Configuring a Shelf

A shelf is an equipment category to which you assign an Equipment specification. You add cards or empty slots to the shelf. When you add a card, you specify the slot that it should use. If the card requires more than one slot, the shelf must have the appropriate number of contiguous slots available. For example, if the card requires two slots, the shelf must have at least two contiguous slots available.

You can include card carriers in a shelf. Card carriers are subdivisions of spaces in the shelf that enable you to add additional cards. Card carriers are not physical items, but rather a way to divide the shelf in the visualization to accommodate varying numbers of cards. When you add a card carrier, you specify the number of slots in the slotCount element. When you configure a shelf specification, you define the shelf arrangement by choosing a template or an existing shelf.

To configure a shelf:

Create a new Equipment specification and assign it to the shelf category, or navigate to the editor of an existing shelf specification.

See "Creating New Specifications" for more information.
In the Equipment Specification editor, click the Visualization tab.

The Visualization tab displays four subtabs in the Palettes tab.
Do one of the following:
- From the Default Shelves area, drag a shelf template to the canvas.
- To start from an existing shelf, click the Shelves tab and drag an already configured shelf to the canvas. The shelf includes any slots or cards defined in its Equipment specification.
(Optional) Drag the card carrier template from the Default Shelves area to the desired location in the shelf template.

The card carrier template is the template that is not surrounded by a heavy black line.
(Optional) Click the Empty Slots tab and drag an item to the desired location in the shelf template or card carrier within the shelf template.
(Optional) Add cards to the shelf configuration.

To add a card:
1. Click the Cards tab and drag an item to the desired location in the shelf template or card carrier within the shelf template.
  
  The Select Slot Specification dialog box appears.
2. Select a slot specification and click OK.
  
  The card appears in the visualization. If the card requires more than one slot, the card graphic is shown in one slot. The other required slots are shaded and marked as occupied.
Enter information about items in the shelf in the information area below the Palettes area.

You may need to make the Visualization tab larger to see the information area. See "Defining Visualization Tab Item Elements" for more information.
(Optional) Right-click a slot or card in the canvas area and select Remove Item to remove slots or cards.
From the File menu, select Save.