AutoCad :: Attribute Fields Not Updating With Regen
Aug 7, 2013
I have been creating new 2D dynamic blocks for our engineering department to use. I was able to combine our old "dynamic" blocks, similar in design, into one new block. There are attributes within in the block to display information regarding which block is selected and shown. This information is then extracted using a LISP routine to be used via Excel for manufacturing.
I have run into problems with some of the fields updating. At times they will update and other times they won't. The attached file has an example of the blocks I'm using. They are the same block. However, the block on the left was placed into a new drawing using CTRL+V. The lone field in the bottom left corner of the block updates correctly when the block properties table is changed and REGEN is run.
The block on the right was inserted into this drawing using the INSERT command. The same field does not update using REGEN. FIELDEVAL is set to 31 based on what I've read in other posts.
Not sure what the difference would be, but I've been seeing it for the past week while creating the new blocks. It's a bit frustating not knowing why it will work sometimes and not others. I've pulled my hair out for long enough trying different things to see if it will work, but to no avail.
I'm trying to edit our titleblocks. There is information we repeat at the top of the drawing like the drawing name, sheet number, total number of sheets, contract number, etc. It is ridiculous to have to type this information in twice. I tried creating both text and constant attributes at the top and insert field pointing to attributes at the bottom but all I get is ---- when inserted. My inserted field was ->Object->(selected attribute)->Value. I am using version 2011. I would think it should be easy to "repeat" values of attributes inside a block.
I have a simple function that breaks down the file name and populates 3 fields with the correct names. In my template they all get changed correctly, but when I make a new .dwg it takes a few (hopefully unnecessary) steps to get them to change. The very 1st time opening Cad, the fields do not get recognized ( !fieldname1 returns a nil). If I close the .dwg and reopen it the fields pull the correct value but do not change in model space (ex -- !fieldname1 returns 12345, but model space is still showing 54321 in the field). In order to get the value to change I have to type the Field command in Cad, I don't have to do anything in it, I can immediately close the Field form and then do a regen to get model space to show the correct values.
My idea was to hard code in the Field command and hope to be able to close that before the user knows it is even open, but I still don't think that will solve the 1st time Cad is opened problem, and I am having no luck with getting that lisp command to run (like it said, very limited experience with it). It could just be the syntax is wrong since it is so simple but here is what I thought would work.
I created a dynamic block to represent a room in a floor plan. It displays the dimensions and area of the room and can be stretched. But it's defeating the whole point of being dynamic. The area won't update unless I do a regen.
I've seen comments blaming MTEXT for the problem, so I tried putting the area field in a line of TEXT or DTEXT. It still didn't update unless I did a regen.
Infrastructure DSP '14 / Product DSP '14 / Vault Professional 2014 Dell Precision T1650 Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit Intel E3-1270 V2 3.5GHz / 32G RAM Nvidia Quadro 2000, Driver 331.82 Space Navigator, Driver Version 6.17.7
I have a project where 60 drawings will be duplicated for each of a dozen sites. Each site has a four digit prefix (i.e. 800X) that is added to the drawing number, equipment callouts, leaders and various notes throughout the sheets. Even using Find/Replace, this is a lot of work to revise every time I copy them, so I’m thinking that this is a job for fields, no?
Well, I had no problem making a “global” field called SiteNo and inserting it into the title block. Then I inserted the same field into a couple of references in the general notes as well, where it works fine. But when I put it into several leaders sprinkled throughout the drawing I found a problem: regen or regen all will update the title block and note references (all in paperspace, of course), but not the ones in model space. I’ve tried putting the field in both mtext and dtext, and I’ve checked to be sure FIELDEVAL is set to 31. Nothing makes fields in modelspace update.
But I know that the field is set up correctly. If I doubleclick any modelspace occurance (text or mleader), then right click and choose “update field”, it fills in the right value. This however negates my goal. If I have to select each one, I might as well put it in as text and use FIND/REPLACE on each individual drawing.
I was REALLY hoping that I could go to the properties of the sheet set, change one box, and see all occurrences in all drawings for that site update, which is my understanding of the purpose and power of fields. I've spent a lot of time searching the web, seen a lot of issues and solutions, but nothing that quite hits my problem.
I've made a block with fields linked to attributes (so when I change the value of the "master" attribute, the field values will change).
*NOTE* the fields are contained within a piece of MTEXT and NOT within another attribute.
The fields will not read the "value" of the attributes they are connected to, unless I explode the block (and change the DEFAULT value), or use regular text instead of attributes.
FIELDEVAL - set to 31
UPDATEFIELD - returns: "2 fields found, 2 fields updated" but it doesn't actually update them.
