Masking not hiding

[igroup.kskoog]

I created a fire extinguiser block containing a mask style. We have multiple wall styles and want to put this block in the walls and have it hide the hatching within the walls. Do I need to use AEC Masking? Why isn't it masking the hatching? Using Architecture 2014.

K. Skoog

CADD Technician

[David_W_Koch]

Are you saying that you have created a Mask Block Definition, placed an instance of that in your drawing, and then incorporated that instance, along with other graphics, in an AutoCAD block definition and are trying to use that to mask a Wall?

If so, you have the process somewhat backwards. When you create the Mask Block Definition, you have the opportunity to add "additional graphics," which then form the visible graphics of the Mask Block.

Here is how I would do it:

• Create the additional graphics for your fire extinguisher (cabinet?) and make an AutoCAD block definition from them, selecting an appropriate insertion point. (These do not have to be a block, but it makes it easier to edit them later, and having the insertion point set makes it easier when creating the Mask Block Definition.)
• Draw a closed LWPolyline to define the area to be masked.
• Open the Style Manager. On the left side, expand the Multi-Purpose Objects node under your current drawing and select the Mask Block Definitions node.
• On the right side, right click in an open area and select New from the context menu.
• Give the new definition an appropriate name. Right-click on the new definition and choose Set From from the context menu. The Style Manager will disappear; pay attention to the prompts on the Command: line.
• Choose the LWPolyline you drew as the area to be masked when prompted to select a closed polyline, spline, ellipse or circle.
• When prompted to add another ring, respond No if you only have one polyline defining the area to be masked. If you have multiple (non-overlapping) polylines to select, respond Yes each time until all are selected, then respond No.
• Indicate the base point for the Mask Block. Assuming that you selected the desired insertion point when creating the block for the additional graphics and that your instance is properly placed, you can snap to the insertion point of the additional graphics block.
• When prompted to select additional graphics, choose the instance of the additional graphics block that you placed. If you have other graphics to include that were not in that block, select them as well. When done selecting additional graphics, press ENTER.
• The Style Manager will reappear. If you are done with it, select OK to ratify the changes you made and return to the drawing.
• Place an instance of your Mask Block by using the MaskAdd command. Use the Properties palette and, on the Design tab, under the Basic category, under the General subcategory, set the Definition property to the newly created Mask Block Defintion before placing an instance.
• Select the placed instance of your Mask Block and, on the Mask Block Reference contextual ribbon tab, on the Modify panel, select the Attach Objects tool.
• Select the Wall (or other AEC object) to be masked.
• In the Select Display Representation dialog, if the selected object has more than one active Display Representations for the current Display Configuration/View Direction, choose the Display Representation to which the mask should be applied. If there is only one, it will already be selected.
• Select OK to ratify the Display Representation choice.
• The mask should be applied and hide any part of the Wall covered by the masking area of the Mask Block.

If you are doing something different that what I initially described above, post back with more details on what you are doing (including a sample file with what you have done to date, if possible).