Hey, how do you guys restore defaults?

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I learned a while ago that I can fly through spreadsheets and
wizard/detailed edit screens restoring defaults by using my mouse to
right-click a field and then using my other hand to hit the letter 'r.'

It occurred to me that for spreadsheet edits where I'm alternately
entering new values and restoring defaults, it would be handy if there
was a keystroke-only manner to do this (i.e. not using the mouse)...
something like ctrl+r or some other way to bring up the cell-specific
context menu... Feels kinda clunky everytime I'm in this situation...

Is anyone aware of any alternate methods to restoring defaults?

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

Nick-Caton's picture
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Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 805

I've tried and tested some hopefull-keystrokes to achieve the same thing,
but I've only been able to get to where you are, 'right-click mouse & press
"r". But as I continue to get more practice (doing this a lot) I have
gotten faster at the "click". so, while it is still frustrating, it doesn't
take as long as it used too. lol

Ive also observed that by taking time to 'restore defaults' only once in my
file and then use the aid of "user defaults", "global parameters", "user
expressions", and "define link-ing" my inputs that I can stream-line my
default inputs via these short-cut methods. At least it has been working
for me. The clicking exercise of restoring-defaults only once in the model
process is far more bearable.

pkg

Pasha Korber-Gonzalez's picture
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 600

You can also copy and paste the "restored default" in spreadsheet view with
CTRL C and CTRL V. But you can only paste one cell at a time - it doesn't
work with multiple selections. Its a bit faster than right clicking though

Kendra Tupper, PE, LEED AP

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Joined: 2011-09-30
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Another option is to use the search and replace function of a text editor to find the line of code and replace with a blank line. Sometimes I will do this in excel, then run a macro to delete all the blank rows and clean up the file.

Jeremy

Jeremy McClanathan's picture
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 200

Nick,

If I have a bunch of the same parameter to restore, right-click & restore in
one cell, ctrl+c the restored cell, then ctrl+v the rest of the cells in the
column and use arrow keys to advance to the next cells. Don't know of a
keystroke combination to bring up the cell-specific context menu, though.

Thanks for the tip about right-click and 'r', didn't know about that one.

Steven

Steven Savich's picture
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Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 200

In spreadsheet mode you can use copy-paste and use the down arrow to move through cells. That's how I normally do it.

Vikram Sami, LEED AP

Sami, Vikram's picture
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Joined: 2011-09-30
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Thanks for the flood of responses everyone!

I had a hunch I might pick up something new - I didn't realize a
copy-pasted default would also paste as a default (green) input...
doesn't work in all cases (when the default is a non-entry/blank), but
definitely handy to know!

I've also been hung up on notepad and didn't realize you can simply open
an .inp in excel for editing... oh, the possibilities!! =)

Much appreciated!

NICK CATON, E.I.T.

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Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 805

Fyi, excel is great for more complicated things, but when I do use a text editor for quick changes, I have been using a free one called Note Tab Light http://www.notetab.com/ It is a lot better than notepad.

Jeremy McClanathan, LEED(r) AP

Jeremy McClanathan's picture
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 200

I second the vote for note tab lite. This is my editing tool of choice
also.

pkg

Pasha Korber-Gonzalez's picture
Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 600