AutoCAD Dynamic Blocks :: Connecting Properties From Multiple Drawings To A Table
May 11, 2013
What I'm interested in is finding a method of connecting several properties from several Autocad drawings to a single table. I would create several custom properties in each drawing and use some of them to fill the boxes in the drawing itself (already implemented) and some of them to fill the table which could later be printed or used in some other manner (maybe even combined with an ERP software interface). Some of the properties would be used both in the drawing and in the table. What I would really like to achieve is to be able to change the property values in the drawings by changing the values in the table and vice versa.
I know how to do it for one of the drawings but I don't know if it's possible to connect several? It doesn't have to be custom properties, it can also be a table in each of the drawing if it's easier to connect with a central table that way. I suppose the best way to gather all the drawings in one place would be to use Sheet Set Manager. A bit of a problem with the sheet set manager is that we have 5 layers set up for each of the drawings and I would like to import only one of them into the sheet set. The thing is picking them by hand would take time and that's the thing I wanted to avoid in the first place. Is there maybe an option to use only import the last active layer into the sheet set?
I have a dynamic block, that represents a stirrup.
I inserted in the block a Block Propreties Table, that have some preset dimensions for the stirrups. The grip of this table I decided to put in the top right corner.
The problem is that I can't make this grip moveable )
Dynamic block is for a title block which can be horizontal or vertical and a few different positions.
My lookup table controls the orientation and position of all the items including a number of attributes. But for two attributes I have allowed a grip on the Point Parameters so they can be dragged left/right if there is not enough room when the text is longer.
I can reposition the attributes but if I reposition twice then the Lookup table resets to its "Unmatched" configuration which I don't want. I believe I have to have an "unmatched" setting and "allow reverse lookup" and at the same time I want the user to be able to customize the position of these attributes.
Have dynamic block w/ Block Properties table. Can use table to change size of block by picking from dropdown list. Would like move (insertion) point of entire block to always remain exactly centered in block. Block is simply a rectangle. Have tried setting insertion point using point filters (.x of mid of horiz line, yz of mid of vert line, etc,) but all this does is assign an absolute value to the insertion point. When the size of the block changes, the insertion point remains where it was (absolute position).
Have tried creating a base point parameter, but it will not let me use geometric constraints to define position (coincident w/ endpoint) or add parametric dimension so cannot define location by using formulas (d2 =d1/2, etc). Have kludged it by using dummy point at 0,0 and "fixing" it.
Same thing for location of properties table - how do I tell it to attach the properties table grip "coincident" to the lower right corner of the rectangle so it follows the corner when the size changes?
Have attached what I have so far.
Ultimately want to also place the text "Case 1" "Case 2" etc as read from the properties table in the middle of the rectangle so that when I explode the block the text remains.
The "Main Stretch" parameter does not correspond with the Block Properties Table. What does this parameter need to be attached to?The paramter will adjust with the pull down options of the Block Properties Table.
I am unsure weather to post this in Dyn Block technical or Fields as it comprises elements of both.
I am trying to get a field to return a 'lookup properties' value...
Actually, what I am trying to do is use a field to display either a + or a - depending upon upon the state of a flip parameter.
How I have been trying to achieve that is by using a lookup table to assign:
Input Properties.....Lookup Properties Not flipped........=............+ Flipped.............=............-
Then I'm setting a Field to look at the Object 'Lookup Parameter' and return 'Lookup Action'.
The field then displays '#########' when testing the block.
When I return to edit the field it complains 'the object referenced y the field has been erased'. Both the table and parameter are still there, so I don't know what the problem is. Is there a better way of having a field return a specific value based upon a parameter state?
i was wondering if it's possible to change the default precision of values in the drop down menu for linear parameters when using a block properties table from 4 digits to 0.
See attached file, when opening the dropdown menu, the centre-to-centre widths of the chair are displayed in a value with 4 digits "behind the comma" and i would like that to be 0.
I have a block of two bent steel plates that are bolted together.. Everything works just how i need except the "limits" on the connecting bolt assembly. The plates we use are slotted, and depending on the angle of the bend, the range the bolt can be in changes. I can set a distance parameter on one clip or the other, but have no way of linking the two. I have a trig function i could use if you could put one with variables in the min or max of a dimension, or i think i could do it if i could limit a point to stay on a line. I can put a coincident constraint on it, but the point will go past the line infinitely, if that makes sense. Relatively new to these blocks, and self-taught as it is.
new to dynamic blocks but looking to streamline my wiring diagrams here and have created a block that shows the typical wire styles we use in a simple easy way. I now want to add an overall flip to the entire block and have not been able to find set this. I would prefer to use the same label and go from there. I have included the block to show what I mean. It is only working on the single visible item at the one time. I know this has to be possible just let me know what I am doing wrong. I am running AutoCad LT 2013
I have a drawing ("SURUBURI.dwg") with several dynamic blocks ("M12", "M16", "M18" ... an so on...). I want to insert in my current drawing, one of the blocks from SURUBURI.dwg, for instance the block named "M12".
For that i tried creating a new command "INSERT_M12" that has the following script :
I have been working with dynamic blocks lately and I am fascinated with the tool and its capabilities. However, something that I have not been able to figure out and not sure if its this is doable ---->
Can you make a dynamic block table driven, say from an excel table?
