Theme a Layer with Dynamic Blocks

[nwray]

Hi all,

I'm working on a map which contains a large number of data points.  One set of points represents a number of signalized intersections.  Each point has object data associated with it, including information that I want to use to theme.  In order to get the theme to work correctly, I have exported the points to SDF and then connected to that file using the FDO.  

Once connected to the data, I created a theme that I am using to display the points.  The points are set to display as blocks (all the same block) which only vary in fill color based on one item of the object data.  So far, all of that works; all blocks display as desired and in the correct color.  

The problem that I am having is in trying to make a dynamic label a part of the block.  What I want is to display the contents of one field from the object data as text immediately below the block.  To do that, I open the block in the block editor, then add an annotative text field (mapanntext command).  I set the properties that I want with regard to text size, position, rotation, etc., and set the value to be the appropriate field from the object data table.  However, when I try to display these blocks in the map, the text does not show up.  I've checked the basic issues (text would be large enough to see, layer is set to visible, etc.), but I can't figure why everything else displays with no text.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Norm

[maherich]

Hi,

why do ou want to make the lable a part of the block? Isn't it more easier to create a lable in theme?

Martin

[Murph_Map · Accepted solution]

Map anno blocks do not work on FDO features. If you keep the points as AutoCAD objects w/ OD you can theme them with the anno blocks and set the colors based on the OD.

To use them as SDF features (FDO) you need to also create labels along with the style.

[nwray]

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@maherich wrote:

Hi,

why do you want to make the label a part of the block? Isn't it more easier to create a label in theme?

Martin

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Hi Martin,

No particular reason to make the label as part of the block, it's just the way that I normally use annotations.  I was originally going to use the labeling feature in the theme style options, but it would not allow me to specify the placement of the text (the placement options were grayed out), and I did not like where it was inserting the text.

Norm

[nwray]

Hi Murph,

Thanks for the info; didn't realize that you couldn't use annotations on FDO objects.  I ended up keeping them as CAD features and using an annotation block with text to get them to display (like you suggested).  I had never dynamically adjusted the color of a block in an annotation before, but I was able to work it out.

Norm