- Replace text during SHP file importing

The following solution addresses the user question submitted in this forum thread.

Question: I have a shapefile that contains some features I'd like to map to point-cell XFM features, and other features that I'd like to map to point-text FM features (so I can use PBA). I would really rather not create two separate XFM features, which would necessitate loading this file twice through the Interoperability Dialog. (One thing I'm afraid of is creating two instances of the features if the file is loaded twice.) Any way I can create a single XFM feature to handle this file?

Solution: In Bentley Map, when importing feature instances from the SHP file, map the incoming feature instances to a feature class definition which uses the Property Based Annotation (PBA) "Replacement Text" capabilities.

Following are the general guidelines for implementing this PBA solution.

1. In your cell library, create a new (non-annotation) type cell containing a single text string with "[1]" characters such as shown in the following. Please note that during feature instance creation the Property Based Annotation subsystem will replace the "[1]" characters with appropriate business property values defined with a standard PBA expression.
   
2. Add a new "Cell Name" symbology key for your new cell to your schema, defining any applicable criteria as shown here:
   
3. Add a new "Replacement Text" symbology key as shown here:
   
   
4. Choose the new "Replacement Text" symbology key and define the appropriate PBA expression and criteria as shown here:
   
   
5. Save, export and run your modified workspace.
6. In the Interoperability application, map the incoming feature instances for your import to the target feature class using the "Mapped Name" property as shown here:
   
7. After import, instances of your target feature class will consist of point-cells with either symbols or text as shown in the following: