Chapter 5 – Symbols, Tables, and Fields AutoCAD: Secrets Every User Should Know Chapter 5 – Symbols, Tables, and Fields

Blocks Fundamentals Block definition Block Reference (Insertion) Not visible Exists in DWG file Block Reference (Insertion) Visible in the drawing, if Layer is on and thawed Block definitions includes entities Origin layers on and thawed 2

Blocks Fundamentals AutoCAD DesignCenter Move definitions into other drawings Place definitions on tool palette A drawing becomes a block definition when inserted Blocks can be exploded, but... No longer update Drawing is larger 3

Blocks Fundamentals MINSERT—block can't be exploded Entities on Layer 0 adapt to host layer Entities on non-0 layer controlled by their layer of origin When exploded, entities return to layer of origin 4

Blocks Fundamentals Dimensions and hatches are anonymous blocks Redefine blocks Block Editor REFEDIT BLOCK command Insert drawing with same name -INSERT oldblock=c:\path\new.dwg 5

WBLOCK A SAVE Command, Not a BLOCK Command No WBLOCK entity Part of a drawing Block definition Selected entities Entire drawing (thorough PURGE) 6

Check Path INSERT Undefined Block Name 7

Dynamic Blocks Actions and Parameters 8

Creating a Dynamic Block 9

Creating a Dynamic Block 10

Creating a Dynamic Block 11

Creating a Dynamic Block 12

Creating a Dynamic Block 13

Creating a Dynamic Block 14

Creating a Dynamic Block 15

Creating a Dynamic Block 16

Creating a Dynamic Block 17

Creating a Dynamic Block 18

Creating a Dynamic Block 19

Creating a Dynamic Block 20

Creating a Dynamic Block 21

Using a Dynamic Block 22

Symbol Libraries Strategies Create a separate drawing file for each symbol Include all symbols in a template file Group related blocks into separate library drawings Recommended Use DesignCenter 23

Symbol Libraries DesignCenter 24

Symbol Libraries Missing Icons? BLOCKICON 25

Fields and Attributes Title Block with Attributes and Fields 26

Block Fields 27

ATTDEF 28

Copy Attributes 29

Block Naming Strategy 30

Edit Attributes 31

Edit Attributes 32

Extracting Attributes 33

Extracting Attributes Formats Table AutoCAD object Only internal output CSV Comma Separated Value TXT file MDB Microsoft Database Access 34

Extracting Attributes Formats XLS Spreadsheet Excel TXT Space delimited Can be imported into AutoCAD Proportional fonts don’t line up Use TABLES 35

Extracting Attributes From Command Line Why? Occasionally EATTEXT causes errors Can automate process with AutoLISP -ATTEXT Requires a Template File TXT format 36

Extracting Attributes From Command Line Template file (TXT) 37

Extracting Attributes From Command Line Template file (TXT) 38

Extracting Attributes From Command Line Delimited Output Comma Space 39

XRef - Attachment 40

XRef - Reference Type 41

XRef - Relative Path 42

XRef - Relative Path 43

XRef Binding Two Types of Bind INSERT Bind As though drawing was attached using INSERT, not XREF Potential naming conflicts Bind Names of layers, dimstyles, etc. prefixed with drawing name No naming conflicts 44

XRef Binding Renaming Bound Objects 45

XRef - REFEDIT Can Edit XRefs by Mistake XEDIT variable will prevent editing Set it to 0 in XREF before attaching XOPEN Open an attached XREF for editing Less likely to be a mistake 46

Fields and Tables Fields 47

Fields and Tables Tables Create a style with proper font Place FIELD by 2X clicking in cell, right-Clicking in MTEXT editor, and selecting FIELD Each cell designated with letter and number of row and column Cell can also contain a formula or a reference to a different table 48

Fields and Tables 49

Fields and Tables 50