Would you like to prevent other users from destroying fields and yet give them the freedom of custom input in attributes?
The attached file features a dropdown list to select from for the field text with one option being user input. The user input can be edited via the properties palette. The fields will update on regen.
The pertinent bits...
Using the Parameters Manager 2 user parameters were created (User1 and User2).
The X value of gripless point move is used as the input value for lookup1. The Y value is used for lookup2. An X or Y value of 0 corresponds to 'USER INPUT'.
A 'BRIDGE' double lookup uses the X and Y values as input to control switching between visibility states. When 'user input' is selected, then the visibility state is turned on to switch from the lookup attribute to the user attribute.
The value for the lookup1 attribute is set to a blockplaceholder field for the value of the Lookup1 parameter. The user1 attribute is set to a blockplaceholder field for the value of the User1 parameter. Lookup2 attribute has a field linked to Lookup2 parameter. User2 has a field linked to User2 parameter.
All parameters are placed on a *locked layer* (he he he). Be aware that if ANY attribute is placed on a locked layer NONE of the attributes can be edited. Therefore, you must make a user parameter for each user editable attribute and place its field in the attribute.
The result is that the lookups can be used to select any of the options to display or set to user input. A regen is required to display a change. If set to user input, the value of the corresponding User parameter is displayed. The attributes cannot be easily edited and so the fields cannot be easily destroyed but the user input value CAN easily be edited using the properties palette. Show the users how to edit via the properties. Don't tell them about the locked layer.
