Topic: Dynamic Block Properties

[Lee Mac]

This is new ground for me, so bear with me a bit... 

A recent thread involved modifying dynamic block properties, and so I thought I'd finally give it a shot at learning how to do it.

I've done a search on here, but, although I have found methods, and threads relating to it, I still have an outstanding query.


Say I am trying to enter a Dynamic Block Property after insertion, knowing its Property Name.

I am currently using methods along these lines:

Code: [Select]

(foreach Prop (vlax-invoke obj 'GetDynamicBlockProperties)

  (if (eq <PropName> (vla-get-PropertyName Prop))
    (vla-put-value Prop
      (vlax-make-variant <New Value>
        (vlax-variant-type
          (vla-get-value Prop))))))

And have also tried:

Code: [Select]

(foreach Prop (vlax-invoke obj 'GetDynamicBlockProperties)

  (if (eq <PropName> (vla-get-PropertyName Prop))
    (vlax-put-property Prop 'Value <New Value>)))

But, when entering some values, (namely zero), I get: ** Automation Error: Invalid Input **

Could this be due to the Dynamic Block that I am using? Or the method I am using to enter the value?


Once again, I stress - I have never used Dynamic Blocks before, and don't even know how to make them, and so I can only test on blocks that I find in threads... 

Any advice is appreciated.

Lee

[T.Willey]

This worked just fine for me

Code: [Select]

(foreach i (vlax-invoke ob2 'getdynamicblockproperties)
    (if (= "Visibility" (vla-get-PropertyName i))
        (vla-put-Value i "Elevation")
    )
)

Maybe you should test to make sure it is an allowed value to enter.

; IAcadDynamicBlockReferenceProperty: AutoCAD Dynamic Block Property Interface
; Property values:
;   AllowedValues (RO) = ("Detail" "Elevation" "Section" "Section-Single" "Section-Double")
;   Description (RO) = ""
;   PropertyName (RO) = "Visibility"
;   ReadOnly (RO) = 0
;   Show (RO) = -1
;   UnitsType (RO) = 0
;   Value = "Detail"

[Lee Mac]

Ahh... I didn't realise there were values you were "allowed" to enter!

Thanks Tim, that solves it!

At least I learnt a lot with my digging 

[gile]

Hi Lee,

Maybe you can get some inspiration from this one.

[Lee Mac]

Hi Lee,

Maybe you can get some inspiration from this one.

Many thanks Gile, I'll check it out 

[Oak3s]

How do I find this information for my DB?

; IAcadDynamicBlockReferenceProperty: AutoCAD Dynamic Block Property Interface
; Property values:
;   AllowedValues (RO) = ("Detail" "Elevation" "Section" "Section-Single" "Section-Double")
;   Description (RO) = ""
;   PropertyName (RO) = "Visibility"
;   ReadOnly (RO) = 0
;   Show (RO) = -1
;   UnitsType (RO) = 0
;   Value = "Detail"

Also, I am not doing to well trying to follow that code? Could someone help me out. Below is the code T.Willey posted. I attempted to change what I thought was necessary but its a no go

Code: [Select]

(defun c:dyn (/)
(vl-load-com)
(foreach i ;variable that each element in the list will be assigned to
(vlax-invoke-method ob2 'getdynamicblockproperties) ;list to be stepped through and evaluated
(if (= "Width" (vla-get-PropertyName i)) ;expression to be evaulated for each element in list
    (vla-put-Value i "6")
)
)
)

[Oak3s]

I spend time trying to figure something out myself and then post...5 minutes later I find something.

Okay, so first I need to assign the VLA-object...right?

Code: [Select]

(setq ob2 (vlax-ename->vla-object(car(entsel))))
I dont know if that is the proper way to do it but its what I found.
So after that I can get the property list T.Willey showed by:

Code: [Select]

(vlax-dump-object ob2 T)Again, I dont know if that is the proper way but it is what I found.
I am going to continue digging. Not solved for me yet.

[Oak3s]

I lied. the vlax-dump wasnt giving me the dynamic properties like the example posted above.

[m4rdy]

Q & R

Code: [Select]

(mapcar (function (lambda (x) (vlax-dump-object x T)))
(vlax-safearray->list
  (vlax-variant-value
    (vla-getdynamicblockproperties
      (vlax-ename->vla-object (car (entsel)))
    )
  )
)
);_===>> he..he..he


[Gliderider]

misplaced parenthesis ^^^^^^^

Code: [Select]

(mapcar
  (function (lambda (x) (vlax-dump-object x T)))
  (vlax-safearray->list
    (vlax-variant-value
      (vla-getdynamicblockproperties
      (vlax-ename->vla-object (car (entsel))))
    )
  )
)


[Kerry]

misplaced parenthesis ^^^^^^^
< .. snip .. >

looks like I'm not the only one who posts code untested 

[m4rdy]

Oops ... Edited above.

mardi

[T.Willey]

I lied. the vlax-dump wasnt giving me the dynamic properties like the example posted above.

My dump was a dump of each dynamic property of the block, so you would code it up like

Code: [Select]

(foreach i (vlax-invoke (vlax-ename->vla-object (car (entsel))) 'GetDynamicBlockProperties)
(vlax-dump-object i T)
)(princ)

Then select a dy block.

[Oak3s]

That works well. How can it be modified to use entlast rather than entsel?
As I understand it entlast isnt reterning the pickpoint. I dont understand why that is effecting vlax-ename->vla-object...doesnt that just need the name?
Ah, this is making my head hurt. (that might make it into the 'out of context' thread)

[T.Willey]

' vlax-ename->vla-object ' just needs an ename, so if you want to use ' entlast ', replace ' (car (entsel)) ' with ' (entlast) '.