Regen/Regenall/Save - does nothing
BATTMAN - SYNC - does nothing
Lastly, I noticed that if I use "loose" text outside the block, but still link the fields (that are inside the block) to that text, they will update when I change the text contents after regen. AutoCAD is just having trouble using fields+attributes.
I made a dynamic block (REINF_ID) with attributes that i will use to determine the reinforcement of structural walls on elevations. I inserted an attribute called LIGN1 which will be visible and the other attributes such as DIA(bar diameter)-SPC(rebar spacing)-POSITION(rebar position) will be invisible.
Now, in the block editor i want to insert 3 fields in the LIGN1(visible) attribute default value that will link to other attributes in the same block. example: LIGN1 default = 25M(DIAattribute) @(text) 300(SPCattribute) EF(POSITIONattribute). When i insert my block in a dwg and i decide to modify the DIAMETER(invisible attribute) from 25M to 30M for example, I want the value in the LIGN1 attribute to update to show the new DIAMETER.
When I regen, it does not modify the attribute (LIGN1) 25M to 30M, it keeps the default value of the attribute (25M).
I am using ACAD Civil3d 2014. I have the map utility loaded
I created a drawing for a client and created blocks to represent handholes. They now need to go back to the blocks and add the HH number and fiber size. How can I add to blank att fields to the blocks so that I can send them the drawing and have them enter the information manually?
I searched around and only see solutions for adding attribute labels to the block.
I just opened up a project Sheet Set that i haven't worked on in a while, and all of my layout pages have a series of "#" in place of the fields. For example, the name of my viewport should read "Head Detail", which is the name given to that view in the Sheet Set Manager, but instead reads "##############". This also happens with my view numbers, callout bubbles, etc.
However, the information in my title block is still intact. For example, the Project Name, Client Name, Page Number, etc. all read the correct values.
I tried opening the drawings in Reference Manager, but I see no alerts or errors. I have had this happen before in previous versions going back to at least 2010, but they have always been small projects and I just recreated the views and callouts. This is a large project however, and redoing this will cost hours, if not days of extra work.
In examining the fields, it seems like the problem fields are those defined by the SheetSetPlaceholder Filed Name, and the Placeholder type is irrelevent; they are all broken. For other Field Names, for example CurrentSheetNumber, the references still work.
I have created a new layout from Templates that are the C3D standard templates. I get the below messages in my command bar and subsequently my template does not have any of the blocks, north arrow...nothing. Just a blank sheet. Why? See below messages that I copies from the command bar....
Command: <Layout from Template> Duplicate definition of block _ClosedBlank ignored. Duplicate definition of block AeccTickLine ignored. Duplicate definition of block AeccTickCircle ignored. Duplicate definition of block North ignored. Duplicate definition of block Graphic Scale - Imperial ignored. Duplicate definition of block ANSI D Title Block ignored.
Convert Fields to text in my Title Block. I want to change some specific attributes only to convert into texts in my title block ( "MODE_A3" is my Title Block name).
For example in "MODE_A3" block having lots of tags like TAG1, TAG2, TAG3 upto TAG10 with fields. I need to change TAG3, TAG4, & TAG5 attribute fields into texts in all layouts.
Fairly versed with Dynamic blocks here, so the first thing I checked was to make sure that my FIELDEVAL was set to 31 to ensure updates but this one isn't working for me and may be a limitation of the software?
I'm making a dynamic block for my users who aren't familiar with electrical wiring so I am developing a series of blocks for our typical wiring configurations. In this instance, I've setup a pair of attributes to allow the changing of wire color codes and I want to use that single attribute entry to used in multiple other locations that are also connected to that conductor in certain situations. I have setup a field within this block to be the "VALUE" of the object (the attribute) in order to accomplish this. Unfortunately it is only displaying the default value I have for the attribute and will not update either upon insertion of the block or after an edit. Is this beyond the capabilities of Dynamic blocks or do I need to take a different approach?
I have created a rectangle whose length changes.The value of the paameter "Dist1" is this length field that I associate to the attribute value. Basically, echo length from Dist1 into the attrib value.
The problem is when I insert the block into the drawing the value is shown as "DIST1", even after regen.
Once I pull the grip point to a new length and regen it still shows "DIST1".
If I go into the ddedit and select the edit box (for multiline data field) the shown value will correct itself, but only one time.
If I change the length again, the dimension does not update.
It worked fine when I tested the block but is having issues days later.
I am trying to get DText objects to update width factor when I change the Width Factor of the Text Style. We have one style (Simplex) & I hoped to be able to set the width factor of that style to 0.8 or 1.2 depending on what is required and then just insert objects from the tool palette so they have the correct width factor.
