topic Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup in Dynamic Blocks Forum

2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

ms_amirulasyraf — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:07:40 GMT

Hi, I saw a videos on how to have somehow kind off 2 visibiities in 1 block which using Lookup. But I dont get it.

Here I have this counter door block that have visibility opt 1-5 Doors and 1-5 Doors with Mid Shelf. Now I want to have another option that can on/off description on the middle of each doors.

already ask chatgpt but his not good enough to teach me step by step.

Please help. Thank you.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

j.palmeL29YX — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:28:53 GMT

You can do that with a double lookup.

Post your dwg so we can show you the way step by step.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

h_s_walker — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:13:38 GMT

A double lookup will involve creating more visibility states, one which shows the text and one which doesn't.

You can do it with a scale action for each item of text, so you scale it normally when you need to show it and extremely small when you don't need it to show.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

ms_amirulasyraf — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:36:10 GMT

Here the block dwg.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

ms_amirulasyraf — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:38:52 GMT

I don't know how to link the parameter to the text or to the doors. I have attached the block dwg in above reply.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

Brock_Olly — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 08:57:36 GMT

You can 'cheat' by adding a linear parameter and block properties table, then scale the text from 0.001 to 1. This will also make them appear in and out of existance, while having a separate button that's not a vis state.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

j.palmeL29YX — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:01:12 GMT

@ms_amirulasyraf wrote:

Here the block dwg.

In this case I'd suggest to follow the hints given above - cheat a little with scaling the texts to very small.

In the attached dwg you can see how to do that:

- add the needed texts into the block definition (here I created three new text objects)

- for each of the texts create a linear parameter (here Distance_3 until Distance_5)

- assign scale actions to the parameters, scaling the texts objects

- place Lookup parameters and lookup tables as you can see in the example.

Test the block. Picking the lookup grip opens a drop down window including 1 and 0. Choose "1" to show the text as drawn, "0" shows the text very small scaled - seems to be invisible.

At the end you must include the lookup grips to suitable stretch/move actions and the flip action.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

MMcCall402 — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:02:42 GMT

Another option could be to add an attribute and a Lookup in the center of each door and use a field in the attribute to get a text string value from the Lookup. Then have one of the line values for the Lookup to just be a space, no text. You could then fill in the rest with a list of text selections.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

ms_amirulasyraf — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 20:10:56 GMT

okay got it. I understand now. If I want to assign all text to be on off in 1 option, just assign linear parameter to each text. Thank you very much on the explaination.

Re: 2 Visibility in 1 bLock workaround - Lookup

j.palmeL29YX — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:29:12 GMT

@MMcCall402 wrote:

Another option could be ...

@MMcCall402

I tried to follow your thaughts (seems for me to be a nice suggestion), but encountered two problems. (My attempt is attached).

First: When creating such a block, the user must know that (in newer versions of AutoCAD) it is not possible to simply create a lookup table by filling the “Lookup Properties” column with any values. First, you have to add any (dummy) parameter to the “Input” column. After filling in the “Lookup Properties” column, you can clear the “Input” column and also delete the dummy.

Well, I know that, but I encounter an other disadvantage when using this block:

After selecting the desired value from the lookup drop-down list, you have to run REGEN (or another action that regenerates the file) to see the result.

Just out of my interest: Have I misunderstood you and am I on the wrong way?