To Plus Out or To NOT Plus Out VG Overrides and WHY?!

[simmonsEDP9W]

Does anyone have a concise explanation of: Why it seems sometimes necessary to Plus Out the VGO (below) to get the graphics i want and sometimes it's NOT necessary at all to Plus Out the VGO.

Why is there even an option to Plus These out to modify?

Is there an advantage to NEVER Plus Out ?

Is there an advantage to ALWAYS Plus Out?

Why is there an option to Plus Out?

How did this Plus Out option get generated?

Please see Pic.

Thanks, David

[lucdoucet_msdl]

@simmonsEDP9W 

When you have multiple instances of a linked project, they will appear individually under the main link in the VGO settings. Setting overrides on an individual basis then allows you to distinguish it from other instances.

As a quick example, a site project files has 4 identical linked buildings. You may want to show 1 of the 4 instances as greyed out as a separate condition.

When only one instance of the link is placed in a model, I would recommend always using to parent (or TOP if you want) to set VGO.

Hope this helps,

-luc 

[Sean_Page]

The only reason you would want to expand and modify the individual instances of the links would be if you have multiple instances.

Example:

You have a complex with three instances of the same apartment building, but in different locations. In the dialog you show, the top level would be the Link Type, and then the three instances would be shown after you expand. In this way, you can make changes to all three at the top level (Type Properties) or you can change each one separately if needed with each child (Instance Properties).

Again, if you are only using one instance, there isn't a need to modify the expanded instances.

[hmunsell]

Wow... that's a lot of questions all at once LOL. 

The "Plus Outs" are instances of links in the file. each link gets a Parent and an Instance. each additional time someone loads the same link, it creates an additional instance under that link.  i have never worked on a project where that was needed though.

I don't know if there is a "Correct" way or just personal preference. I was taught to always override the Instance. I like keeping the Parent as By Host View, as a safety blanket 😊.   

it was pointed out to me at one point that the Instance is the only one with Override (Overwritten) in the name 😁.