Mirrored Dynamic Blocks

[VisDak]

Hi to all,

 

Good Day, may i please to have some tips if possible in Dynamic blocks as mirrored blocks even when i grip it by parrarel stretch it will follow as mirror grip. Kindly see attached image: (this only created on standard drawing sample not yet a blocks)

 

Many thanks.

[stevsmith]

Unfortunately you would need to upgrade to 2010. They have introduced constraints into the dynamic block editor which would easily let you achieve this.

[VisDak]

Thanks stevsmith,

 

one more thing if i already maded this dynamic block in AutoCad 2010, is possible to use the block on 2009 or 2008 version? the dynamic block will work the mirrored stretch on lower version i mean?

 

again Many thanks

[stevsmith]

To be perfectly honest I removed the 2009 version form my works computer after I installed 2010, so I couldnt test it on a previous release.

I would imagine that it would not work though. Because of incopmatability.

But come Monday, i will upload the file for you to try out. If it works I would be happy to build you a dynamic block that you need.

The one I done was just a quick tester to try out.

[stevsmith]

You may have to explode this block 1st

mirror const.dwg

[GE13579]

I think it should be possible the same way you can have one parameter stretch a line in 2 directions, only that's a lesson in dynamic blocks that I've yet to get my head around... I'll have a look tomorrow to see if I can dig out the lovely instructions.

[stevsmith]

I think it should be possible the same way you can have one parameter stretch a line in 2 directions, only that's a lesson in dynamic blocks that I've yet to get my head around... I'll have a look tomorrow to see if I can dig out the lovely instructions.

 

This is only possibe if set to specific sizes. and not click and drag.

[stevsmith]

Just had a look and dont think it is possible.

 

Would a visability parameter be any use?

[GE13579]

This is only possibe if set to specific sizes. and not click and drag.

 

How? The only method I am aware of is to click and drag using 2 actions linked to 1 parameter.

[GE13579]

Copied/ pasted from AU document...

 

3 – Multiple Actions Using One Parameter Control

There are times when you’ll want to have one parameter control but have two or more actions occur. If you refer back to the matrix table (on page

, the relationship between the two actions is simple and direct. You can accomplish this easily. You just attach two actions to the same grip on the same parameter. When you grip edit one action, the other happens at the same time.

In the reflective ceiling tile example, we have one parameter and two actions. By editing the location of one of the linear parameter controls, it does a “Stretch” action on the size of the tile while doing a “Move” action on the circle (lamp) to maintain its location in the center of the tile.

2 – Chaining Actions

What we have covered up to this point is two or more actions associated to the same parameter. Occasionally, your geometry may require more than one parameter and you’ll want the second parameter to be activated by the first parameter. This linking of parameters is called a “chaining action.” Here is where the confusion occurs. The chaining feature works by one parameter driving the action associated with two or more other parameters. Notice that I said parameters, not actions! The linking or “chaining” operation is actually linking parameters together…not actions.

Tip Revealed: There are a few restrictions to getting this technique to work. First, the secondary parameter, the one whose action will be activated by the primary action, must be a point, linear, polar, XY or rotation parameter. These are the only parameters that allow chaining.

Remember that in order for one action to activate another action, both actions must be associated to a parameter. In this case there are at least two actions and two parameters. To create a chained parameter you would do the following:

1. Create the block and open it in the Block Editor.

2. Decide on the parameters you’ll need and their actions.

3. Decide which action you’ll grip-edit in the drawing. This is the primary action that will activate the other, secondary, action.

4. Create both parameters first, before creating any actions.

5. Create the primary action and attach it to its parameter (the primary parameter).

6. When you specify the objects for the primary action, include the parameter of the secondary action. This is very important. But DON’T select or include the objects that will be in the selection set of the secondary action.

7. Create the secondary action, attach it to its parameter, and select its objects.

8. Select the secondary parameter, open the Properties palette, and set its chaining property to Yes.

Let’s take a closer look at the I-beam example below where we first shut off the unwanted parameter control grips.

In order for the I-beam to stretch in both the left and right directions, I used two parameters and two actions, both linear parameters with stretch actions. If you think of how you might do this with a regular AutoCAD command, you would stretch one side of the I-beam and then stretch the other side.

In this modified version of the I-beam, chaining allows me to stretch both sides at the same time using just one parameter control grip to activate the action of both sides stretching. So, to summarize, the basic principles of chaining are as follows:

The primary parameter has an action whose selection set includes the secondary parameter in addition to any other objects it will act on. (In this case the action is a stretch action, the stretch frame also needs to include the secondary parameter but NOT the secondary objects or action.)

The secondary parameter’s chaining property is set to Yes.

[GE13579]

Accompanying images...

[stevsmith]

I hope that this answers my argument.

 

From your AU extract...

"the secondary parameter, the one whose action will be activated by the primary action, must be a point, linear, polar, XY or rotation parameter. These are the only parameters that allow chaining."

 

Due to the fact that the opposite side requires a symetrical constraint to allow it to go in the opposite direction. I think your going to be struggling with this one.

 

But I hope you are going to prove me wrong.

[GE13579]

I wouldn't really say this was an argument- the first option doesn't work in 2009 and I'm trying to help out the OP to get what they're asking.

 

The attached drawing contains a block which can be stretched by one parameter and stretches in both directions. I will need to spend some time looking at how this will work with polar stretch but I would imagine it's possible for your second example also VisDak.

 

Apologies that I had in the first instance misunderstood this process to include 1 parameter wherby it actually required 2...

Mirror Stretch.dwg

[stevsmith]

Maybe "argument" wasn't the best word to use, sorry GE

[GE13579]

Solution to the second requirement. Sorry but I don't have time to add the 2 together but the principles are there...

Mirror Stretch 2.dwg

[GE13579]

Maybe "argument" wasn't the best word to use, sorry GE

 

No worries- I am aware of constraints from Inventor and they are very handy for making what I've done above a whole lot easier.

 

I have to admit I was losing faith myself as I've revisited this a few times, just I'd always missed off changing the distance multiplier to -1 (never seen that part mentioned in the guides but in hindsight probably should have realised sooner... ), so I was getting a move effect as opposed to a mirrored stretch.

 

Glad to have got it resolved for myself too! At last!

[VisDak]

Many thanks to you Stev and GE,

 

Its good to know that it will work and create mirrored dynamic blocks on Autocad 2009/2008 ver. thanks again mates