topic Re: Fields syntax modification in AutoCAD Forum

Fields syntax modification

armanCUWLF — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:17:44 GMT

Hi all, Ill try to keep it short. I'm trying to edit some predesignated fields, such as paper size to display but in a different format, for example, papersize field currently displays the full plot name, size, followed by the full word "INCHES":

ANSI A (8.50 X 11.00 INCHES)

I would like to edit this to display (8.50 X 11) only, or maybe (8.50" X 11").

I want to know if there is a way to modify this format, or the format for any of the other pre-programmed fields. As I'm not seeing any user integrated means to achieve this. I want to know how I can edit the code in the AcFields.fdc file to achieve this, however, I'm not too familiar with the fields program syntax.

currently the file for firldId #67 reads:

</Field>
<Field fieldId="67" name="PaperSize" evalId="AcVar" fieldFormatType="String">
<DisplayName resource="217" src="AcFieldRes.dll"/>
<FieldCode>PaperSize</FieldCode>
<FieldCategories>Plot</FieldCategories>
<OptionDialog class="CVariableDialog"/>

Please let me know how I can modify this code.

Also please let me know if this is Lisp language or another back-end language different from lisp (I must work on my understanding of the LISP syntax).

thank you.

Re: Fields syntax modification

cadffm — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:53:11 GMT

Hi,

that's not the job of fields and "ANSI A (8.50 X 11.00 INCHES)" it's just a paper definition NAME.

>"Please let me know how I can modify this code"

This hast nothing to do with your goal, AcVar is reading a sysvar - you can't create new function.

Let me ask you about your Layout&Plot technic.

Do you plot layouts always 1:1 ?

If so, I would go complete different way: A field inside your drawing frame/title.

Re: Fields syntax modification

cadffm — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:59:58 GMT

>>"please let me know if this is Lisp language or another back-end language"

No, it's no language. It's a core XML structure and the content/values are undocumented,

but senseful and easy to understand.

Re: Fields syntax modification

armanCUWLF — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 18:18:56 GMT

Thanks, I am simply trying to add paper size to the title block, along with other information (this should be ideally incorporated into the block, or placed on the a layout if necessary).

The layouts are printed based on the pagesetup for each layout, eg. 11x17, 24x36...etc.

Currently the default field that identifies papersize incorrectly defaults to ANSI A (8.50 X 11.00 INCHES), although I don't currently have a 8.5x11 layout.

I would like it to default to each layout based on the page setup print properties for each layout.

I also would like ideally customize the format that information is displayed to reduce much of the unnecessary information.

thank you.

Re: Fields syntax modification

pendean — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:47:08 GMT

@armanCUWLF wrote:
... I am simply trying to add paper size to the title block...

Isn't your titleblock an actual block with a predefined paper size already?

You can just add a static text in it anywhere you want. Why does it ever need to be a field if I may ask?

Or are you actually using a bunch of lines and Plines that you stretch (or move then constantly FILLET) every time you need a titleblock? Or are you scaling it constantly to avoid spending an hour, one time, to create different sized titleblocks to use forever? I'm curious more than anything else.

Re: Fields syntax modification

armanCUWLF — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:47:32 GMT

Sorry looks like my response didn't go through. I do have the title block as a block with many blocks nested, some which are standard and shared between different layouts, I guess it can be static, but would have to be in the border block. I wanted to have a field as some users may attempt to plot for example an 11x17 layout on a 24x36 paper (I know). In those cases the block will incorrectly display the wrong paper size or would have to be adjusted as a custom field or attribute.