Title Block template with Attributes referencing Fields, only getting #####

[vegard_guttormsen]

Hi,

I'm starting out with AutoCAD (electrical) in order to make documentation for my big project. It's certainly more complicated than I first thought, and I hope I will eventually reap the benefits. However, at this stage, I'm mostly frustrated. 

I'm making a template for my project. The goal is to set data fields commonly, and update all sheets as required.

However, even if I've followed guides to the letter, it's still working, and it's hard to diagnose. All the references only show ####.

I've made a dwg with a title block, inserted ATTRIBUTES that reference FIELDS which reference the SSM. Either through the standard values or via the Custom field, using the same values as the names of my attributes.

Saved it as a DWT

Made a SSM

Added the custom attribute names from my DWT (things such as DOC_NO, SUPPL_DOC_NO, CUSTOMER)

Referenced my DWT file as new sheet template

Made a new sheet

Every reference to SSM shows up as ###

Have tried running various update commands, such as RE, ATTSYNC

My template has a MODEL VIEW and a view which I called SHEET. None of them show the data required.

What can I possibly be doing wrong?

[dmfrazier]

Just as a long-shot possibility, try different settings for FIELDEVAL variable:

[TomBeauford]

I use Fields referencing Custom Drawing Properties in all my drawings. 

All Fields referencing anything in a drawing should be created in that drawing.

If you insert a drawing with Fields into another drawing the objects they referenced have new names which breaks the reference and show up as ###. 

Sheet Set Fields should not reference drawing objects to avoid this.

[vegard_guttormsen]

@TomBeauford thank you for your time. In my template, I am adding the attributes, and in the value field I right click and select insert field. I only reference fields defined in the Sheet Set custom attributes.  
The template probably can’t address the Sheet Set directly when designing, but once a new drawing based on that template, in the Sheet Set is made, I would assume that reference would be valid.  
Which kind of data are you referencing in your files? Do you also populate the data of title blocks in this way?

[vegard_guttormsen]

Thanks I will look at this, but I have tried a lot of the things mentioned in the list manually.. good to know that this option exists though as I’m still learning.

[TomBeauford]

I have a few lisp to populate them.

One brings up a dropdown to select the Engineer signing the plans.

Another sets name of who saved the drawing last as the drafter and sets the Title as the drawing name with a click.

Setting the Field Book reference and everything else it all takes less than a minute.

Most of my jobs are 3 to 5 layouts on a single drawing all referencing the same fields saving me a lot of time.

[vegard_guttormsen]

Hello my fellow AutoCADers. Here is the output of my experiments, which underline how incredibly poor and confusing this functionality is.

I have now made a new sheet in my SSM based on the template, performed REFEDIT on that template's title block, and edited the TAG_NO property by inserting a FIELD.

This will not be resolved in the menu or in the EDIT ATTRIBUTE DEFINITION dialogue. Is this intended? Can fields only be read in a Sheet?

If I add a new FIELD directly to the Model drawing, it will thus not resolve, giving ####.

If I go to a SHEET and do ATTDEF, then INSERT  FIELD like above, it resolves in the menu:

It also shows me a drop down list of the available custom property names.

However when placed on the drawing, it gives only the tag name and doesn't populate the value, also when editing, it gives me ####. Is #### shorthand for 'this is a reference to a field'? In that case, it's incredible that it doesn't just spell out the reference name and instead makes you double click it. 

I suspect this is something about the attribute not being inside a block..

If I do a FIELD directly on the Sheet drawing, it will display the tag correctly.

To summarize, all the ATTRIBUTES that are made in the TEMPLATE, which are referencing to FIELDS in the SSM, do not display values, only the ####. FIELDS added directly in the SHEET, using the same reference, works fine. Field regeneration modes are set to normal. Why won't this work? I'm at a complete loss with this one, and I don't dare do too much drawing before this is resolved for me.

[vegard_guttormsen]

Check this, and it's set to the default of 31, which seems correct.

[vegard_guttormsen]

I have found a perverse way to show the attributes. 

It's so ridiculous that I might as well just start drawing on paper again.

1. Instantiate a new sheet based on template

2. Enter BATTMAN attribute manager

3. Click on each and every attribute, double click on the default value, this will open the dialogue box for the field. Press OK so it updates

4. When done with all of this, DELETE your whole title block

5. Insert the block again, and I guess try to make it scale and position like the old one. The new values will be there.

I really hope this is not how it's supposed to work. Also it's not really dynamic in any way, it requires that you spot all discrepancies and do this whole thing if a single detail is wrong. Updating fields by sending post-it notes by mail to the work site would be more efficient. Anyone know of a better way?

[dmfrazier]

"2. Enter BATTMAN attribute manager"

In any of the gyrations that you went through in earlier steps that involved making changes to attributes, did you ever run the AttSync command?

[vegard_guttormsen]

Yes, lots of times. It does change if I change the attribute itself (for example replacing the text with something static), but it does nothing for resolving fields.

[vegard_guttormsen]

Neither BATTMAN or anything else can resolve the CurrenetSheetSet.

However, I can address the specific SheetSet in the drop-down menu and get the data I want from there. If I change that data, it will update correctly in my view. This of course isn't so useful, since it would only work with that specific sheet set, and everything about the 'current sheet' would have to be manually set. Just can't figure out why this is happening.

Static reference:

Dynamic reference:

The current sheet is saved under the sheet set

[ldreauxrodgers]

My title block is set for fields using SSM fields for sheet name and sheet number 

I've found that when I do this same thing, it will NOT update automatically.

If I try ATTSYNC it changes all fields to the current sheet field I'm viewing.

I have to click into the block attributes and select it as if I was going to edit and then it will update the field and then have to click OK twice to exit editor.

Seems kind of clunky

[parrauto]

Unbelievable that autodesk hasn't fixed this yet. I ran into this issue a many years ago (found work around)when i was solely a drafter. I went to engineering only,  and had to start drafting on the side again recently. I handle this issue like so

-create my titleblock (as a block) with no attributes

-in paper space, drop title block in, insert attributes and line up where they need to be on the title block, linking to the desired fields. (i suppose you are using for Sheet Set template, if so you have to start new sheet set, add the custom properties you want)

-for labels (like sheet title) use Mtext and insert field so you can set boundaries. Justify It middle center and adjust the square to fit your box where title is going. 

-save that page as DWT. 

-in your DST file, reference the various DWTs you have with the titleblock ( i use array of them for each section of the drawings so i have my blocks, layers and scale set already). 

-save that .dst file as "new project" in a folder byitself

-copy and paste that folder whenever you start new project