symbology in .shp file

[sfore]

Regarding shape files, is there a way to query to filter data and change symbology?

I have 2 shape files for a water system (points and lines).  I'm more interested in the points.  The 'points' shape file contains hydrants, blowoffs, valves etc...  They have SymbolID's that identifies them.  I opened up table to Filter by SymbolID (1 for Blowoffs) to try and change symbol from a dot to my blow-off.  I'd like to change the points for all my structures to the actual block symbology we use. 

[sfore · Accepted solution]

I found something that works....

I dragged and dropped .shp in.  I performed a query to filter data by the 'SymbolID', then exported the layer as a .sdf file.  Then I imported (mapimport) back in and chose what layer and symbol I wanted as well as I created object data upon bringing it in.  I did these steps for each of the queries I ran the various entities for (blowoffs, hydrants, meters, valves).

It worked good and my blocks have attribute data, but I was hoping I could simply change symbology within the shape file for all the different entities within that shape file.

[Murph_Map · Accepted solution]

If the value of the attributtes match the block names you can do it by using "Get block name from data" when you import the shp. Another way is use the data connect and theme the shape file layer by the SymbolID then just repath the symbol to the blocks. 

[sfore]

Ok, I tried adding theme's yesterday for each of my entities inside my shape based on the SymbolID, but it kept replacing the previous one I just created.  Today I figured out why....I needed to duplicate or simply add rule. 

Thanks, thats good to know, but I wish there were more control over the shape symbols like there is when they are brought in thru .sdf as an attribute block.  You can't rotate the shape symbol, the way you can an attribute block unless I'm missing something.  I tried rotating some valves and hydrants with no luck.