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Chapter 5 – Symbols, Tables, and Fields
AutoCAD: Secrets Every User Should Know Chapter 5 – Symbols, Tables, and Fields
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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
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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
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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
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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
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WBLOCK A SAVE Command, Not a BLOCK Command No WBLOCK entity
Part of a drawing Block definition Selected entities Entire drawing (thorough PURGE) 6
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Check Path INSERT Undefined Block Name 7
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Dynamic Blocks Actions and Parameters 8
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Creating a Dynamic Block
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Using a Dynamic Block 22
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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
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Symbol Libraries DesignCenter 24
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Symbol Libraries Missing Icons? BLOCKICON 25
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Fields and Attributes Title Block with Attributes and Fields 26
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Block Fields 27
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ATTDEF 28
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Copy Attributes 29
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Block Naming Strategy 30
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Edit Attributes 31
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Edit Attributes 32
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Extracting Attributes
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Extracting Attributes
Formats Table AutoCAD object Only internal output CSV Comma Separated Value TXT file MDB Microsoft Database Access 34
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Extracting Attributes
Formats XLS Spreadsheet Excel TXT Space delimited Can be imported into AutoCAD Proportional fonts don’t line up Use TABLES 35
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Extracting Attributes From Command Line
Why? Occasionally EATTEXT causes errors Can automate process with AutoLISP -ATTEXT Requires a Template File TXT format 36
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Extracting Attributes From Command Line
Template file (TXT) 37
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Extracting Attributes From Command Line
Template file (TXT) 38
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Extracting Attributes From Command Line
Delimited Output Comma Space 39
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XRef - Attachment 40
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XRef - Reference Type 41
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XRef - Relative Path 42
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XRef - Relative Path 43
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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
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XRef Binding Renaming Bound Objects 45
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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
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Fields and Tables Fields 47
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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
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Fields and Tables 49
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Fields and Tables 50
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