Dynamic Block

[Jim Clayton]

This is going to be really confusing until you look at the attachment.  I'm trying to make a Dynamic Block of sorts for what is essentially a ruler/scale/indicator that gets mounted to a liquid level chamber.  It has mounting hardware on the top and bottom and a logo at the top.  The shorter/longer it is will be the deciding factor in how many numbers are visible on the indicator.    My goal is to make it so that as the Logo moves up or down, the numbers either become visible or covered up.  I'm trying to figure out if this is possible and if so, how?  I realize none of this makes any sense.  Please look at the attachment for clarification.

INDICATOR.dwg

[BIGAL]

There are sample "Scale" dynamic blocks its in the Ribbon, may be usefull start, you can definitely change visibility states in a dynamic block.

 

Is it easier to do a block with multiple attributes and just reset attributes to " " so not visible maybe 20 attributes.  Pretty easy to do a repeat of num atts with increment using lisp.

 

[Jim Clayton]

Thanks Al.  I appreciate the help, however I'm not sure this is quite what i'm after.  It's hard for me to give a proper explanation because I don't recall coming across something like this before.  The only thing I can relate it to is a Dynamic Block, which seems simple enough to do with the repeating tick marks of the ruler.  The area where I run into a mental roadblock on it is the numbers.  Some of them are repeating but only until they get to the next number on the scale, then it's a new number.  I can't figure out how to get around that.  I welcome suggestions though.  Also I'm running ACAD2014...I'm not sure I have the above feature.  Tks.

[Jim Clayton]

Maybe if I make the top portion a block and somehow incorporate something similar to the Wipeout command so that as the block moves over it, it becomes hidden? idk

[ronjonp]

I'd make a block of a section and assign the text an attribute. Then they could easily be stacked and code could fill in the numbers. Why do you show so much detail?

 

[Jonathan Handojo]

Just an idea in top of my head, this could be done by using grread.

 

First, specify a base point... which is the bottom of your scale.

Second, select the block to move.

Third, as you move your mouse up and down, the drawing will replenish showing the new scales. by:

• (vla-put-InsertionPoint block new_point_with_y_value_of_mouse_pointer)

 

I can use AutoLISP, but not to that extent. Maybe someone has a better idea than me.

 

Thanks

Jonathan Handojo

Edited November 15, 2019 by Jonathan Handojo

[Jim Clayton]

That's not a bad idea actually...I may try to run with that.  Thanks.  And to your question, these go on the outside of Liquid Level Chambers for process applications.  They have to be visible and precise so that operators can keep track of Levels (as I understand it...I'm just a cad monkey).  But I'm working on overhauling the entire process for drawing these because it currently sucks and the blocks are a nightmare and unnecessarily time consuming.

[Jim Clayton]

I'm not familiar with grread….looking for examples online now.  Tks.

[Jonathan Handojo]

22 minutes ago, Jim Clayton said:

I'm not familiar with grread….looking for examples online now.  Tks.

 

Here's a small example I made with dimensions.

 

Use this lisp code with the command dim_y_example and select the four dimensions.

 

Then, as you move your mouse, their text position changes based on the y-value of the mouse pointer.

 

(defun c:dim_y_example ( / *error* in_list iter)
  (defun *error* (msg)
    (vla-EndUndoMark adoc)
    (if (not (wcmatch (strcat msg T) "*break*,*exit*,*cancel*"))
      (princ (strcat "\nError: " msg))
      )
    )
  (setq acadobj (vlax-get-acad-object)
	adoc (vla-get-ActiveDocument acadobj)
	msp (vla-get-ModelSpace adoc))
  
  (vla-StartUndoMark adoc)
  (setq test_dim (ssget '((0 . "DIMENSION"))))

  (if test_dim
    (progn
      (setq iter 0)
      (repeat (sslength test_dim)
	(setq in_list (cons (ssname test_dim iter) in_list)
	      iter (1+ iter))
	)
      (setq points (mapcar '(lambda (x) (safearray-value (variant-value (vla-get-TextPosition (vlax-ename->vla-object x))))) in_list))
      
      (princ "\nSpecify y-point for dimension")
      (while
	(eq
	  (car (setq grvalue (grread T 15)))	; Returns the grread value. car grread indicates the type returned, cdr grread indicates the value of that grread.
	  5)					; A value of 5 indicates mouse movement. cdr grread would return the current coordinate of the mouse pointer, if T is supplied.
	(mapcar
	  '(lambda (x y)
	     (vla-put-TextPosition (vlax-ename->vla-object x) (apply 'vlax-3D-Point (list (car y) (cadadr grvalue) (caddr y)))))
	  in_list points)
	)
      )
    )
  
  (vla-EndUndoMark adoc)
  (princ)
  )

However, this is very basic. To produce your drawing and optimise grread to a certain extent is beyond my reach.

 

Thanks,

Jonathan Handojo

 

Dimension_example.dwg

[Jim Clayton]

Dammit...unable to open it because I'm running Autocad 2014...trying to find a way to convert it now.  I appreciate the help.  Tks.

[Jonathan Handojo]

3 minutes ago, Jim Clayton said:

Dammit...unable to open it because I'm running Autocad 2014...trying to find a way to convert it now.  I appreciate the help.  Tks.

Hopefully this time.

Dimension_example.dwg

[Jim Clayton]

Thanks...was able to download.  Trying to break it now.  I appreciate all the help.

[BIGAL]

Can you post an image/dwg of what you want ?

 

The progress bar comes to mind.

 

[Jonathan Handojo]

3 hours ago, BIGAL said:

Can you post an image/dwg of what you want ?

 

The progress bar comes to mind.

 

 

I believe he did on his very first post... With a detailed text of what he want to achieve as well, where the scale can extend and show results. I'm just not sure if it's to be infinitely extended.

Edited November 16, 2019 by Jonathan Handojo

[BIGAL]

It could be done via a vertical array of blocks and numbers added but it would not be dynamic other than the array. A dynamic number block and rest is probably easy. 

 

[Jim Clayton]

See I was initially thinking along the same lines with vertical array.  I made a similar block for horizontal flex armor a while back and thought it could be the same principle but in the opposite direction.  I can manage the repetition of shapes fine, but the area where I keep hitting a mental roadblock is the Numbers.  I'm not sure how to get the two to tie in together aside from leaving blank spaces to fill in, but that seems like it's almost just as time consuming.  Certainly the collective genius of the CadTutor forum can figure out a way around this.

[BIGAL]

The horizontal lines would have the "Ft" "in" 3 6 & 9 as part of a block the Actaul Feet text easiest done as attribute and update in order as the array will create in an order but would have to explode probably the array. You could insert as a block add 0 1 2 etc then group them so if erase or move all go.

 

array block1 given distance = howmany

array block2 given distance = howmnay

 

x=-1

repeat how many = distance

x=x+1 insert block att1 =0 next 1 2 3 

add to Y vertical spacing

end repeat

all done

 

Edited November 19, 2019 by BIGAL

[Jim Clayton]

My apologies Al, and everyone else for that matter. Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. I had free time when I originally asked the question, but then immediately became bogged down with work. I’ll circle back around to this in the near future. I appreciate the help.