Dynamic Blocks & Attributes

[Laurel]

Hi

I've created a dynamic block with two visibility states. The second state is a copy of the first state, but some of the attribute definitions have been moved, along with some of the geometry.

When I insert the block, then toggle between the two visibility states, the geometry changes as I would expect, but the attributes stay in the position dictated on the first state.

How can I make sure that the attributes move for the second state, as I need them to.

Thanks.

[dbroada]

I think you will have to duplicate the attributes and define their individual visibility state. You create custom fields and refernece the attribute to the field if you only wqnt the attribute value stored once.

Alternatively you could put in a move action to move the attribute but I think you will have to reference that to a distance.

[Laurel]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

I've already duplicated the attributes, and defined their individual visibility states. The block editor shows each visibility state as I would expect it to display when I insert the block, but this isn't how it is actually shown.

I could use a move action, but am not sure that this is ideal. Would I be able to make the move action work automatically when the visibility action is performed, without extra input from the operator?

I thought of creating another attribute definition on the second visibility state that displays the contents of a particular attribute on the first visibility state. Is this possible? If so, how?

[dbroada]

I tried a block with a couple of attributes and the visibility state worked as expected. I assumed you wanted a single instance of each attribute.

[Seann]

Can you post the block you are working on so we could take a look at it. I think I have an idea but want to check it out.
It sounds like the perameters on the 1st visiblity state are broken going onto the second. From what I understand is when you stretch the block the attributes stay put. If the attributes need to move with the block they can be included in the 1st visibility states actions if you hit the thaw all states button (white and orange boxes on the top right) and select the attributes in the action.

[Laurel]

Can you post the block you are working on so we could take a look at it.

Of course, here it is.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pjhardw...itle_Block.dwg

As (I hope) you will be able to see, the dynamic block I am concerned with is a Title Block for my drawings. Selection of the Visibility parameter (1/4 of the way up on the left) toggles between portrait or landscape versions of the block, but the attributes are not moving to the positions indicated in the block editor.

[Barry Clark]

Of course, here it is.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pjhardw...itle_Block.dwg

As (I hope) you will be able to see, the dynamic block I am concerned with is a Title Block for my drawings. Selection of the Visibility parameter (1/4 of the way up on the left) toggles between portrait or landscape versions of the block, but the attributes are not moving to the positions indicated in the block editor.

Hey there.

I took a look. There wasn't a block, but if I were going to try what you are going to accomplish, I might try a rotation action with a max angle of 90 degrees in incrememts of 90 degree angles only rotating what you want rotated. Of course, that is only if I understand what it is you want to accomplish.

[Laurel]

Thanks for looking Barry.

The file is a saved block. Try inserting it as a block into a drawing. The file is ok, I've double checked.

All I want to be able to do is have two visibility states where the attributes move depending on the state I choose.

For reasons which escape me, this doesn't seem to be happening in the block I have designed.

[Laurel]

Ok, I've been playing with my dynamic block, and basically rewritten it.

When I created the first example (the one you can download above) I knew I wanted to duplicate the attributes on the first visibility state, to be shown in the second state. To achieve this, I made duplicates of the original attributes and moved them to their new locations. I think this might be my problem.

By doing this, I have effectively created two attributes with the same Tag. The Block Attribute Manager (battman) seems to confirm this by displaying the new attribute definition in red. This changes to black if I change the offending Tag.

OK, I've worked out what I am doing wrong, but still don't know how to put it right.

I want to be able to insert a block, adding the values for the attributes as I am prompted. All these values are present on the first visibility state. How can I duplicate the contents of these attributes to be shown in a different field on the second state?

I realise that a move parameter might do the job, but having seen this problem thru' this far, I'd really like to know if I can do it with a visibility parameter, especially as what I am trying to achieve seems so simple at first.

Also, in a related matter, please see my other post on a related matter that I still have not figured out. (http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showth...8439#post68439)

Thanks all for your help.

[dbroada]

The file is a saved block. Try inserting it as a block into a drawing.

I was going to say that!

Laurel, I had to convert it to 2004 format but it works as you want here. I renamed your duplicate tags though. I think you have confused it by having 2 attributes with the same name. Rename one set and try again.

This is where you can use fields and custom properties although it would mean inputting your details using the drawing properties box rather than attedit.