Complex Dynamic Block Help

[Kandi B]

Hi All.

I am hoping someone can help me with a challenge that I have. I have looked all over for a way to be able to do what I am looking for with little to no success.

This is the scenario I am trying to create. I have a block that I want to do multiple look up parameters (multiple visibilities) and based on the chosen options in the drop list I would also like the ability to array the block.

Example: I have a block called GRID. I have two drop down menus for the length and width. The length drop down has these options: 500, 1000, 1500, & 2000. The width drop down has the same options as length. So i can have up to 16 different configurations with these two drop downs. Now I would like to be able to array these 16 configurations based on the options chosen. If I choose Length 500 and width 500 I would like this to be arrayed to show a grid format. If I were to change either option say Length to 1000 and Width to 2000 I would like this to also have the array option. I have not been able to figure out how to get these two options to work together. I can set up the multiple lookup parameters just fine but when I try to set up the array function, it wants the size of the array. I would like the array size option to be based on the visibility options (preferably a formula.) Every time I try to figure it out I get some kind of an error such as "This function cannot be used in this way" or something like that. I have tried using constraints and dimensional constraints. I have tried using a formula in the parameter manager with no success.

I am attaching a very basic drawing with the two options that I would like to have combined into one.

The reason I would like to do it this way is because I have technically have 625 possible combinations at this time. This number might get bigger as we add more sizes. I also cannot do incremental as the increments of sizes are not consistent.

I am using AutoCAD 2024.

Thanks guys.

[Osama.Omari]

DYNAMIC DIM-ARRAY

[Kandi B]

What you did was what I have done for most of my blocks, but this is not really what I am looking for for this particular block. I don't want to have to put 625+ blocks (or 2500+ entities) into one dynamic block as that will make the block almost unusable due to the massive size of the dynamic block. I already have dynamic blocks that are very large because I have had to put so many blocks and entities into them.

What I am really looking for is:
-I would like to start with only one rectangle that starts at 500 x 500
-I would like to have this one rectangle be stretched to several different sizes
-I would then like this stretch to be tied to two drop down lookups each with several sizes (500, 1000, 1500, 2000)
-Based on the sizes chosen from the drop downs, I would like the chosen size to be able to be arrayed in only two directions with only one grab point.

[Kandi B]

Attached are two files. The Excel file shows all the possible combinations I need to have (625 possible combinations). I do not want to put 625+ block into my dynamic block. The dwg file shows the block I started but cannot figure out how to get it to work the way I want it to. The second block in the dwg shows how I would like the dynamic block to function but WITHOUT all the blocks nested into the dynamic block. I want just 8 total entities (4 circles and 4 lines) that are stretched and arrayed to work like the GRID.DYN.TEST block in the dwg file. I know that what I am asking for is possible as we have a block that is similar but different that functions the way I want this block to work. I have been trying to use this block as a guide and I am completely lost as to how this person set this block up. Unfortunately for liability reasons I cannot post this other drawing with the block that functions the way I want mine to.

[Ed Jobe]

I've been playing around with this. I've gotten the array to work. I've gotten the lookups to work. But I haven't figured out a way to get them to work together yet.

[Kandi B]

That is exactly the problem I have been having. I know it is possible but I can't seem to figure it out. I have been trying to get my grids to work like the block I have shown below. Maybe someone can help me break the following block functionality down since I have been struggling to understand exactly how the guy did this one. It is super complicated.

[Ed Jobe]

Here's what I have so far.

[Ed Jobe]

Here's one with a better use of Lookup tables.

[Kandi B]

This is currently how this particular block is set up at the moment. The problem is that I have 625 options to choose from and I don't want to have a lookup list with 625 options as that gets quite long and hard to work with. This is why I NEED a block that has 2 lookup drop downs that have 25 options each for Length and Width. I also don't want to have to put 625 blocks into one block to create the block as this would make for a very large file size. I want to be able to reduce the number of blocks within the dynamic block and reduce the number of options available.

[Ed Jobe]

The block I gave you in post 7 does that. It has two lookups, height and width, with only 5 entities, 1 polygon and 4 circles. If you use that block, you can array it after you have the correct size. At least it will save you from having to have 625 blocks. If you set the block's column and row spacing to the most commonly used, then you can drag the array size for most of the time. Currently, its 1000 by 1000.