Transparency in properties menu. Why do i have to properly type in "byblock"?

[mellishmcw]

Ive been working on improving our shop drawing's appearance to combat the educational/experience issues with designers we are dealing with currently.  

I have dynamic blocks for doors in plan view, and It would be really easy to show them in the open swung position using the transparency.  

I have to edit the block, select all the items inside, then go to the properties window, where transparency is found.

From there, I have to type in "byblock" without spaces.  Every other setting that has a "by block" or "by layer" choice, there is a pull down, where spelling accuracy isnt a big deal.   

Its just annoying.  And I know its not a big deal.  Am I missing a place where this is easier to change the value for transparency?

[cadffm]

Easier to find as <selection> => PropertiesPalette, two steps, "easier" would be only one step,

but

how should acad know what you want to do with the selection?

 or

how should acad for which objects you want to change the transparence?

Less then 2 steps are not enough information 😉

And:

" Every other setting that has a "by block" or "by layer" choice,"

Is there one of them with ~92 values in the list? (transparency 1-90, ByLayer,ByBlock)

"there is a pull down, where spelling accuracy isnt a big deal.  "

Where is it without the blank selectable?

If we talk together or if some one create a label/text, we wrote "the color is by layer ....",

but the value is always bylayer,byblock, IF strings are allowed as value in *that* command.

[john.vellek]

Hi @mellishmcw,

I am curious how transparency is coming into this issue.  Using transparencies can be useful but can also create issues with PDFs and print jobs due to having the need for "Plot Transparency".  Have you considered using dynamic blocks to control the swing?

Perhaps you can share a file so i can take a look at what you are using so I might make further suggestions.

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

[mellishmcw]

Easier to find as <selection> => PropertiesPalette, two steps, "easier" would be only one step,

but how should acad know what you want to do with the selection?

 or

how should acad for which objects you want to change the transparence?

Less then 2 steps are not enough information 😉

I have to click the box, type in "byblock" for each object I want to do this to.

Something easier than this would be a fly out with: 

• -By layer
• -By Block
• -90
• -80
• -70
• -60
• -50
• -40
• -30
• -20
• -10
• -Custom

Even when looking at the ribbon's transparency slider under the properties ribbon pull down tab there is no option for by layer or by block.  Contrasting the field in the properties window

And:

" Every other setting that has a "by block" or "by layer" choice,"

Is there one of them with ~92 values in the list? (transparency 1-90, ByLayer,ByBlock)

Maybe you are using a different version of cad than me, but the color pull down in the properties ribbon has 70 pickable colors including subcategories, , by layer, by block, colors found in drawing, and on top of that a custom selection.   This question seems a bit disingenuous, and hopefully sarcastic.  Id think someone with an "11" next to their screen name is busting my balls insinuating there aren't complex pulls downs in the program.

"there is a pull down, where spelling accuracy isnt a big deal.  "

Where is it without the blank selectable?

I dont understand the question.  I was offering a selectable menu instead of typing out the word "byblock"

If we talk together or if some one create a label/text, we wrote "the color is by layer ....",

but the value is always bylayer,byblock, IF strings are allowed as value in *that* command.

[beyoungjr]

I have to echo the advice from @john.vellek... transparency can cause long-term issues.

You might be better to assign a light gray color to the objects in your clock that you want to show lightly.  Also, if you are already using Dynamic Blocks you could consider visibility states for open vs closed.

As far as assigning any property to objects I try to use the heck out of MATCHPROP (Match Properties) whenever possible.  If I assign the transparency property to one object I can apply the same property set to any other objects I choose with, you guessed it, one click.

Hope this helps,

Blaine

[mellishmcw]

My responses in red:

Hi @mellishmcw,

I am curious how transparency is coming into this issue.  Using transparencies can be useful but can also create issues with PDFs and print jobs due to having the need for "Plot Transparency".  Have you considered using dynamic blocks to control the swing?

Yes, thank you.  Youre right! Another problem IS how are we paying for new versions each year, (subscriptions being our only choice as a small firm) and we cant get pdfs to print correctly yet?  Ive been in autocad since r13, and its painful and a bit insulting.    Also, directly to you, I dont get how helpful it is to address a problem I am bringing up, with the insinuation that I shouldnt use the feature because its unreliable and wont display correctly.  We are dealing with an increasing number of interior designers and experience free junior architects that dont understand millwork, or even that a hidden line represents the outline of a door when it is either in the open or closed position.  I am attempting to use a tool to illustrate a condition for them.  

Perhaps you can share a file so i can take a look at what you are using so I might make further suggestions.

My problem is merely setting a transparency value to "byblock", and hopefully doing it in a similar fashion to color selection flyouts.  And venting my frustration of course.  Not trying to be nasty.  Sorry if I am coming off that way,  Im just heated.

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

[mellishmcw]

My response in red:

I have to echo the advice from @john.vellek... transparency can cause long-term issues.

You might be better to assign a light gray color to the objects in your clock that you want to show lightly.  Also, if you are already using Dynamic Blocks you could consider visibility states for open vs closed.

Yes!  It really is insulting that we can illustrate something on a layout and after 4 decades of autocad it still cant print reliably to a source or PDF  FRUSTRATING!  having the transparency of my dynamic block being "byblock" gives me a super fast way to alter how light it is on the page thats a kin to fading it.  it also even shows that way in model space.  Its a super helpful tool that can use fine tuning how a drawing looks.

As far as assigning any property to objects I try to use the heck out of MATCHPROP (Match Properties) whenever possible.  If I assign the transparency property to one object I can apply the same property set to any other objects I choose with, you guessed it, one click.

yes, MA works wonders except for zooming in and out, and running the drawing around looking for something to match to.  I am a fast/efficient drafter, and this seems a solveable problem with a flyout and I just dont get why I am now three replies in to people who think I should just avoid the tool, and wont even address that a flyout would be useful?  I dont honestly understand.

[john.vellek]

HI @mellishmcw,

I didn't mean to imply that Transparency doesn't work but merely that it is perhaps better used in different processes than this one.  (Perhaps the wrong tool for what you are doing). Transparency plotting means raster based plotting which will result in larger and longer plots.

If you can share a file I am happy to explore what you are describing. I am also happy to look into your PDF issues if you can give me  more detail. It might be best to move those questions to a new thread however so as not to confuse what answers/suggestions you are receiving.

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

[beyoungjr]

Easy now...

Of course it is frustrating when your output isn't as desired.  Understand that within the source application (ACAD) all visibility is supposed to and often does cooperate, but output to a non-native format can be the fault of evolution in that format and those applications/viewers you know.

You also mention "running around the drawing" as if I had suggested a cumbersome task.  Your OP stated that you are working within a block so in the block editor you might be running around 5-9 elements for a door.  Not much to stumble over in using MA.  If you had initially described the problem in working on dozens of elements and not within a block I wouldn't have suggested you seek out elements for MA.

A flyout would certainly be useful and please login to the AUGI Wishlist system to submit an item.  Also submit it as an "Idea" in your account here.  There are multiple ways to generate support for your idea but the notion usually  doesn't get to product development via these forums unless it is a bug or glitch.  This would be an enhancement, albeit worthy, and I'd likely vote for it if posted.

If anyone on here has been helpful at all, great!  If not, sorry... we tried.

Blaine