For example, lets say you have a dynamic block with parameters/actions set up that allow you to set the width, length, height, distance from edge, # of object arrays, etc. Rather than grabbing each grip and specifying the desired dimension, can you make it so the dynamic block is table driven? such as, where you might have a list of desired dimensions (say in excel) and you want to quickly input them into a table in autocad, so that the dynamic block will adjust to those dimensions?
I have been looking for about three days on how to do the array with-in the dynamic blocks, but have been very unsuccessful. What I am trying to do is make a TJI joist that you can have a look up table that is classified as 'offset' so that you can eventually strech the joists to standard spacing, and use the array to work. So that I dont have to have a ton / zero visibiliy states.
I created a dynamic block of signatures when i was messing around with dynamic blocks and have been using it since. i have to update this dynamic block and add another signature to it but for the life of me i cannot remember how to add/remove from the lookup table. i added the name to the visibility table i just cant remember how to edit the lookup table ?
I have been off playing in the Inventor world for awhile and now that I am back in the 2D world, I find my memory fails me. I am trying to create a dynamic block for terminal boxes. Some of these boxes are round so I need to control the diameter from the lookup table. Just how do I do that? Placing a diameter constraint parameter gets me the various diameters I need but I cannot get those into the lookup table.
A simple dynamic block using a Block Properties Table to control the value of an attribute. The block also has flip & rotate actions, but I cannot get the Block Table grip to flip or rotate with the rest of the block even though it is part of both selection sets.
Any way to change the order that the parameter properties appear in the property manager. Currently I think they are appearing in the order in which I placed them, but I would likr to re-arrange them.
I am new to dynamic blocks. I have figured out how to use the Properites block for "preset" definitions but we offer a product in infine sizes (within limits). For example the width may range from 30" to 200" in fractional increments which is impossible to set up presets. Is there a way that a person can set up the properties block so that a person would be prompted to enter required information, I.E. Width = xx", Height = xx" etc.?
Whenever I add a block property table the window that should be opent doesn't open. The strange thing is that I think it actualy is open but i just don't see it on my screen. The same thing gous for the screen that allows you to ad a parameter to a lookup set. by folowing this link you can see what i mean, it gets interesting after 30 seconds.
I work for a company that makes sheet metal cabinets. Each cabinet we construct has 17 parts that all different different blank sizes and notching. I have a template for each part right now that I have to shrink or stretch to the appropriate size every time we get a custom size order.
What I've created so far is an excel spreadsheet that determines the sizes of all the parts based on the overall height width and depth of the custom cabinet that was ordered. Any way to define a parts properties with a dynamic block and get the width depth or height imported in from the excel spreadsheet to automatically adjust the size.
I have 4500 OS mapping tiles which i need to convert the colors to one single color rather than the varied layer colors they have at present. Obviously doing this manually will take a long time.
After spending a lot of time creating a particular dynamic block, I realized that the order of custom properties of this block as shown in the Properties Palette is not organized in an optimal order.
For example I have "Cabinet Width" at the top of the custom properties list, and "Cabinet Height" way down near the bottom. This is going to make my Cad operators hunt around too much for the property they need to adjust.
The apparent order is by creation - first created custom property is listed first, last created is shown last. I really don't want to remake this dynamic block just to get the properties in a logical order.
I was wondering if it is possible to reorder the custom properties as shown in the properties palette?
I am working on a dynamic block that I figured would be fairly simple. However, it is proving to be a huge annoyance. What I want for it to do is stretch the end of a polyline with a stretch action, while at the same time moving the grip of my block properties table. No matter what I do to it, the block properties grip won't move/stretch.
Any lisp routine on how to change "Drawing Properties" (fields via Mtext) on multiple single drawing files?
There are several instances where we would need to take a project to create another one and simply change the title block description.
As of now, we are opening each drawing (there could be hundreds) and modifiying the drawing properties on each drawing to change the customer name and other project descriptions.
These are not attributes, but fields. I've researched alot on here and couldnt find anything.
I was wondering if it is possible to make adjustments to tittle blocks across multiple drawings.
Such as changing a Rev A to a Rev B
I have to update about a hundred drawings and was wondering if there is some sort of Macro that I can use to do this without manually going into each one.
So, while it wasn't common before, I am finding a need for multiple visibility states in blocks more and more these days, since AutoCAD can't do it I was wondering what work around and tricks people had come up with??
I have created a block with 3 different elements (A B C). This 3 elements are totally independents and they can be visible or invisible. Whit only one visibility parameters, there are 7 different visibility states:
xxC, xBx, xBC, Axx, AxC, ABx, ABC
If there are 4 or more elements there are too much possibilities.
I've tried to create 3 visibility parameters, but it's not possible.
¿How can i create independent visibility states for each different object in a block?
I am trying to create a dynamic block that allows me to insert a single rack into a drawing and make a single row of racking with all racks staying 9'-0" center of post to center of post. Also would like to be able to turn that one single row into a double row that spacing between rows can be modified. I have attached a cad file showing a single rack and two example, one of a row of double racks and one of a single row of racks. This rack is 48" deep i will also have to create this for a 60' deep rack so how i can create future rack sizes and rows.
