using named Dimensional Constraints in a LISP or other AutoCAD custom program?

[neeboy74]

I am looking for a way to use user-specified Dimensional constraint parameters in an automated steup of some sort.  

I'm doing drawings for a company that makes compression fittings for people with circulatory problems.  They have workers that take numbers from a form that the customer fills out, then they manually draw up patterns that the fabric cutters use.  The pattern is a standard drawing, but by using constraints I could make the drawing size itself based on the data entered  This would be a very straightforward procedure in AutoCAD if I could get at those darn parameters somehow!

It would be a very easy job in Solidworks (and probably Inventor) where any user parameter can be named/re-named in Design Tables and Configurations.  Given the plethora of LISP's and other kinds of AutoCAD custom programs out there, there's gotta be a way to get what I want.  Anyone have any ideas (I can pay for any kind of successful consultancy)??

[Anonymous]

Have you tried to make the drawing as a dynamic block?

If you make it the right way it is possible to simply change a load of parameters like length, radius, angle and array trough the property menu.

[stevor]

Anything you can draw, you can make  a sequence of commands to do the same, by several 'language' methods.

Autolisp is simply the easiest to make it adjustable, aka parametric.

So, post a shape and the adjustable dimentions.

And see what is returned.

[neeboy74]

Yes, actually I just discovered about an hour ago that Dynamic blocks are probably the way to go.  Now if I can just figure out how to get the darn attributes out of ACAD and into Excel.  I've tried setting up a very simple file with just one line, and made that a dynamic block with what I thought was a Distance attribute, but when I try to use the ATTOUT command, it tells me that there's nothing exportable.  Feel free to look at the attached file!  Thanks!