Create block with editable text

[smdin79]

How do i create a block with editable text?
i kinda know how to create blocks but can't seem to figure out how to have the text editable. i guess its through attributes, but how do i add those and from where?
either way an overall lesson in block creation i think is needed :s

any help you guys can provide is much appreciated.

shawn.

[bbapties]

try the command ATTDEF
I think that will get you in the right direction....

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Give the following a try...

AutocadCentral.com Lesson 12 of 12 - Blocks (http://www.autocadcentral.com/Tutorials/Lesson%2012/lesson12.htm)

Creating and Inserting Blocks (http://www.we-r-here.com/cad/tutorials/level_2/2-5.htm)

Block Attributes: Creating | Displaying | Extracting | Editing (http://www.we-r-here.com/cad/tutorials/level_2/2-6.htm)

Have a good one, Mike

[smdin79]

Thanks guys,

but after i create the block with its attribute i don't get prompted to enter a value. and when i enter the value from the properties it still doesnt change the value on screen. it only displays the tag.

did i do something wrong?

shawn

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Please post the drawing file so we can take a look at your Block (with Attributes).

Have a good one, Mike

[kwong]

I think what you're doing wrong is you're not inserting what you've just created into another drawing as a block - save the drawing with the attributes (eg dratt) , then open another drawing & insert 'dratt' as a block and you'll be prompted to edit the attributes. HTH.

kwong

[smdin79]

i got it to work.

thanks guys.

another question in regards to blocks is the naming.
cani give more than one block the same name? and what happens with the layer i create my block in?
ok ill just explain what im trying to do and maybe you guys have suggestions of an effective way to do it....
i want to create blocks of a motor but there are different sizes to it. can i create a block of each motor size but tag it all the same name? each block would be createed in a seperate drawing with different layer names. so in a drawing where i need all different motors i could insert each block but they would all be under the same layer called MOTOR.

thanks for your help guys,
shawn.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Without the use of Dynamic Blocks (AutoCAD 2006 / I don't believe AutoCAD LT 2006 has this feature) definitely go with unique Block Names, if you don't you will run into the issue / problem of different Blocks (same Name) redefining each other.

Have a good one, Mike

[smdin79]

what does "block" references itself *invalid* mean?
more importantly how do i remedy this issue?

what i would like to do is have one shared layer for numerous different blocks (each of which would be named differently). i have created each block in a seperate drawing, using the same layer name for all drawings, but the block name is the same as the drawing name...is this what the problem is?

also, when i create a block in a drawing and there are other objects in the drawing but are not part of the block, how come when i insert the block somewhere (in a separate drawing) all the objects including those not part of the block are inserted? when i explode the block then i gets broken into the block created and the other objects. the question is, why are the other objects being included in the block the first time when i havent included them in the block definition?

Thanks,
Shawn.

[Opie]

what does "block" references itself *invalid* mean? .... the block name is the same as the drawing name...is this what the problem is? Yes.

more importantly how do i remedy this issue? Don't have blocks with the same name as the host drawing.


also, when i create a block in a drawing and there are other objects in the drawing but are not part of the block, how come when i insert the block somewhere (in a separate drawing) all the objects including those not part of the block are inserted? when i explode the block then i gets broken into the block created and the other objects. the question is, why are the other objects being included in the block the first time when i havent included them in the block definition?

Thanks,
Shawn.
I'm not following on the rest of this. Sorry.

[Mike.Perry]

also, when i create a block in a drawing and there are other objects in the drawing but are not part of the block, how come when i insert the block somewhere (in a separate drawing) all the objects including those not part of the block are inserted? when i explode the block then i gets broken into the block created and the other objects. the question is, why are the other objects being included in the block the first time when i havent included them in the block definition?Hi

Without trying to be funny here, that is the way AutoCAD works.

If the version of AutoCAD LT you are using supports Design Center or Tool Palettes, I personally recommend you take at look at either one of them ( or both ).

Have a good one, Mike

[jaberwok]

Look into the WBlock command.
It sounds as if you are creating a block inside one drawing then inserting that whole drawing into another.
When one drawing is inserted into another, the whole inserted drawing becomes a block so you are inserting one block that contains another block (you one you created on purpose). It's when the inserted drawing and the block that it contains both have the same name that you get the "references itself" situation.
Using WBlock will create a new file that contains only the parts that you chose to be in the block.
Inserting this new drawing (after Purging all references to your earlier attempts) should solve your problems.

HTH

[Detsenira]

Hi Shawn,

I just want to share my little experience even though I felt like a fly on top of an elephant in the Auto-CAD world. But any way lets talk about your problem about creating a blocks that “reference it self means”. Sounds like you are trying to give a birth name to your son using your own name, in other words you want your son to be your-JR. Church allowed it but not in Auto-CAD world.

For any reason you want to Modify an existing Block -(Insert a block) make sure you take note of the original name and the Insertion Point and then Explode, then Modify, then Redefine after editing your original blocks and picking-up same Insertion Point, then you notice the object is now defined and watch all copied blocks inserted in the drawing will update automatically.

Hope this help you out or send me a line.

Ted (Detsenira)
Auto-CAD 2005 user