need a dynamic block guru...

[james.126519]

I am not going to explain what I need this for because it would take too much of everyones time. So, I am going to just dumb it down to the basics. I really hope someone will be able to help, it will make my work much nicer

i want to create 3 blocks that are nothing more than rectangles 2"x6". I'll call one block "A", and the other two "B" and "C". the dynamic properties of the blocks are simple, just a stretch mode that i can adjust the 6" dimension to whatever length i want. I dont want to change the 2" dimension. Inside each rectangle, I want an attribute that at some point i can label the block with a part mark.

Once i have all of my blocks stretched to the lengths i need, i would like to use EATTEXT to extract the block name, attribute value and the distances into a table. Keep in mind that i have not filled out any of the attributes in the blocks.

Up to this point its simple and im good to go.

But, once i have the table created, does anyone know of a way that i can fill in the blanks in the table under the attribute column, and have that information transfer to all of the blocks that line is referencing? I have an example attached..

[Chris.N]

I am not going to explain what I need this for because it would take too much of everyones time. So, I am going to just dumb it down to the basics. I really hope someone will be able to help, it will make my work much nicer

i want to create 3 blocks that are nothing more than rectangles 2"x6". I'll call one block "A", and the other two "B" and "C". the dynamic properties of the blocks are simple, just a stretch mode that i can adjust the 6" dimension to whatever length i want. I dont want to change the 2" dimension. Inside each rectangle, I want an attribute that at some point i can label the block with a part mark.

Once i have all of my blocks stretched to the lengths i need, i would like to use EATTEXT to extract the block name, attribute value and the distances into a table. Keep in mind that i have not filled out any of the attributes in the blocks.

Up to this point its simple and im good to go.

But, once i have the table created, does anyone know of a way that i can fill in the blanks in the table under the attribute column, and have that information transfer to all of the blocks that line is referencing? I have an example attached..

not without programming or some add-on package (that i'm unaware of)

why not have whatever info you need filled in via fields in attributes? they can at least get you half-way there if you're just trying to match extrusion profiles.

um, let me explain further. you have vis states (or whatever) labeled as "A", "B", etc., so just have a field in an attribute match that state, and just add on after the field your additional tag data.

[james.126519]

not without programming or some add-on package (that i'm unaware of)

why not have whatever info you need filled in via fields in attributes? they can at least get you half-way there if you're just trying to match extrusion profiles.

um, let me explain further. you have vis states (or whatever) labeled as "A", "B", etc., so just have a field in an attribute match that state, and just add on after the field your additional tag data.

well, what I am trying to accomplish is an automatic cut list. If i can use dynamic blocks to stick build a curtainwall elevation, then just extract the properties into a table it cuts my time in half. but, i then need to put partmarks on my elevations so that my shop and field personnel know where each part goes for fabrication and installation. so, the last part i was looking for was to automatically part mark the elevations.

[Capt. Computer Crasher]

well, what I am trying to accomplish is an automatic cut list. If i can use dynamic blocks to stick build a curtainwall elevation, then just extract the properties into a table it cuts my time in half. but, i then need to put partmarks on my elevations so that my shop and field personnel know where each part goes for fabrication and installation. so, the last part i was looking for was to automatically part mark the elevations.

Which AutoCAD are you using?
In AutoCAD 2008 you can extract info on almost any object they don't have to be blocks.

[Chris.N]

Which AutoCAD are you using?
In AutoCAD 2008 you can extract info on almost any object they don't have to be blocks.

he want's auto-tagging reverse populated from a table... (similar to revit capabilities)

[Capt. Computer Crasher]

he want's auto-tagging reverse populated from a table... (similar to revit capabilities)

then yes he will need a macro or Revit I guess data extractor alone won't do it automacally anyway, he could add a column if there was a mathimatically equation for what he wanted but if its text strings then no.

[james.126519]

how come nobody is giving me the answer i want??

Im going to tell all of you what my boss is always telling me! There are no problems, only solutions! lol

ah well, i appreciate all the input everyone. Theres always the old way i have always done it, by hand lol

thanks again!

[Chris.N]

how come nobody is giving me the answer i want??

Im going to tell all of you what my boss is always telling me! There are no problems, only solutions! lol

ah well, i appreciate all the input everyone. Theres always the old way i have always done it, by hand lol

thanks again!

my boss' version is this: It's not a problem, it's an opportunity!

glad to see you have a sense of humor about your 'opportunities', ya need it to stick with these DB's...

[wroebuck]

There are free lisp routines to globally edit attributes. "-attedit" is a stock AutoCAD command that will allow you to edit multiple attributes in drawing files. It just has a lot of questions to answer. Maybe it could be a possibility?

[Mr Cory]

I found a lisp yesterday that will automatically number attributes as the 'tag' block is inserted into the drawing. You might be able to modify it to suit the parts number e.g. prefix suffix etc