in the dialog being closed (like clicking OK).
  • Double-clicking into a table cell opens the respective edit dialog of the object.

Sorting Columns

By default, CadnaA lists all inserted objects in the sequence in which they were entered. Using the Sort command on the context menu, the selected table column is sorted in numerical or alphabetical order, either ascending or descending, depending.

  • Click with the right mouse button into the column to be sorted.
  • Select the Sort command from the context menu.
  • Activate the appropriate options on the dialog Sort.

The options have the following effects:

  • alphabetic ascending: text sort top-down in sequence A..Z
  • alphabetic descending: text sort top-down in sequence Z..A
  • numeric ascending: value sort Xtop <= Xbottom
  • numeric descending: value sort Xtop >= Xbottom

Export of Tables

When exporting (using keyword #(Table, ...), see manual „Attributes, Variables, and Keywords“) the actual sorting will be used.

Graphic Objects

Graphic objects - such as the object „Bitmap“ - will be „drawn“ according to their sequence in the respective table.

Shifting Rows

Individual rows in a table can be shifted by drag&drop. Proceed as follows:

  • Click into a table row and hold the mouse button pressed.
  • Move the mouse pointer to the new location and release the mouse button.

Subsequently, the row is shifted to the new location in the table.

Adjusting the Column Width

The column widths of all tables can be adjusted in two ways.

Individual Column Width

To this end, position the mouse pointer on the table header of the line separating the columns which you want to adjust. The mouse pointer turns into a two-headed arrow. Hold the left mouse button down and move the mouse in the desired direction. Then release the mouse button.

Fit the Table into the Window

Hold the SHIFT key pressed and double-click onto a column separating line. The column width is adjusted to fit all columns into the table’s window.

Display total Column Width

Double-click on the separating line of the table header (without pressing the SHIFT key). The columns will be adjusted so, that all characters on each column are visible.

When quitting CadnaA, the table columns will use the default width.

Copying and Pasting Data Records

A data set may be copied to the clipboard and can be pasted into an object table of the same object type. Proceed as follows:

  • Click into any cell of the data set to be copied,
  • Click the „Copy“ button on the dialog (or, alternatively, press the key combination CTRL+C).
  • Insert a new row in the table (via the context menu command Insert before/after).
  • Set the focus to the new line.
  • Paste the data set saved to the clipboard by pressing the key combination CTRL+V into the new line.

Note

When a row is pasted into a row with data the latter is overwritten.

Note

The copied data set can only be pasted into a table of the same object type.