Visible user property values

Hi,
I am using axlDBCreatePropDictEntry in in my allegro.ilinit file to add the user properties in all designs, if the do not exist already.
I can add user properties such as design_name, design_no etc. to a format symbol and I can see and modify the properties when the symbol is added to a board.

The problem occurs when I try to make the property values visible. The format symbol will not save (create symbol) citing :

WARNING(SPMHA1-264): Sector table is not empty .... use dbdoctor to resolve. 0 SECTOR TABLE @60625368
Dbdoctor reports no errors. So I have to save the symbol with the property values invisible.

Legal Classes for Format symbols are: Board Geometry, DRAWING_FORMAT, MANUFACTURING, and I have tried
various of these classes/sub classes withe same results.

When I place the format symbol in a board design I can see the properties by selecting the line object they are
attached to. I can make them visible with menu>Display>Property...>Graphics>Create and then position them
where I want. However if I modify the property again the visible value does not change. If I repeat the above menu
pick all of the values are updated but return to their default positions.

The object of the excercise for me is to have various drawing borders, gerber layer info etc updated from a single
popup menu but I don't want to proceed with the popup skill file until I can find a way to manipulate the data manually.
Perhaps I am approaching the problem in the wrong way?
Any help appreciated.