Date Field in Blocks

[Mike R]

We currently use AutoCAD 2008. Our Plotted sheets (in paprespace) have the title block information x-reffed in. This "x-title" contains a block called "Progress Print". The date continained in this block must be manually updated each tiome the sheet is plotted for "progress". I recently changed the text containing the date to a field formatted to MM/DD/YY w/ the intent of having this auto-update like a MS Word or MSExcel document does. This does not seem to be the case. Is the "field function in AutoCAD simply a formatting tool?
Thanks,
Mike R

[dbroada]

an AutoCAD FIELD is a link to more information so it should update. What is happening? Does it remain static? Have you REGENed the drawing?

[Mike R]

I created and inserted the block on 5/22/09. When I opened the drawing this morning, 5/26/09 there was no change in the date, so I'd say it remained static. No cgange after all versions of regen.
Thanks,
Mike R

[chelsea1307]

how did you go about creating the block? Did you breate attributes or just use mtext?

[Mike R]

Originally the date area of this block was created w/ attributes. I exploded the original block, right-clicked to change formatting to field. Is there a way if the date area is a attribute to have the "default" section update to the cuirrent date?
Thanks,
Mike R

[dbroada]

yes. Create your attribute and give it a tag & prompt. Right click in the default box and select insert field. When you insert the resultant block DO NOT OVERTYPE the default value. This should now remain an updating field.

I don't have AutoCAD here so don't know what fields are available so don't know what date fields are there. Current date may be static, is there a "last saved" one?

[Mike R]

Thanks Dave,
I'll give that a try.
Mike R

[Mike R]

I insterted a date field into the default section for the attribute. The date that shows is not the current date... It sems that since the block w/ this attribute is x-reffed into a drawing that is x-reffed into the plotted sheet that it may not auto-update anyway, whick makes the process no more user-friendly than it currently is. My question seems to be eerily similar to one posted back in 2008 by SyntaxError.
Thanks for the help...
Mike R

[rkent]

In Fields there are 4 different dates. CreateDate, Date, PlotDate, SaveDate. Which one did you use?

[Mike R]

I used "Date"
Mike R

[chelsea1307]

The fields work through at lease one xreff, would it be possible to only xref that part once. Instead of lets say xreffing dwg1 in dwg2 and now xreffing dwg to into dwg3 to xref dwg1 to dwg3 and also dwg2 to dwg3. Not sure exactly what you have going on but it is a possibility

[rkent]

I used "Date"
Mike R

Use PlotDate instead.

[Mike R]

A "plotted sheet" consists of the following x-refs:
1 - x-title (x-ref is overlayed in paperspace & contains the "Progress Print block")
2- x-plan (x-ref is overlayed in modelspace & contains the architectural plan including wall, window door etc) elements)
3 -x_-plan (x-ref is overlayed in modelspace & contains trade spefic plan: HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing elements)
Mike R

[chelsea1307]

is #1 directly xreffed into the final sheet or into #2 or #3

[chelsea1307]

This might take a little extra work now but could be usefull in the future. If you make your #1 xreff into a dwt (a drawing template) and xreff into the template to create your final sheet the date will work. I dont know if your using sheet sets but if you are you can link most of your data this way and only have to create one template and use it through your entire job and only have to create fields once. Just a thought