Mtext field in a block

I would like to create a block that gets the square footage of a closed polyline. I believe you use a mtext field. Does anyone have a block like this?

You could put the Field in an attribute of a standard block

Right, but how do you line the field to a polyline? And which field would you use?

Type FIELD at the command line, choose Object, select your Polyline and you will see the Area property.

Else, I wrote a LISP for this a while back:

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46420

is there anyway to link a polyline to a block that has the field in it afterwards? Like have a block made, draw a polyline, insert the block and assign that block to a specific polygon?

In the MText, Text or Attribute editor, you can insert a Field that references any type of object (just right-click in the editor). It's just up to you what values you want extracted.

Yes, you can copy/paste the Field code into the attribute, or use the LISP I linked you to.

Yes, you can copy/paste the Field code into the attribute, or use the LISP I linked you to.

Teach to fish first.

Teach to fish first.

Of course, just offering all options

Of course, just offering all options

I know, but you're a little to quick on the draw to give them a program to do it for them.:wink:

In all fairness, the thread is in the Lisp section.

Thanks. I was able to create a field that extracted the area from a closed polyline. My issue is that I want to create a block that contains the object|area field, but my confusion is linking it to an editable polyline. If you include the polyline in the block, you can't change the size.

Perhaps use an attributed block and copy/paste the relevant field code into that attribute. Else I'm not sure if Dynamic blocks have that capability...

Ok!! The light came on!! I created an attrubuted block that had the field in it. I then inserted it into a drawing a drew a closed polyline. When I went into the eattedit command, I double-clicked on the 'value' and it allowed me to pick a specific polyline.

Thanks

You kinda did the reverse of what I suggested, but whatever works for you

Been accused of doing things bass-ackwards before )

Been accused of doing things bass-ackwards before )

Unless I read your procedure incorrectly, without the aid of code, I would have done it the same way.

Unless I read your procedure incorrectly, without the aid of code, I would have done it the same way.

I would have inserted the block, then copied the field code into the attribute - perhaps I'm the backwards one

I would have inserted the block, then copied the field code into the attribute - perhaps I'm the backwards one

If the the attributed block was specific to that purpose, I would, when creating the block, go ahead and field reference a PLine. When I insert the block, the default value will be nil, but when I edit the attribute and edit the field, it will jump straight to the PLine area field and all I have to do is select a new PLine. Just saves a few steps.

I did the same thing in our titleblock for the viewport scale.