{"id":758,"date":"2012-09-25T15:38:19","date_gmt":"2012-09-25T10:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/?p=758"},"modified":"2020-04-04T13:01:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-04T07:31:00","slug":"cad-drafting-dynamic-blocks-with-embedded-fields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/cad-drafting-dynamic-blocks-with-embedded-fields\/","title":{"rendered":"CAD Drafting: Dynamic Blocks with Embedded Fields"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As you all know, blocks help to reduce file size and the time it takes to draft an object multiple times.Howdy to all AutoCAD users and explorers who are well-versed in the uses of&nbsp; blocks and fields.<\/p>\n<p>Today, AutoCAD blocks are becoming intelligent and flexible, acquiring new features and constraints. These can be controlled parametrically, and we call them \u2018Dynamic Blocks.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we do a taste test of a mixture of Blocks and Fields (a \u2018Field\u2019 being an intelligent text in AutoCAD which is self-updatable) that can help us to update both simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p>Let the experiment begin! Let\u2019s combine Blocks and Fields in a single AutoCAD play.<\/p>\n<p>First create the geometry of your block with specific measurements and requirements. Here, we show the penetration\/symbol for an HVAC unit.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0024.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"clip_image002[4]\" src=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0024_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"clip_image002[4]\" width=\"192\" height=\"160\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now, we add an Mtext (or single text) below the unit to denote the length and the width of an HVAC unit (6 x 4 is the length and width in the image below).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0044.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"clip_image004[4]\" src=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0044_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"clip_image004[4]\" width=\"192\" height=\"180\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Before going into detail, let\u2019s explain why we want to combine block and field. We are trying to place a single block with a linked field \u2013 i.e., we want to generate the length and width of the unit by stretching the block to the desired size.<\/p>\n<p>Here you go:<\/p>\n<p>Type the command, \u2018field,\u2019 select \u2018Objects\u2019 from field category pick the \u2018Object\u2019 from field names.<\/p>\n<p>Then click \u2018Select object\u2019 to select the vertical line of the geometry.<\/p>\n<p>Next, pick \u2018Length\u2019 from the property bar and copy the expression from the field expression tab.<\/p>\n<p>Now, paste the expression in the text of the length entity (ex: 6), which you have added below the unit.<\/p>\n<p>The same above procedure is used for the width \u2013 select the horizontal line of the geometry.<\/p>\n<p>Now the simple text turns to intelligent text. The gray shading indicates the field: see the image below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0064.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"clip_image006[4]\" src=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0064_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"clip_image006[4]\" width=\"192\" height=\"203\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Create a block with the geometry and text. Define the block name, base point, and behavior. In this step, we need to focus on the geometry to constrain and specify its features.<\/p>\n<p>To do this, click \u2018Tools\u2019 tab <a href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0074.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"clip_image007[4]\" src=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0074_thumb.gif\" alt=\"clip_image007[4]\" width=\"17\" height=\"11\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\"><\/a> \u2018Block Editor\u2019. Then select the block from \u2018Edit block definition.\u2019 It will enter into the editing area where the \u2018Block Authoring Palette &amp; Block Editor\u2019 toolbar is visible with block geometry.<\/p>\n<p>Here, we are going to apply linear parameters with stretch action on both the length (y-axis) and width (x-axis) of the geometry. Select one of the linear parameters (ex: Distance 1) in the drawing area and then pick the \u2018Value Set\u2019 menu from the properties bar. Select \u2018List\u2019 from the dropdown menu for Dist Type. Add several distance values of the unit in \u2018Dist value list\u2019. Follow the same procedure for the second linear parameter (ex: Distance 2).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0094.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"clip_image009[4]\" src=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0094_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"clip_image009[4]\" width=\"240\" height=\"136\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Now test the block by using the \u2018Test Block\u2019 button in the \u2018block editor\u2019 toolbar. Then, use the arrow grips to watch how it works.. The stretching of the block reflects the actual distance in field (after a regen command) as shown below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0114.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"clip_image011[4]\" src=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/clip_image0114_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"clip_image011[4]\" width=\"192\" height=\"224\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Thus, our demonstration is successful.<\/p>\n<p>Since there are many features in both dynamic blocks and fields, we\u2019ve only covered a few of them. If you need to create some of your own with different features, start at this point. The dynamic blocks with fields will prove useful to you in our fast-paced world.<\/p>\n<p>For further reading, go here: <a title=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/683\/computer-drafting-tip-customizing-autocad-fields.htm\" href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/683\/computer-drafting-tip-customizing-autocad-fields.htm\">http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/683\/computer-drafting-tip-customizing-autocad-fields.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And if you need help with your CAD drafting, we can help you at <a title=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/\" href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/\">http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cheers, and take some time to explore the technique described above!<\/p>\n<p>Thank you,<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/inayath.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"inayath\" src=\"http:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/inayath_thumb.png\" alt=\"inayath\" width=\"141\" height=\"62\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5f143743-7710-40e0-8166-6117fb67df38\" class=\"wlWriterEditableSmartContent\" style=\"margin: 0px; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 8pt; padding: 0px;\">Technorati Tags: <a href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/tags\/cad+drafting\" rel=\"tag\">cad drafting<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/tags\/autocad+drafting\" rel=\"tag\">autocad drafting<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/tags\/autocad+tips\" rel=\"tag\">autocad tips<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/tags\/autocad\" rel=\"tag\">autocad<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/tags\/drafting+services\" rel=\"tag\">drafting services<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/tags\/cad+services\" rel=\"tag\">cad services<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/technorati.com\/tags\/cad+tips\" rel=\"tag\">cad tips<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; As you all know, blocks help to reduce file size and the time it takes to draft an object multiple times.Howdy to all AutoCAD users and explorers who are well-versed in the uses of&nbsp; blocks and fields. Today, AutoCAD blocks are becoming intelligent and flexible, acquiring new features and constraints. These can be controlled&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[14,246,247,245,19,248,34],"class_list":["post-758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cad-news","tag-autocad","tag-autocad-drafting","tag-autocad-tips","tag-cad-drafting","tag-cad-services","tag-cad-tips","tag-drafting-services"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=758"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5470,"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/758\/revisions\/5470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themagnumgroup.net\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}