Fields Blocks and Labels

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to dynamically link a label with a block?

For instance, if you have a block in a drawing, and want to label the number of times the block appears in the drawing, is there a way to do that? And have it be dynamically linked so that if I were to delete one of those blocks, it will automatically update the label?

[tcorey]

It will take some light progamming to do this, but it's very possible.

Fields allow you to reference an AutoLISP variable, so you could make a function that counts the blocks and creates a variable of the count. A reactor would be present to update the variable any time you insert, copy, erase. Another reactor could update the field, so you don't have to regen to see the results.

[Pointdump]

TJ,

How about using Attributes? Architects do this all the time with the number of doors, light switches, banquet tables, etc, linking them dynamically to a table. The table in your case would be just one cell.

Dave

[Joe-Bouza]

The DATAEXTRACTION command is built to do that with no need for additional programing.

[Pointdump]

Joe,

Every day I learn something new on this Forum. Thank you.

Dave

[tcorey]

I thought he said he wants the field to automatically update when he copies, inserts or erases blocks of a certain name. Will data extraction do that?

[Joe-Bouza]

Hi Tim

Kind of.

By default you will be prompted to update on plot & publish. You can tweak the system variabl DXEVAL to update in different ways, and/or not even get the prompt.If I understand it correctly setting DXEVAL= 480 would be unencumbered updates on plot, publish, save and etransmit. I use 15 to have updates on plot publish and save (regen would be good but that the best I have); sometimes I like to say no - for whatever reason.

[Joe-Bouza]

Hi Dave

And it can do much more than count blocks; add areas, length, do calculations; convert units, yada yada

[rl_jackson]

I use that command all the time to count parking spaces with this block.

Really convenient export to csv open in excel add a couple expressions to the end and you done.

[Joe-Bouza]

Hi RL

check this one out; regen after stretch 

[rl_jackson]

Joe,

That does quite a few things, certainly wish I had that when I did design work, I could use it now in some instances but with ALTA work, our hands get a little tied and generally just show them as they are stripped along with everything else on site. I cant tell you how many parking lots that I have done that don't have even spacing. It might have at one time, but it never seems to get stripped the same what it was designed or was previously laid out.

[Joe-Bouza]

So true
If you want the HC one let me know

[rl_jackson]

I would certainly like to check it out. I have a couple of dynamic blocks myself. Scale Bar, and a POB POC call that show 3 different arrows flips resizes and the like. But have been consider using custom mleader arrows to do what the dynamic block does.