1. 1 Fields Sacramento City College Engineering Design Technology

2. Fields u A field u is a special type of text object that u can display a specific property value, setting, or characteristic. u Fields u can display information related to a specific object u general drawing properties, or u the current user or computer system.

3. Fields u AutoCAD can update field information automatically. u Fields are useful tools for displaying information that may change throughout the course of a project. u Example : Datefield into a title block. u The field is updated automatically with the current date throughout the life of the drawing file.

4. Inserting Fields u Inserting Fields u Fields can be inserted in both multi-line and single-line text.

5. Inserting Fields u To insert a field in multi-line text u pick the Insert Field button from the Text Formatting toolbar u or u select the Insert Field... option available from the Options flyout button u or u the shortcut menu, u or u use the [Ctrl]+[F] key combination.

6. Inserting Fields u To insert a field in single-line text u right-click and u select Insert Field... from the shortcut menu while entering text on-screen. u A field can also be inserted without first accessing the MTEXT or TEXT commands by u picking Insert > Field... from the pull-down menu.

7. 7 Using Attributes

8. Inserting Fields u The Field dialog box is displayed. u Many preset fields can be selected. u Fields are separated into categories, to make it easier to locate a specific field. u Only the fields within the category are displayed in the Field names list box.

9. 9 Using Attributes

10. 10 Using Attributes

11. 11 Using Attributes

12. 12 Using Attributes

13. 13 Using Attributes

14. 14 Using Attributes

15. 15 Using Attributes

16. Inserting Fields u Pick the field category u Pick the field to be inserted from the Field name box. u Field Format u You can also select from a list of formats to determine the display of the field.

17. Inserting Fields u The Format list u varies, depending on the selected field. u Pick field u Pick format u Click OK u The field assumes the current text style. u By default, the field text has a gray background. u Helps indicate that the text is actually a field. u The background can be deactivated in the Fields area of the User Preferences tab of the Options dialog box.

18. Updating Fields u After a field is inserted into a drawing, the value being displayed may change. u Examples: u A field displaying the current date changes every date. u A field displaying the file name will change if the filename changes. u A field displaying the value of an object property will change if the object is modified and the property is changed.

19. Updating Fields u Updating Fields u is AutoCAD's process of checking the value of the field and changing the display if needed. u Can be completed automatically or manually.

20. Updating Fields u Automatic updating u is set using the Field Update Settings dialog box. u To access this dialog box, pick the Field Update Settings... button in the Fields area of the User Preferences tab of the Options dialog box. u Whenever a selected event occurs, (such as saving or regenerating), all fields are automatically updated.

21. Updating Fields u Manual Updating u select Update Fields from the Tools pull-down menu (UPDATEFIELD command). u After picking the command, select the fields to be updated. u Use the All selection option to update all fields in a single operation. u Update a field within the text editor by u right-clicking on the field and u selecting the Update Field menu option.

22. Editing Fields u To edit a field u Select the text object containing the field for editing. u Double-click the field to display the Field dialog box. u OR u right-click the field and u pick Edit Field... from the shortcut menu. u Use the Field dialog box to modify the field settings and pick OK to apply the changes.

23. Editing Fields u Convert field to standard text. u When converting a field, the currently displayed value becomes text u the association to the field is lost u the value no longer updates. u Select the text for editing u right-click the field, and u pick the Convert Field To Text option.