Dynamic Scale Bar

[ryanquigley2390]

Is it possible to create a scale bar block that will grab the scale of the drawing and update itself if the scale is changed? I attached a screen shot of our scale bar.

What I'd like it to do is label 0, 100 (1/2 drawing scale), 200 (drawing scale) and 400 (2 times the drawing scale)

And I'd like those values to change depending on the scale of the drawing. I'm not too sharp on blocks, dynamic blocks, annotative blocks etc. I'm just inheriting a bunch of LDD 2004 blocks that I'd like to modify into something that does the work for me with Civil 3D. Is this possible or realistic? Is this going to be a dynamic, annotative block or just a dynamic block? What is a good approach? Has anyone already accomplished this who would be wiling to share one?

Thanks
Ryan

[Anonymous]

there is one included in c3d 2009
in c:\programs......sample/dynamic blocks/annotation.dwg

"ryanquigley2390" wrote in message news:6142394@discussion.autodesk.com...
Is it possible to create a scale bar block that will grab the scale of the
drawing and update itself if the scale is changed? I attached a screen shot
of our scale bar. What I'd like it to do is label 0, 100 (1/2 drawing
scale), 200 (drawing scale) and 400 (2 times the drawing scale) And I'd like
those values to change depending on the scale of the drawing. I'm not too
sharp on blocks, dynamic blocks, annotative blocks etc. I'm just inheriting
a bunch of LDD 2004 blocks that I'd like to modify into something that does
the work for me with Civil 3D. Is this possible or realistic? Is this going
to be a dynamic, annotative block or just a dynamic block? What is a good
approach? Has anyone already accomplished this who would be wiling to share
one? Thanks Ryan

[ryanquigley2390]

I saw that, but how can I get it to update when I change the annotation scale of the drawing? I changed the scale from 1:1 to 1:100 and nothing seems to change.

[ryanquigley2390]

I see how you change it. Click on the scale bar symbol and then clicking on the blue triangle that comes up will allow you to choose the scale.

I also found another user who posted one a little ways down in this thread that is nicer than the stock Autodesk one.

http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/message.jspa?messageID=5679219

[Anonymous]

Hey Ryan,

I too am trying to make a dynamic scale bar. I was thinking of being able to enter the scale manually in a user-input and then have the block make the necessary calculations for the scale bar but I haven't had much luck yet...

Have you made any advancements?

Bryan

[rl_jackson]

Here you go

[Joe-Bouza]

make the scale bar and a prototype viewport, assign objext field to the scale bar number places. wblock to your design center folder.

When used the scale will adjust the the vport scale as opossed to a dyno block parameter

[Anonymous]

Thanks to both for your replies however this isn't entirely what I was looking for.

My scale bars are not annotative and do not need to change size depending on the scale. I'd also rather make one without visiblity states so that I can add all of the possible scales without making it heavy.

I'll work on it when I have time, thanks again!

Bryan

[Joe-Bouza]

Hi Bryan,

My suggestion isn't annotative it simply links the scale in your bar to the vport scale. Is that not what you are looking for?

[rl_jackson]

Joe,

Were is that field variable located, I see that when you select the viewport object it give you a scale option, but then the scale comes it at 1:50 instead of 1" = 50' like I have it set on the vp scale.

[Joe-Bouza]

[rl_jackson]

Can any by say

[Anonymous]

Sorry Joe, I haven't had time to fully test out your solution as yet.

I can see how using the "field" command will be usefull however would it be able to link itself to the viewport whenever I insert it into a new drawing?

Perhaps I'm not looking at the right field expression...

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

for all using Civil3D 2013 (or Map3D 2013), there is already a finished function built in for scale/northarrow/legend (Map3D).

To get/insert the scalebar use command -MAPINSERTPLE

This lets you place a block (some are predefined) and assign it to a viewport. Every change to the scale of the viewport is shown then immediatly to the scalebar as it is associative.

- alfred -

[Joe-Bouza]

Yes, as stated earlier: create the scale bar with a viewport. when you create a new sheet you will insert a vport with the scale bar

[Joe-Bouza]

And I've been doing it caveman style for years

[Anonymous]

Ahhh ok, from what I understand the scale bar is linked to the initial viewport. This wouldn't work if I inserted my block into an existing drawing which already contained the viewports I needed.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's just me but the command doesn't seem to work in Civil3d 2013...

[Anonymous]

Nevermind! Got it.

[Joe-Bouza]

Correct. It is all part and parcel