topic Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block in AutoCAD Forum

PTYPE for Points in a Block

owen66 — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 21:32:30 GMT

Blocks with points multiply the PTYPE settings by the block scale, true?

So if I have a block in a drawing and I scale that block 96 times for a 1/8" drawing, then issue a PTYPE of 5% relative to teh screen, the points then become larger than my drawing area.

Is this normal, or am I missing something?

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

pendean — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:26:14 GMT

POINTS inside blocks do not follow PTYPE settings. Never have.

Are you just needing help creating an ANNOTATIVE Dynamic Block? You know, one that sizes with your viewport plot scale?

Or are you not drafting at 1:1 scale in AutoCAD?

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

owen66 — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:38:25 GMT

I've never used points in a block before. I just wanted to make a jig of points that people could snap tags to, and I figured a point would be a simple, unubtrusive entity for that. I'm thinking I'll just use a small circle.

(and yes, I am drafting at 1:1 in AutoCAD) 🙄 but thanks for checking tho!

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

vladimir_michl — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 06:21:36 GMT

I think they do - maybe under some conditions. See a sample DWG, two simple blocks with POINTs, their references do follow PTYPE shape settings.

Vladimir Michl, www.arkance.world - www.cadforum.cz

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

-didier- — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 09:44:00 GMT

Bonjour @pendean

In general, I love what you say, and I always read your messages that I find well documented.
But in this case, I’m obliged to come and contradict you.

The point types and point sizes used in a block follow the general size and appearance settings.

This has always been the case.

In the same way, line types used in a block also follow the settings of the dedicated variables.

Amicalement

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

Kent1Cooper — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:00:52 GMT

The Points that do not follow the Point display option settings are definition points in Dimensions. They used to remain as Point objects when you Exploded a Dimension, but in recent versions they simply disappear when you do that, so to confirm that they are, in fact, Point objects, you can use

(cdr (assoc 0 (entget (car (nentsel)))))

And they are Osnappable with NODE mode which is for Points. But they don't obey the PDMODE/PDSIZE display settings.

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

pendean — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:33:36 GMT

@-didier- @Kent1Cooper I'm always open to corrections: I see @vladimir_michl took a stab at it, can you demonstrate for the OP with the OP's block how their experience and mine are not what we see ad experience? They generously posted a DWG file.

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 04:29:59 GMT

Hi @owen66

You are using 5% relative to screen size. When using RELATIVE SIZE, your point will increase/decrease as you zoom-in and -out.

Use Absolute Units instead. Absolute will maintain the TRUE size.....like looking at cars on the road from an airplane window. If the plane is taking off and is flying at 20ft altitude, the cars will look normal. As you ascend to 900ft the cars will look like small little toys. Go even higher and the cars will appear as dots.

If you want your points to serve as snap points, they don't need to look fancy-schmancy, a simple DOT in Absolute Units will do. Points that are Relative to Screen will create unwanted issues.

You'll need to use trial-and-error to determine the absolute size: e.g. 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 8.0, 12.5, etc, etc.

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

pendean — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:47:12 GMT

@ChicagoLooper

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

owen66 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:55:26 GMT

Thanks - the only issue with that is that, since this is a jig to be used at whatever scale the user is drawing at, they would have to make the setting change.

I just made it a circle. Simple.

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

Kent1Cooper — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:32:03 GMT

@ChicagoLooper wrote:

....

You are using 5% relative to screen size. When using RELATIVE SIZE, your point will increase/decrease as you zoom-in and -out.

...

Use Absolute Units instead. Absolute will maintain the TRUE size.....

That still doesn't solve the problem that they show differently in Blocks at different scales, and this is the case whether the Point display size is relative or absolute. These are two Insertions of the same Block containing some Points [white], at different Block scale factors, and under both sizing possibilities:

In both cases, the Points show correspondingly larger in the larger-scale Block. The intended size is only when the Block is at a scale of 1, when nested Points match independent outside-the-Block Points in display size. The Block scale imposes itself as an additional multiplier on the Point display size that results from the combination of size and relative/absolute choice.

[This is in Acad2025; I also tried it in Acad2020, with the same result.]

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:34:25 GMT

@Kent1Cooper

Meh.

That’s why the OP should use a dot and NOT a fancy-schmancy geometric looking symbol.

You’re over thinking it. Waay over.

It’s a point. For jig. SMH. Really? Why not a template?

The OP wants other users to snap to it. It’s not a point that’s drawn for graphical presentation.

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

Kent1Cooper — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:40:53 GMT

@ChicagoLooper wrote:

.... You’re over thinking it. ....

If effectively answering "Yes" to the first question in Message 1 is overthinking it, then so be it.

Re: PTYPE for Points in a Block

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:58:40 GMT

@Kent1Cooper

So be it??

Then direct your over thinking to the OP, not me.