Dynamic Blocks

[#1]

Greetings, boardmembers. Have I got a doozy of a problem here, and all kinds of help is appreciated.

I've been creating company-standard blocks lately. My latest skill is getting the Block Properties Table into my blocks, in order to automatically edit Block Attributes (i.e., making a Smoke Detector symbol's attribute to appear as SD). Got things working great so far....

Until I tried to save my blocks as separate files!

After creating my block(s) and placing them in a master DWG file model space, assuring that it works properly, I've gone back into the Block Editor in order to save it separately via the "Save Block Definition to Drawing File" toggle. Maybe not my first mistake, but my biggest mistake was having faith in this, and not checking my saved files sooner. So, when I did click on a block file that had a B.P.T. in it, opening the file opens in Block Editor. But, I am unable to pull up the B.P.T. in spite of the Table Grip being visible. Also, the affected attribute itself has been deleted. It is not even shown in the Parameter Manager. Needless to say, this whole situation is unacceptable.

Has anyone else dealt with this? How else can I save such a Dynamic Block with a B.P.T. as a separate file?

I use AutoCAD 2010, and I pray that I am not the only one plagued by this.

Chris Martin

[#2]

Post an example of before and after if you can.

[#3]

Here you go, Mr. Shade.

Chris Martin

[#4]

So you have three Vis States in this Block?

Likely there is something causing the issue there.

Your after drawing immediately crashed my LT.

What is your current AutoCAD version and visibility-add-eng build?

BTW - I cannot work with that Lisp as I am on the LT platform.

[#5]

Mr. Shade, hearing that your AutoCAD crashed, somehow doesn't surprise me. I apologize.

I use AutoCAD 2010, and in that block I've used Vis_add_eng, version 1.4 (1.5 is more volatile for me, for some reason). I've attached another one of my troubled blocks, in before and after states. This time, however, there are no visibility parameters.

Chris Martin

[#6]

That worked much better.

Using WBLOCK from Modelspace the DynBlk moved just fine. It does however create the new drawing as a set of entities. The Dynamic Properties are still there but if you want it to be a DynBlk in the Container Drawing you would have to Block it again.

Oherwise it performed just fine.

As I do not seem to have the "Save Block Definition to Drawing File toggle" (or I do not know how to get to it) I may not be able to Save the Block as you are.

No prob on the crash, yours was the only thing open. It was a quick death though.

Gotto go watch Field Hockey. Enjoy the evening.

[#7]

Good morning, Mr. Shade. I hope you enjoyed watching your field hockey.

When I began my symbol library update project, first I had created blocks that were simple geometry & attributes. Not a single dynamic parameter. And I still don't have a clue about constraints. Now, I am updating those same blocks with parameters.

In the Block Editor space, I had found the "Save Block As" button. In the "Save As" screen that appears, the "Save Block Definition to Drawing File" toggle is on the lower-left corner. Choosing this toggle is how I have been saving my blocks as individual files. It is this saving procedure that screws up my tables and deletes my attributes.

Chris Martin

[#8]

Morning, yep we won so it was a good evening. Thanks.

I do have that option and just used it on a DynBlk that I have that has a BPT. Thanks for the enlightenment.

The Block saved just fine as a separate file and was "exploded" for lack of a better term in the new file.

I opened the new file and then started the BE choosing the Current Drawing since it was the only choice.

The BPT is there and functions normally.

I did a Save Block As and gave it a name, Ok and closed the BE.

Did an INSERT of this saved Block to the same drawing file and the BPT is there and functioning.

Have you tried that on yours or are you seeing the Exploded block in the new file?

Please mark any response as "Accept as Solution" if it answers your question.
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[#9]

Dear Mr. Shade,

I apologize, but I am not following what you did, that made you say the block with the table works.

Here is what happens with me. I "Save As" my table-functioning block with the toggle on, so I create a new file. When I open the new file, I am instantly asked if I want to enter Block Editor (due to authoring elements). If I do not enter Block Editor, all I see is an ellipse (this may be the exploded state of the block, as you mention). If I do enter Block Editor, I see the grip for the BPT along with the ellipse. However, nothing happens when I try to see the BPT itself. And, the attribute that I had created before is totally gone, no matter which way I enter my new file.

Chris Martin

[#10]

Mr. Shade,

I just put on my Sherlock Holmes hat, and this is what I found. So you know, my BPT had two columns. The first was a User Parameter, just to name the type of tag the ellipse was for. The second was for the value of the attribute that I needed.

First, I deleted the User Parameter column. When I "Save As" the block, the same problem happened.

Then, I deleted the Attribute Value column from my BPT. When I "Save As" the block this time, I have a file with the ellipse, the attribute, and the BPT. Of course, the table is useless because there is nothing to change from one value to the next. But, at least the BPT is there, and it can be opened and edited.

So, my inner detective deduces that there is some issue with my attribute that is causing me hell. Any ideas?

Chris Martin