{{page>ardiuserguide:types}} ===Overview=== You can find a useful presentation about types below... ===Types and Properties=== Types can also include [[properties|properties]] - these properties automatically appear on any asset that uses the type. This means that you can set up a type for each major form of instrument in your database. This not only makes creating your system much faster, but it makes maintenance easier, as you only need to add a property to the //type// to add it to all of the assets that use it. ===Mixing Types=== A single asset can have many types. You can also mix-and-match types. For example, one type may be used to define what the asset //looks// like (ie. it's [[3D model]] and it's [[symbols]]), while another may describe it's actual values. Valves are a good example of this. A valve that moves between 'open' and 'closed' has the same properties no matter how it works. But valves that work differently have unique symbols and appearances. If you had types for how your valves //operate// (ie. **On-Off Valve**, **Control Valve**, **Manual Valve** etc.) and types for what they //look like// (ie. **Butterfly Valve**, **Gate Valve**, **Ball Valve**), then you mix and match for each valve in your system. You can have a **On-Off Buttefly Valve** or a **Control Gate Valve** by simply adding the two types to the same asset. ===Types and Templates=== Types work with [[templates|templates]] to make creating new assets extremely quick.