topic Re: Two Block Questions... in AutoCAD Forum

Two Block Questions...

will9ESP8 — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:41:44 GMT

I'm having 2 issues that are killing me right now.

I have drawn a block that I've used for a while now, but now I want that same block, but smaller. The easiest way to do it would be to scale it. But, I cannot for the life of me get autocad to save that block as a new object. If I enter block editor and do 'save as', if I WBLOCK and save it, anything. The next time I insert that block, or copy and paste it to a new drawing, or select an old block and use the properties function to 'replace with', it always brings it in but back to it's original scale. I'm sure I'm missing something easy, but for the life of me I can't get it to work.

And secondly, the block is dynamic, and when I made it I was able to put a line of text in the block, then use a lookup parameter/action, and insert a field referencing that parameter, and it would make a drop down of the different text options. In model space I could click on the drop down and select whichever row of text I had populated into the lookup table. But now for the life of me I can't get it to work again, and I need to add a new dropdown option. I have searched, youtube-d, looked at my old work, and banged my head against the wall. Can someone please help? Maybe a clip of getting it to work? Last time I remember it not being that hard, but right now I can't get it. Maybe lack of sleep trying to get through this project is part of the problem... Thanks!

Re: Two Block Questions...

Rpunturi — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 16:39:39 GMT

The scaling question is baffling.

I'll go over this very rudimentarily, cause sometimes we miss the simple stuff:

When using the Save As command in the block menu, the new "Save As" block must be assigned a new name.

For example, the old block is named "This," and when I use the save as command, I have to name the new block "That".

The two blocks are separate entities at that point. So once completed, you should be able to insert the NEW block named "That" and have the new block appear.

At that point, when you open your insert menu, there should be two blocks, one named "This" and the other a new one called "That".

The parameter you mentioned would be a VISIBILITY STATE. This item can be found in the block editor under the Parameters menu. It does not have any actions required. Once you add the visibility state parameter to your block, select the Visibility States button in the block editor ribbon, and a menu will appear, allowing you to add new visibility states. Each Visibility would be named according to the text you want, and each Vis State would reveal that specific text while the others remain hidden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVn3jl45nY

I hope this helps.

If not, please reply with any additional info you can think of.

Re: Two Block Questions...

will9ESP8 — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 13:01:51 GMT

Thanks - I wish I had the time to edit my blocks right now but I'm trying to survive this job. Hopefully I'll have no trouble once I'm on the other end of this, otherwise I'll post back if I need more help.

The weird thing is I have a visibility state set so I can change the whole block to different shapes to represent my different motor types. But all the text drop downs I have are lookup parameters/actions in the existing block, so I thought I needed to do the same? Maybe I'll post the block once I have time and you'll see what I'm doing wrong right away I'm sure. Thanks,

Re: Two Block Questions...

AVCPlugins — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 15:08:22 GMT

I struggled with similar problems when I needed to save a slightly modified block (for example, mirrored) under a separate name. And I did not find a simple 1-click solution. So I had to use a plugin. For example, the AVC Assembly plugin (AsmNew command) does this. But I think there are other plugins and scripts for this task.

Re: Two Block Questions...

Brock_Olly — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:28:46 GMT

If you can, share your block, explain what needs to be fixed and we might be able to get it to work for you and show you how.

Re: Two Block Questions...

ChicagoLooper — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:19:24 GMT

@will9ESP8

You have two options.

OPTION 1:

Use SAVE and overwrite the existing block.

Open the block in the Block Editor and make changes. When finished making changes, exit the editor making sure to Save the changes when exiting the Block Editor.

OPTION 2:

Open a clean, brand new drawing and insert the block.

Explode it. Make the change(s).

Create a new block using WBLOCK--include all objects in modelspace. And be sure to give this new block the same name.

Go to your working drawing and insert this new version. During insertion, you'll be notified the 'block definition' has changed and do you wish to REDEFINE the block. Choose YES.

Re: Two Block Questions...

will9ESP8 — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:04:57 GMT

Well, today I had down time at work and used it to work on my dynamic block. It took all day, but I have it working pretty darn well now. It turned out the problem with getting my text/lookup tables to work was quirky AutoCAD behavior. If I went into the block editor and edited some features, then save on exit they would just update. But certain other features you have to use the 'attsync' command after saving and exiting, and then the block updates. And again, certain other features you need to use the 're' command to get it to update (such as my X and Y coords). But after I made new lookup tables and connected them to text via the fields option, no combination of those 3 options (save and do nothing, save and attsync, save and regen) would make it work. The solution was to delete the block and re-insert it into the drawing, and hey presto, it would work perfect. So between those 4 methods of getting autocad to update the block, I was able to get all features working.

Now I have one last problem. I made all my attributes with the 'lock position' set to 'on'. If you don't do this they don't always work correctly. But after making the block, it seems to be OK to turn the 'lock position' to 'off' which then lets me drag the attributes around via grips if they are on top of some important geometry or for clarity. All of my attributes have grips where I want them, and I was able to specify the number of grips in the properties palette while in block editing mode. However, now my option to specify the number of grips has completely disappeared. I have one line of text that doesn't have a grip, and in block editing mode, selecting that text, then going to properties, I have no option to edit grips. Similarly, on my other features that I used to be able to change the number of grips on, I now don't have that option. No idea why that feature has disappeared - I wish I could just add one grip then this cursed block would be done. My 'grips' setting is 2. My 'gripjoblimit' is set to 1000. No idea why I can't add or subtract grips now. Any ideas?

Re: Two Block Questions...

Brock_Olly — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 06:47:20 GMT

You can add a point parameter, lock the attribute and then use a move action to move that attribute around with the point parameter as a grip.