2 equal attributes in 1 block

[dusko]

how can i put/connect 2 attributes in one block so when i change one attribute, second will take same value!?

[dbroada]

you would think this would be easy wouldn't you.

It can be done using fields. It is easier to have a couple of pieces of text looking at a block so that changes to the block are reflected in the 2 pieces of text. However this would take a bit of dicipline to stop the links being broken.

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

[dusko]

easy? hmmmm...maybe not easy but possible!?
i am sure that there is some trick (i thougt maybe sys variable) but have no idea how it can be done.

i use block of electronic equipment wich i have to put in rack.
every component has to have left and right mark with same value.
and i use lots of those components so it take lots of time.

any ideas how i could do that!?

[dbroada]

I'm sure I could do it yesterady but today its just not working. I'll give it a bit more thought.

[dbroada]

This is far from ideal and certainly not elegant but may be of use to you. INSERT the TempBlock into your drawing and explode it. Double click (if that is working today ) the middle box and type your new number. REGEN and the other 2 pieces of text should change.

This is just an idea of what can be done - I'll leave you to play.

Edit - DON'T directly edit the text - you will break the link to the block value. If you want to add any more linked text you should start your text command and insert a field. Chose "Object" and click on the small square box. Then select NUMBER and you should be there.

[Hedgehog]

Wow... I was just about to ask what the hell you were on about but I sussed it... learn something every day ... any way of formatting that text so it doesn't have the grey background?

/edit... doesn't need to... it plots normally.

[dbroada]

there is a way of changing the background - I know because I have do it but I can't find how I did. I prefer the look when a field is not highlighted but without the highlight you don't always realise that its a field and edit it by hand. All our drawing blanks have a "filename" attribute and I ALWAYS set this to the filename field. That way if I "saveas" the printed drawing is still correct. However many of my links have been broken by others in the office who have just typed a new name in there.

[hazardman]

fyi, the grey background does not print...to change it's visibility go to options>user preference tab>fields and check/uncheck it to suit...

[dusko]

splendid!
i work with fields for first time now ...i'll play with this (first i have to surf through help a little bit).

thank you!

[dusko]

i find something but it doesn't work in my case (of course ).

When you're in the world of DB (Dynamic Blocks) and you want to link a field to an attribute found within, make sure to make the field "not constant" (found in Properties). But, just in case people don't know how to create a field within an attribute, I'll dissect it, step by step:

1. Create attribute (Draw --> Block --> Define Attribute)
2. Fill in a Tag and a Prompt (for the Prompt, I put in capital letters "DO NOT FILL IN THIS VALUE as filling in the value of this attribute will erase over the field that will be put in)
3. Right click the 'value' and select "Insert Field" (See image 1)
4. Field Category: Objects
5. Object Type: Select Object (Select Attribute you want regurgitated here)
**Both of these are found at the top of the "Field Dialog Box" **
6. Field Names: Object
7. Property: Value
8. Format: None
** For setup of steps 4 through 8, see image 2 **
9. Click OK twice. Once to exit the "Field Dialog Box" and once to exit the "Edit Attribute Definition Box".
10. Now left click the attribute and open the Properties Dialog Box.
11. Make sure that Lock Position is set to Yes (for the sake of stretching and rotating the attributes
12. Make sure that Constant is set to No (See Image 3)

And you're done. Now when you exit the DB Editor (first refresh block with ATTSYNC or BATTMAN commannd then press SYNC) and double click your block, the attribute editor will pop up and you can see (image 4) how it will look. Fill in the main value and click OK. Hit Regen and the value for the second attribute should automatically update.

I had everything figured out except that I had the "Constant" Value set to "Yes" in the Properties Dialog Box. I suppose that it's because if the Constant is set to Yes, then it will always return the original value that shows in the value box for the original attribute.



now, my FIELDEVAL variable (Controls how fields are updated. The setting is stored as a bitcode using the sum of the following values:...) is set on 31. if i set it on 16 (Updated on regeneration) nothing happens...

if you need images i'll upload them.