topic Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1. in Dynamic Blocks Forum

dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 13:44:14 GMT

hello,

i want to have an array dynamic block, but i also want them to count each piece from the array as 1 object and not as 1 dynamic block in a data extraction.

who can help me?

kend regards

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

MMcCall402 — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:20:15 GMT

Some ideas:

If the item(s) being arrayed in the dynamic block is itself a block, then you can run a data extraction on that internal block for a 'count' of those blocks and it will count all instances of that block, both inside the dynamic block array and if the block is inserted as a single block.

If the item(s) being arrayed are not a block, you can have the date extraction pull the linear parameter value that controls the array, table the values, add a column with a formula to divide that value by the array distance, then total the column. Or, you could insert an attribute into the block with a field set to access the value of the linear parameter, divide it by the array distance, then have the data extraction pull that block attribute. (you can make that attribute not visible)

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 06:06:45 GMT

Hello,
In attachment I have put the dwg of the dynamic blocks with an array.
It's for making a light line, so every piece I need to count as 1 if a make the array.
Kind regards,
Kevin.

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

MMcCall402 — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:03:31 GMT

Try attachment again.

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:07:12 GMT

i have the file in attachment

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

MMcCall402 — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 14:05:02 GMT

I see now.

Add a new attribute for calculating the array. We'll insert a field as the default value for this attribute to get the value of linear parameter Distance1 and then divide it by the length of the array repeat distance to derive the number of items in the array.

Add the new attribute.

In the cell for the Default value right-click and choose Insert Field.

Choose BlockPlaceholder in the Field Names column, Distance1 as the Block reference property, Format as Decimal, Precision 0, then go to the Additional Format and set the conversion factor to 1/1500. (this conversion will be different for each block)

Save the block and run Attsync to resync any insertions of the block with the new block definition.

Now run the data extraction to collect this attribute of the block(s)

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 06:41:51 GMT

hello,

i have done everything that was in your previous reply.

but when i did all the steps and try my block, the count stays at 1.

can you please help me with this.

thanks in advance,

Kevin.

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

steven-g — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:45:26 GMT

Your block works just fine here. Did you do a regen after stretching the block

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:27:58 GMT

one more question about a dynamic block: when i do an array in the block, can i do it also for the attributes in the block?

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

steven-g — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 12:00:27 GMT

Nope, if you try it you'll see it doesn't work, but besides that any attribute within a block has to have a unique tag value or it won't be usable in Autocad.

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

RBassadone — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 11:35:00 GMT

Hi there,

I've just picked up this tip and tried it on my drawing, but because my block length [distance] is not a whole number, I'm getting an error code when I try to add the Conversion factor. It's saying 'the conversion factor is invalid'.

What am I doing wrong or is there a way around this?

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

ojuris — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 12:20:50 GMT

you can do that in 2 ways:

with formulae
with conversion factor

Re: dynamic array: count every piece as 1.

RBassadone — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 12:38:25 GMT

You absolute legend! Amazing, thank you 🐵