topic Re: formula in dynamic block in Dynamic Blocks Forum

formula in dynamic block

Unisolpaneel — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 06:52:32 GMT

i have a dynamic block with 2 attributes that the user will input himself. I have a third attribute that makes a sum of those 2 attributes. This attribute will only update after a regen-command. Is there a way to bypass this regen-necessity and update this attribute right away when the user makes his input?

Re: formula in dynamic block

Libbya — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 17:45:22 GMT

There is no way to update attribute field values immediately without regen. There are some ways to have automatically updating values without using fields, though. See attached. It doesn't use attributes, but rather the X and Y values are input on the properties palette.

Re: formula in dynamic block

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:33:19 GMT

Might be better to use User Parameters in your case along with dimensional constraints.

Re: formula in dynamic block

mbickelVMG55 — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 22:25:53 GMT

Genius! I love it! So... the parameter is put in with an empty selection set, then the formula field uses the object that is the dimension?

Re: formula in dynamic block

mbickelVMG55 — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 22:57:35 GMT

I can't open your fields to see how they are put together. When I write the formula in the field, it works in block editor, but it doesn't auto update. When I re-open block editor, it says the field that I am referencing has been erased (when it clearly has not).

How to select the proper attribute for the formula, and how to make it auto update?

Thanks,

Michael

Re: formula in dynamic block

Libbya — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 23:15:10 GMT

I didn't use any fields in my example. I used dimensions that have all linework hidden and then changed their values using the stretch actions. That is why it updates immediately rather than after a regen.

Re: formula in dynamic block

mbickelVMG55 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 16:33:56 GMT

I can somewhat re-create this, but the dimension number moved when I changed it. I still believe this is genius to find a number type that will auto update; I just wish I could reference it more conventionally. I will need to play with this more to use it with confidence.

For my current application, I made several blocks instead of one dynamic one. It will be easier to share with my co-workers. I still have a lot of questions about this.

If the sum is additional dimensions, is this limited to positive numbers and numbers that can be dimension measurements? Also, the dimension measurement is clearly a parameter of an attribute. If I knew its name (the measurement parameter I mean), couldn't I use it in a field? Is there a catalog of the non-intuitive object and parameter names in autocad?

Also, is the field a feature of the block that cannot be used dynamically?

Could I put in (to a dynamic block) attribute fields that default to a formula... that includes another attribute field? Possibly they could be locked for user input?

Not meaning to make this about a bigger topic, but it seems there is a lot possible with the fields that I just can't quite grasp because I don't know what these objects are or why they behave the way they do.

Thanks all,

Michael

Re: formula in dynamic block

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 16:42:05 GMT

I tend to only use formulas when working with dimensional constraints. The Parameters Manager will make this much easier to work with.

I've attached two examples.

Re: formula in dynamic block

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 19:39:51 GMT

Are you sure that model is correct? I don't see any dynamic blocks. I do get a "This application has detected a mixed version of AEC objects participating in this operation"