Section mark with rotating attribute

[Ebbe_T_Hansen]

The attached drawing contains the block “section-mark” (the drawing is not the block), that may very well look like what you have seen many times before.

We sometimes have long section names, and often drawing with lots of information, and for this reason it has been given options, which are to have smaller section marks and to place the name of the section outside the mark.

The section mark has a rotate action, and the attribute giving the name will rotate along with the mark, but with another rotate action that will rotate it back 180 when the text would be upside down. This is not meant to be a shown property in the final block, but is shown while building the block.

As long as you keep the text centered while you rotate the block and change the size, and later set the placement to above it works as it should, but if you first set the placement to above and then rotate, it goes wrong.

It must be the order of the actions affecting each other that go wrong, but exactly why and how to get it right, that I can’t figure out.

Any help is much appreciated.

/Ebbe

[Libbya · Accepted solution]

The rotational glitch was an issue with the stretch action applied to the text.  I'm not sure why it wasn't working correctly, but when I replaced it with a move action it all works as it should.  No need for any of the constraints.  They don't do anything positive in this block and can interfere with the dynamic actions.  I would also replace the stretch and rotate actions with a polar stretch so both can be easily accomplished in one action.  See attached.  

[Ebbe_T_Hansen]

Thanks a lot, it is just fantastic to have this opportunity to get problems solved

[m_rogoff]

Wow, this is great and I'd love to have my section cut funtion like that. Mine is a much simpler versions without any of the text size changes or text movement. I do need to be able to flip the hat and cut (yellow and blue triangles), and stretch the mid blue line (if possible). I'd also like to insert (0,0) at the alignment parameter, but if this will create issues with the polar stretch/rotation, it's fine to move the base point to center of circle.

Thank you for your help

[m_rogoff]

bump

[h_s_walker]

@m_rogoff

I've haven't looked at your drawing, but this is a section arrow I made ages ago. Does it help?

EDIT: I've just had a look at your section and noticed it's totally different from mine, BUT you can still use mine to look at and see how it works.

[Libbya]

m_rogoff, what part of the block is giving you trouble?  I understand your description, but it does not appear that you have attempted to modify the block in the ways you describe.  Give it your best go and if you get stuck, post up the specific issue you're stuck on.  

[AJBuckers]

Hi, this is a great thread, the rotation of the text to keep it readable is a great tweak to the block. I've had a look and it's all controlled by look up tables, correct? Can anyone point me in the direction of some good tutorials for this, or explain to me how to add it to my block?

I've attached a section mark that we use regularly, it's quite simple with a couple of dynamic elements but having the text rotate back when the block is rotated past a certain angle would be a great addition!

Thanks in advance.

Update: Looking at the previous uploaded files, I've had a play and added a look up to one of the attributes which I can select to manually rotate the text. What I don't know how to do is to make it do it automatically when the block is rotated.... Updated file attached 

[h_s_walker]

I assume it was my block you were looking at.

To keep the text horizontal you need to remove it from the rotation parameter.

You then need to use a point parameter at the centre of the block and attach a move action to the point parameter.

You then need to add the point parameters to the rotate parameter and set the CHAIN ACTIONS for all three to YES.

See the attached drawing

[AJBuckers]

Hwalker, thanks for your response, that's really helpful, I'd actually only looked that the first block that rotated the text inline with the section lines, but flipped it 180 when a certain angle was reached to keep it readable, but the solution you've shown me is excellent, I didn't know that was possible.

Out of interest, I noticed when testing the block you uploaded for me that the 2 attributes change position when I grab one of the grips to manipulate the block, do you know why that happens? It's almost like they switch from a mid-centre justify to a left justify.

Thanks!

Update: HWalker, just had a look at your original upload, very similar to the CAD block we use, sorry I didn't notice that before!

[Ebbe_T_Hansen]

Simply keeping text horizontal at all times is an option, but you could also make the text flip 180° when the main rotation is in the range from 90 to 270°. You had already made the rotate action and a lookup table that points in that direction.

The missing link is that the lookup has to be a double lookup with one table that reads the value of the main rotation, and then passes a value to another table that affects the other rotation. It is shown in the attached file.

A recommended post with more information about double lookups is this one:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/dynamic-blocks/ootb-multiple-visibility-states-solution/m-p/4961288#M1...

/Ebbe

[AJBuckers]

Thanks Ebbe, i'll look into it! 🙂