TheSwamp
CAD Forums => CAD General => Dynamic Blocks => Topic started by: kim on June 05, 2007, 06:22:53 PM
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:ugly: I feel like a retard when it comes to dynamic blocks. I just took and AUGI Cad Camp in Denver and learned alot about them, but this whole visibility thing is really getting on my nerves. I am sure there is something really simple that I am overlooking here, but I am simply trying to create an elevation symbol block that I can have the top and bottom text showing, just the top text, or just the bottom text. I created the block and the visibility states and it inserts fine but when I pick the grip to change the visibility, it just stays the same. What am I missing?
(Jonesy - edited thread title for future searches)
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In the dblock editor, you have to select what you want visible, and invisible, for each state.
Try toggling the visibility mode button. (highlighted).
The example shown is actually about a half dozen or so arrows all piled up on one another. For each visibility state, only ONE is visible, the rest are set to invisible.
Not sure if this helps, but hopefully it's a start.
(Jonesy - edited thread title for future searches)
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Beautifully put Jim, also when you are in the b/editor if you select the text and right click, down the bottom there is a flyout for the selected object/s visibility.
(Jonesy - edited thread title for future searches)
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So are you saying that i need to have three blocks piled on top of each other? I have three visibility states, one for both on, top only, and bot only, in each one i chose which line i wanted to be invisible. Can this not be done with just one block?
I am attaching an example of the result I am looking for. Thanks for the help
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No. You can set three states. One where everything is on. One where the top text is invisible and one where the bottom text is invisible. I'll look at the example.
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Of course, now that I look at it, attributes are a bit difficult to work with when it comes to Dynablocks. Your best bet is to just not have text in the attribute if you want it invisible. I think that was what the all knowing programmers at Autodesk were thinking when they made that
bug... er, feature. Of course, they never think that someone might actually want the ability to do that. I'm using 2008, so in case you're not and were hoping it would be fixed in 2008, it's not.
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ditto, we tried to use Dyn blks w/ attributes, but found it impossible
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Great! Thanks! At least now I won't waste any more time on it. I am using 2008 also, those guys at Augi made these look so easy so I was trying to turn some of my old wblocks into dynamic blocks. Thanks for the help.
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Of course, now that I look at it, attributes are a bit difficult to work with when it comes to Dynablocks. Your best bet is to just not have text in the attribute if you want it invisible. I think that was what the all knowing programmers at Autodesk were thinking when they made that bug... er, feature. Of course, they never think that someone might actually want the ability to do that. I'm using 2008, so in case you're not and were hoping it would be fixed in 2008, it's not.
ditto, we tried to use Dyn blks w/ attributes, but found it impossible
I'm not sure what you guys are smoking but we have tons of dynamic blocks with attributes. What issues are you currently having?
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So do we. (well, not tons...) but none of the attributes have visibility states.
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The issue with this was that you couldn't change the visibility state of an attribute. Maybe it's possible, maybe it's not. I tried it only once on his drawing and it didn't work. Will, if you have a block that allows the toggling of visibility states, please, lend a tutorial or the block so we can dissect it.
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I'm not sure what you guys are smoking but we have tons of dynamic blocks with attributes. What issues are you currently having?
:oops: I only have done one and use it and that's it..... for windows in plan view.... :cry:
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Im with Will on this one, i have a table made form dynamic blocks that uses attribute, and i have a different vis state for the amount of line required, they hide fine. Just note that the attributes need to have different tags and names, otherwise thats when you get your problems
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I'd like to see an example too....I could not get her block to work.
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You need to change the attributes to "lock position"
Dynamic blocks wont touch attributes that arent, id say that is where alot of problems are coming from. If you need them to be moved around freely create a point param with a move
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Great! Thanks! At least now I won't waste any more time on it. I am using 2008 also, those guys at Augi made these look so easy so I was trying to turn some of my old wblocks into dynamic blocks. Thanks for the help.
Kim, you had set your block up perfectly you difinatly heading in the right direction :-) Just select all your attributes and under the properties change "lock in position" from no to yes, youll be sweet
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That did it!! Thank you so much!
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Happy to help :-)
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I tried to lock them. That didn't work either.
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In kim's block or your own?
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Mine didn't work at first but I erased all the existing one's out of my drawing and re-inserted it and it worked fine.
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Sorry i should of mentioned that tanks Kim, you need to re-insert the block for it to work, once a block is inserted with attributes they are set as they are, so if you change the attributes in block editor the attributes of the blocks already inserted wont take on the new changes
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You need to change the attributes to "lock position"
Dynamic blocks wont touch attributes that arent, id say that is where alot of problems are coming from. If you need them to be moved around freely create a point param with a move
I thought that only applied to move\stretch parameters? With visibility states it has no effect.....unless I'm missing something obvious.
Ron
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I believe its the same for vis states, it worked fine @ my end and thats all i had to do
Kim, what in the point parameter for?
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In the block editor it works over here...but when you go back into modelspace and test it, they are always on??
