AutoCAD Dynamic Blocks :: When Creating DBlock - What Does Angle Represent In Rotation Parameter
Jan 9, 2013
Just exactly what does "Angle" represent when placing a "Rotation Parameter" in a DBlock?
I've tried a bunch of diff angles and haven't noticed a difference. I'm trying to figure out just what effect diff values would have. I thought that maybe when rotating the block instance, I'd only be able rotate it "so far" (270 degrees in the example I've shown). But it still went well beyond that.
I've got a block that has a couple of rotation parameters. The main one works OK. But the secondary one that is incremental and only 180 doesn't. Everything looks OK but the objects don't rotate according to the parameter but 90 degrees from what I think it should.
I have been trying unsuccessfully for several days to achieve a stable setup for the attached. This is the closest I have been able to get so far but as you can see if you change the width then the rotation parameter, the stability of the block very quickly breaks down.
The problem seems to be associated with the move action which determines the center point of the angle parameter. It seems to only work properly when you change the width parameter and the rotate handle is in the 180deg. Any other position of the angle parameter results in incorrect alignment of the geometry.
I am making a simple continuation block (attached) and I am trying to get it to have a rotation parameter along the polyline. I am able to do that, but the only issue is the flip parameter goes all weird when I do so (the text starts distancing itself from the polyline when stretched, rotated and flipped).
So I've done a reasonable amount of work with dynamic blocks. I have a block with a rotation action and grip to arbitrarily align it. However I realized when trying to combine it with an alignment grip (which actions on the basic or fundamental block rotation angle) that there didn't seem to be a way to some how link a dynamic block rotation action or one of the custom angle properties to a the fundamental block rotation angle. Thus there are two additive rotations at work; the dynamic block one with its grip and the fundamental rotation property.
This can cause some confusion when one person aligns with the grip and another via rotating the block's fundamental property and would also be problematic in the generalized sense if one was trying to select or programmatically read back the net angle alignment.
Is it possible to mirror a rotation within a dynamic block?
See the attached drawing. I am trying to have two rotations within a dynamic block, but only one grip. When the grip is rotated one half of the block rotates while the other half rotates in reverse. The resulting action would be much like the wings of a butterfly.
I have tried many different combinations of parameters, actions and constraints with no luck. The block in the attached file was as close as I could get. Have I reached the end of what AutoCAD is capable of?
I have a block that I'm trying to convert for dynamic use.
In the first image, you'll see the items that I want to have rotatable in blue. The items in red should NOT rotate. That part seems to work fine. But the items that do rotate don't behave as expected.
I created the rotate parameter selecting the center of the red circle as the base point. Shouldn't that cause ALL the items to rotate about that center point?
As you'll see from the second image, the blue line rotates about some other point.
EDIT: Well I guess it only does it if I have the blue horizontal line defined with a length constraint. I also need to have that line dynamic--I need to make it longer/shorter.
I've attached a dwg file with the block in it--it's at the top of the block list (___SectMark2).
Wondering if there was a way to have text maintain a rotation angle of 0 while being included in a rotation parameter. I am wanting the "N" for my North Arrow to follow the direction of the symbol of my viewport tag without the "N" character rotation angle changing with it.
I have an interior elevation callout block with four arrows, noting the N, S, E, W interior wall elevations. I trick I use to rotate Text while keeping the Text oriented in the upright position is to place a Point Parameter at the center of the text then set the "Chain Actions" to Yes. Then I use the Move Action to tie the text to the Point Parameter. Next step is to use a Rotation Action to select only the Point Parameter, which rotates the Point Parameter and brings the text along with it, keeping the text oriented in the upright reading position always. As an example, think about a viewport tag with a North arrow, and the letter "N" at the arrow tip. When you rotate the arrow, the "N" position rotates with the arrow's point but always is oriented upright.
How do I manipulate a height parameter all of the dynamic blocks in the drawing from one single field? Say a field located in the drawing properties or on the drawing itself.
For example: Multiple blocks of different walls of same height with other blocks of things on located on those walls, dependant on the wall height, all linked to and changed by a single field. Possibly a Wall Height field located in the custom tab of the drawing properties.