This seems to work for MText but not for DText or Attributes. Short of using lisp is there a to update the width factor of DText & Attributes? (hoping to be able to do this on LT also)
Only way I can see for DText is to qselect text and change style to something else and back to Simplex. Only way for attributes I've found is to advance edit block and change text style to something else and back.
I was wondering if it was possible to say have a cover sheet of a project with fields and then have the other sheets in the project have their fields populate using information from cover sheet?
Is there any way to make print merge fields relative in position to other fields or to non-variable text.
For example if I am doing address labels and I have fields for City and State:
Their positions are absolute, and the state ends up overwriting the city for long city text, as does the comma.
What I want is for the comma to follow the last letter of the city, and then state to follow that.
And yes, I realize that I can combine all three into one field, but I am asking this as a general usage of the feature. One doesn't always have control over the source.
I am using Mech 2007. I have created a template to use with new drawings, and want to know if there is a way to update all the drawings at the same time when updating the template.
How do i disable regen and stop autocal lt 2007 regenerating layout and model space when opening drawings. This is a pain when opening and saving large drawings to older versions.
Attached is a drawing containing a big rectangular lwpolyline and two relatively small lwpolylines near the drawing origin. One of these smaller plines is on a layer that has a dashed linetype associated with it. That layer is also red. When I zoom in on that pline, however, I won't see the dashes unless or until a regen occurs. As of this writing, after trying a few things, I'm almost resigned to including a note telling the client they might have to REGEN in order to see non-continuous linetypes display properly.
I often need to work on big drawings having utility networks, topographic surveys and properties. Whenever using FIND command in such a drawing AutoCAD regens the drawing. This happens even if FIND command is cancelled and takes 2 to 3 seconds everytime. Can I disable this automatic regen and do only when I need.
After I edit a block in the block editor, It regens to a blank black screen. Then I have to zoom extents and zoom back to where the block is. Is this normal? I would think it'd be better if it just put you back to where you were working. I understand the regen probably is necessary to change all the blocks that need to be updated. Just wonder why it puts you to a blank space.
I am using ACAD LT 2012. I currently have 3 ucs viewports in my drawing. Each time I switch from one viewport to another using my left mouse button, the drawing regenerates. How do I stop this from happening?
Problem: occasionally when I copy an object (text, polylines, blocks etc) and then paste, it appears as though nothing has happened. However the object is copied, it is simply not visible. If I then regen all entities also vanish. I can save and reopen the drawing this fixes the issue. For me this is fine, but it is happening to others multiple times in one day.
I'm facing a problem that each time after I did Regen or Zoom, the system halted and then recovered only after several minutes. I guess maybe it is related to special drawings, because it only happened when working with the drawings which was transferred from an .iges 3D drawing.
Having a small issue with Civil 3D 2013 recently ( I think). The last month or so, it's been automatically running regen when I open a drawing. No problems there, where the problem comes in is if I open an exported drawing (from this computer) or a drawing from someone else computer any polylines in the drawing vanish.
I can just run an undo to get the polylines back, but any time I paste something into the drawing all my polylines vanish again. So my fix at the moment is to undo the regen, and then copy and paste my drawing into a new drawing.
Is this just something corrupted I need to do a reinstall to fix, or is there something I might be missing?
EDIT: Also thought I should point put that I'm using an Nvidia Quadro 600 video card running the latest drivers. I have not installed any patches or hotfixes for Civil 2013
What would cause AutoCAD to choke, ONLY when viewing a model from one direction? In my case, it's the right view, and it doesn't matter how I get to that view, ie "view, right" or "dview,clip". Views from other directions regen almost instantly, but from the right takes a full minute, while Acad tells me up top that it's [not responding].
Issue is only in single dwg. Tried audit, purge, etc. Wondering if there is some obscure (dwg specific) system variable causing this, before trying the WB to get rid of an offensive entity.
I realise this is an old thread, just wondering if any new tweaks have some to the surface to all the wheel-double-click action to be altered. Currently my mouse is set to ZOOM>EXTENTS like I imagine most people's is. Lately I've been getting a lot of "Requires a regen, cannot be transparent" errors while trying to zoom>extents, and I would like to introduce a REGEN call into the wheel-double-click macro. REGENAUTO is set to ON.
I just had to reinstall AutoCAD this week for being a very bad boy. Now, when I switch between open files, my screen goes blank. It takes a regen to get all my stuff to appear again.
It even goes blank in my viewport... I have to go into the viewport and regen separately from the main drawing.
