How to create a custom pull down menu with custom blocks.

[paulasaring]

Hi I need help to create a custom pull down menu with all my customize block in it. and also is it possible to maintained the object block color when adding it to custom tool palette? Thanks!

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @paulasaring,

I see that you are visiting as a new member. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

I suggest that instead of menus and pull-downs, that you instead focus on Tool Palettes. This method of handling block libraries is much more flexible than building static menus. You can also control the properties of the block insertions in much more detail.

Let me know if this is of interest and I can help direct you to additional resources. I know there are a bunch of great videos on YouTube in the Autodesk channel.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[paulasaring]

Thank you for you response! @john.vellek. I will accept your suggestion to tool palette.

and also i wanted to know if its possible to maintained the colors of the custom blocks when inserting it to a custom tool palette instead of editing the png. file from the directory to change the blocks color? Ive noticed that it automatically change the color of the custom blocks to "white".

[john.vellek]

Hi @paulasaring,

Yes, Tool palettes should respect the color of your block geometry. As an example, I have a block with two  colors - white for the linework and yellow for the text, When I drag it onto my palette you can see both colors.

[paulasaring]

It's strange because when i inserted my blocks it all turn to white color and didnt respect all my block colors as it is. I dont now if it has something to do with the blocks properties or tool palette settings.

Here's the attached sample of my custom blocks in tool palette.

[john.vellek]

Hi @paulasaring,

Is it because all of your blocks are defined with bylayer for the color property?

[paulasaring]

Hi @john.vellek yes. you're right it's all in "by layer" colors. Is there any way to show the colors in my custom tool palette without changing my property settings?

[john.vellek]

Hi @paulasaring,

I haven't found an easy way to do that. You can rt-click the block in the palette and select Specify Image and point it to a "customized" image but I have found that to be more work than it is really worth.

[paulasaring]

Hi @john.vellek yes i was thinking that it would be a much work for me too because i've done a couple hundreds of blocks already. That's why im trying to explore if there's other solution for this matter, except for just changing the specific layer color and customize png.

[Anonymous]

If the color is set to BYLAYER, what layer are the blocks inserting on??  They should default to the color of that layer in the target folder, unless you've set a specific layer in the Palette.

You can preset the target layer (or color) in the palette for the blocks located there.  Select one, or pick & SHIFT (or ALT+) pick to select several of the components listed in the palette, then right-click for PROPERTIES. 

[paulasaring]

Hi @Anonymous here's my block properties setting looks like.

[Anonymous]

So your block is inserted on layer P-STRP-PVMTXT which is green, but the blocks appear white.

What layer are the block components?? If they are on layer 0 and setbylayer, they will follow the layer settings of the layer on which they are inserted.  If they are remaining white, then the components making up the block are either on a layer that's white, 

OR the layer in the block already exists in the target drawing, and was set to white instead of the color of the original block drawing.

OR were set to something other than bylayer.

Open the file you used to create the blocks palette and check the blocks and/or layer settings there.  Use REFEDIT or BEDIT to edit the block definition and check the properties of the components in the block.