I can pickout each of the blocks and change them at the same time in properites menu because they all share the same parameter name. I would just like to have that height parameter of every block in the drawing, that has that specific parameter controled by a single field. Which I could enter a new height at anytime that would change every block in the drawing to that height.
This is just a basic block to specify a section plane. What I would like to have is a BPT with 4 rotation options (0, 90 180, 270) that would rotate the whole block but it would keep the text upright and be able to stretch the ends of the arrows. I know I must be including/not including something important. Pointers on how to do this
if it's possible to link a rotation with a stretching action. I have a text (or an attribute) inside a box that can be stretched. But if the box becomes too small to hold the text horizontally, I would like that the text automatically rotate vertically without any other action that stretching the box. If that is possible, is it also possible that instead of a text, there's an attribute, and that it rotates according to the attribute's length ?
I need a rectangle block which on insertion prompts me for some data (name/tag/item number) and then displays it (this I can do). This is al pretty straightforward. But I also want to be able to fill in width and height and then have the block stretch to the correct size. So basically what I think I need is to have the value of a parameter refer to the value of an attribute. I've gotten it to work the other way around, where the attribute displays the size of one side of the rectangle (after stretching and regenerating), but I'd really like to have it working the other way.
What I'm trying to do is have a graphic scale with a set list of scales the user can pick from. This was easy using the Visibility Parameter.
However, I want to add a "custom" vis state where, once they select this option, the attributed definition box will pop up and give them the option to input whatever scale they are using.Check out the attached .dwg to see what I've done so far (I just have the attributes on the "custom" vis state).
Is it possible to link a parameter value to a function? I want text or attributes to never be "upside down".
If it is rotated with a rotation parameter the text would need to be automatically flipped or rotated if the angle is less than say >3*PI / 4 and < 7*PI/8.
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.
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 trying to create a block that has a stretch and array command, but I would also like to rotate each arrayed item indvidually. However I cannot select the rotate parameter as part of the array function, so the block end up only containing one rotate grip.
I have 3 circles, randomly spaced. They will always be the same size. I want to resize them all about there centre points using just one parameter in the properties fly out. I've created individual linear/stretch for each circle, but I can't work out how to combine them.
I am trying to be able to have my outreach arm stretch horizontally and on angles of 5 / 10 / 15 degrees from the pole. I have been able to make the polar stretch for this and it works fine though what i am trying to do is have the luminaire height also stretch and move when the size of the outreach changes (i can make the linear dimension work the way i want though not the luminaire parameter) as when you add the paremter into the stretch action is only moves the top and leaves the bottom at the same location which is not giving me the correct height.
The block itself is alot more complicated then this I have stripped most of the parameters out to make it less confusing but the end result would allow the user to input the outreach angle, outreach length and luminaire height. I have attached drawing for your reference.
I am very new to dynamic blocks. I am starting off learning the small stuff before I get to the larger more complex blocks to convert to dynamic.
I have a reference block I am trying to "master" all the functions we would like to see.
I have two major concerns.
1) Why can't I rotate this block (via rotate action) and have the attributes stay at angle zero? I thought I built the parameters and actions correct.
2) I haven't ran across anything that explains how to stretch 2 linear parameters at the same time with the same distance (ex: stretch both at .25, .5, .75)
I have created a dynamic block with a rotation parameter&action on an object in the block. My problem is that when I pick the grip to rotate the object it only allows me to rotate it to where my cursor is pointing, if I enter an angle when prompted "Specify rotation angle or [Base point/Undo/eXit]:" say 45degrees the object does not rotate 45 degrees it just rotates to wherever my cursor is pointing
Im looking for a way to automate my drafting tasks, and this time I want to automate the creation of structural steel grid quickly as possible.
I was thinking about creating a dynamic block with all my drawing needs, and then use an array action to multiply it as I go, but I cant use it since the cell size inside the block is static .
Another idea I had is to create a dynamic block with fixed number of cell and columns, I gave to the dividers a starch action with divided multiplier. its working but its not practical because wit this method I have to create another million of grids(I attach this block )
how (if) I can set up my dynamic blocks so that I can set the parameter values as I insert the block, rather than with the grips afterwards?
To take a simple example; I have a block consisting of a rectangle, with 2 linear stretch parameters - length, width. Can I set it up so that when I insert the block, it asks for the length and breadth,just as it would for attributes.