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O i c, you'll need to insert it again,
Sorry i should of mentioned that tanks Kim, you need to re-insert the block for it to work, once a block is inserted with attributes they are set as they are, so if you change the attributes in block editor the attributes of the blocks already inserted wont take on the new changes
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When in doubt....reinsert :-D
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Haha exactly! Dont forget "resetblock" it doesnt apply in this case but its quite handy when dealing with parameters, not so much attributes
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It would be nice to have a "Insert Attribute Text Parameter" then you could create a visibility parameter that filled in the attributes with predefined text rather than stacking multiple text objects on each other.
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The point perameter was just so I could see if I could make it work. I wanted to test out the multiple insertion point thing (the ctrl key toggles through them) because sometimes on a detail the elevation is on the left and sometimes its on the right. I can toggle through the insertion points if I just insert the block from the pull-down menu, but if I drag the block to a palette and then insert it, it won't toggle through the insertion points. Is there a way to get past that?
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BTW,
Welcome to TheSwamp Kim!
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It would be nice to have a "Insert Attribute Text Parameter" then you could create a visibility parameter that filled in the attributes with predefined text rather than stacking multiple text objects on each other.
You can type text into a lookup and use a attribute with a field linked to the lookup. Is that what you are meaning?
The point perameter was just so I could see if I could make it work. I wanted to test out the multiple insertion point thing (the ctrl key toggles through them) because sometimes on a detail the elevation is on the left and sometimes its on the right. I can toggle through the insertion points if I just insert the block from the pull-down menu, but if I drag the block to a palette and then insert it, it won't toggle through the insertion points. Is there a way to get past that?
O yup, if you click on the tool it will work instead of dragging the tool into your work space
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I think that's what I'm looking for.....mind posting an example? :wink:
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Not at all :-) Heres one http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=62127 (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=62127) , Let me know if you need anymore or an explaination :-)
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You mind posting it here? It won't let me access it without creating an account.
Thanks,
Ron
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:-o i think this is the right drawing lol
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Yeap that one uses the lookup to control the room names
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Thanks Mr Cory :)
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:-o i think this is the right drawing lol
That's an interesting concept Mr. Cory. It seems you got it all worked out.
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The lookup perameter has escaped me altogether. :oops: I don't understand that one either.
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You mind posting it here? It won't let me access it without creating an account.
It's AUGI...just join already. :-D
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The lookup perameter has escaped me altogether. :oops: I don't understand that one either.
Don't worry, Kim, it takes a while to get your head around DBs. Ellen Finkelstein wrote a nice series of articles on them that you can find here (http://www.autodesk.com/autocad-blocks), and they were a big help to me when I was getting started with them.
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You mind posting it here? It won't let me access it without creating an account.
It's AUGI...just join already. :-D
I try to minimize my accounts on the internet...PLUS..I get about 99% of my CAD questions answered here in less than 1/2 an hour :-P
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Yeah, i use this method alot, saves alot of time. Like lintels for instance, save having to type in the size everytime.
Well first off you need to create a lookup parameter and action, dble click the action which will open the dialog box, this is where you input your data. the right column is the options that will appear in the drop down list. The left is for the values of the parameters that you 'attach' to the lookup. In this case you dont want to attach any parameters, you ust want to fill in the option for the drop down list (right column).
Once you have done that you need to create a attribute, in the default insert a feild, select blockplaceholder. Next select the lookup parameter in the middle column. Then select any additional formatting you want. Then go accept everything. Place the attribute. save your block and insert it again. to change what the attribute is displaying, use the drop down list then regen.
Hope this helps, let me know if you having trouble
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hey guys i don't get in here as much as i used to and when i do i don't get a chance to browse as i usually have my own problem i'm trying to get resolved. anyway i was just reading through this thread and wanted to inform those who are using 2008 in case you didn't know that there is now a redefine in the right click menu in tool palettes that will update instances of blocks in the drawing. i think this will help with the reinserting problem although i haven't tested it out. i have really been wanting to figure out the lookup parameter so i will have to take a look at the example.
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Hay Dan, thats a cool feature, does it set define the attributes? Or just the block line work etc?
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like i say i haven't had much time to get deep into it to say what it does and doesn't do exactly just wanted to point it out so maybe others can play with it.
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Yeah, i use this method alot, saves alot of time. Like lintels for instance, save having to type in the size everytime.
Well first off you need to create a lookup parameter and action, dble click the action which will open the dialog box, this is where you input your data. the right column is the options that will appear in the drop down list. The left is for the values of the parameters that you 'attach' to the lookup. In this case you dont want to attach any parameters, you ust want to fill in the option for the drop down list (right column).
Once you have done that you need to create a attribute, in the default insert a feild, select blockplaceholder. Next select the lookup parameter in the middle column. Then select any additional formatting you want. Then go accept everything. Place the attribute. save your block and insert it again. to change what the attribute is displaying, use the drop down list then regen.
Hope this helps, let me know if you having trouble
Okay, I am having trouble! :? I finally figured out the lookup thing (for the most part), but I don't quite understand the purpose of the field, (which by the way, I haven't learned about fields yet either, other than just experimenting with them). When I go to insert a field and pick blockplaceholer, I get a message that says "invalid field code".
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Are you inserting the fielf into mtext or a attribute that wasnt created in the block editor? Could you post a screen shot?
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Nevermind, I think I spoke too soon, I think I got it now....thanks!
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Glad you got it to work :-)