Block attributes

[mattwsp]

is it possible to display system variables in block attributes - i would like the date to automatically be insterted as a block attribute when i insert a block, i would however like it to be changeable, so when i insert my block i get promped for the relevant information along with the date but the date has been pre-entered (i need to be able change the date occasionally!!!)

thanks in advance

[zars]

Well, as far as I know when you use the attdef you can insert a field there and you also can choose what type of field do you want to insert.

So just pick up date as your field type and it will show you the current date as default but you can change it whenever you want to.

[pefi]

Take a look at "DATE System Variable" in AuoCAD help
Przemo

[mattwsp]

I'm sure this is simple but i just cant seem to do it! when i use attdef i cant see anyway to create a attribute as a system variable, the only way it seems to work it the normal way (prompting the user to insert a value on insertion of the block) all i want it the attributes value to be predefined as the date - i have tried using revdate and exploding it but it still doesnt seem to work!

[zars]

What version of ACAD are you using?

In ACAD2k7 when you type in attdef it'll ask you for tag, prompt (it is what will ask to the user) and value (which will be the default value)

28

So what I do is click on the icon located at the right side of the value text and select date as the field category then choose date as field name and finish picking up (or creating a new one) date format.

29

it works for me, hope it helps you out, alex.

[mattwsp]

Ahh, my attdef dialog box looks exactly the same but it does not have that little icon - is there any other way of inserting a date field as an attribute?

I am using LT 2006 - (i have LT extender as well so most of the Full AutoCAD functions are working!)

[zars]

Did you try to do right-click on the value text? There should appear the insert field option.

[mattwsp]

yeah tried that it wouldn't allow me to right click on the value field - this is very frustrating, im sure this is a very simple thing!!!

thanks for the help guys

[Cad64]

Maybe this will help:
Follow the link, it describes a way to insert fields even in LT.

http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum_en/qaID.asp?tip=5128

[mattwsp]

that worked a treat thankyou very much

[Gothic]

I would like to know that can i insert the attribute with xref?
In my case, i can't make the edit the attribute when i insert that with xref into the current dwg. So it is really miserable way to edit the attributes with xref. so pls. advise me.......
How do i?

Thank you.
Gothic

[mattwsp]

if i understand your question correctly, you insert xref's but you cant edit the attributes? as far as i know this isn't possible. In my (limited) knowledge inserting an xref is primarily designed to merge two drawings together but without having duplicate information stored, therefore saving on file space, among with other benifits.

If you are wanting to insert an entity into a drawing (such as a border) and prompt the user for input the way to do this is not to use the xref command but to insert a block - the drawing file where the block is stored should have attributes inserted and the user will be prompted to enter the required information on input of the block.

Hope this helps - not sure it is too clear, so someone else might want to explain better!!!

[Gothic]

if i understand your question correctly, you insert xref's but you cant edit the attributes? as far as i know this isn't possible. In my (limited) knowledge inserting an xref is primarily designed to merge two drawings together but without having duplicate information stored, therefore saving on file space, among with other benifits.

If you are wanting to insert an entity into a drawing (such as a border) and prompt the user for input the way to do this is not to use the xref command but to insert a block - the drawing file where the block is stored should have attributes inserted and the user will be prompted to enter the required information on input of the block.

Hope this helps - not sure it is too clear, so someone else might want to explain better!!!

thanks 4 ur explain.

it's just the trying to place the attributes with xref.

regards,

Gothic

[mattwsp]

If you are wanting to insert attributes into a drawing to be used in another drawing as far as i understand you have to insert the drawing as a block, not as an xref - it should work then.