Mtext Feld Displaying Part of Contents

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone!

I am trying to create Mtext Field that uses object's content, but only part of it. And I want to be able to choose which part of it I need. 
For example:
The original Text is 02/14/18

And I want to create 3 separate Mtext fields that display
1. 02
2. 14
3. 18

Is this possible and how? I am really bad at using expressions, maybe this is the problem...

Thank you in advance!

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

It would be helpful if you showed me your drawing to clarify what you are looking to do.  It sounds to me like you are linking Fields in Mtext to text or attributes.

So as an example (attached) I made three blocks that each contain an attribute.  Then in Mtext I created Fields that are separated by a slash (plain piece of text) that are linked to each of the attributes. Is this what you are trying to do?

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

[WarrenGeissler]

Hi @Anonymous, 

I believe you are looking for the SUBSTR LISP  function explained >>HERE<<. If this is what you are looking for, I don't believe there is any way you can add LISP code into a field formula.

[Anonymous]

@john.vellek Thank you for the reply and sorry for the bad explanation. I want to create an arc aligned field, but since this is impossible (or at least I have no idea how to do this) I am trying to make a "Fake" one. 

I have a seal and a Mtext object with a date. I want the date of the seal to update automatically when I update the Mtext date. 
In order to do that, I created 3 separate fields containing "Content" of the Mtext object but I need them to show different parts of it. This must be done with expressions, but I have no idea how to create a new expression for Object and what to type in..

@WarrenGeissler Thank you for the answer, I think I need expression change, not a lisp...

[StephenThomasGrace]

To accomplish this, use one of the Date & Time field categories such as "SaveDate" and make your own custom format.

three separate mtext with d only in one. Then MM in one and yy for the last.

Or better yet create a block of your stamp using attributes with these field codes.

I use the PlotDate field category which updates the date whenever the drawing is plotted.

%tc1 d MMM yyyy

that custom format gives you 18 FEB 2018

-steve

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

How about this?  I changed your Mtext to a block with three attributes (Month-Day-Year) and then linked the three fields to each corresponding attribute.

If you want to use something like the Save Date or even a custom property for Signed Day, Signed month, signed year, you couldlink the individual fields to those properties as well.

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

[Anonymous]

@john.vellek I thought of that solution, and it works good, but my intent is to use "find and replace" command because usually, we have several dates on several layouts. That way I can execute only one command and change all the dates without the need of scrolling between the layouts and changing eighter ArcAligned text or Block attributes. 

@StephenThomasGrace In the past we used date field, however, many times we need to type in a specific date for example date of the previous working day, etc,

[StephenThomasGrace]

I know exactly what you mean. There are many "Date" fields that you can apply formatting to, but there isn't a "Static Date" that has formatting capability.

I have resorted to individual Sheet Set "CurrentSheetSetCustom" fields for Month/Date and Year to do the automatic updating across all layouts just as you are trying to do. Example below is a block with attibutes linked to the SSM. All revision dates in the dozens of layouts and drawings are updated at once.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I don't like to rely on Find/Replace for such things which is why I had suggested you use custom Drawing Properties.  I have attached another version of your file that shows this in action.  If you change the properties, they get updated everywhere in the file.

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

[Anonymous]

That is what I was looking for! Thank you very much!