Dynamic Block Visibility, Stretch, and Attributes

[Anonymous]

This is my first go around with dynamic blocks.  I have searched forums, YouTube videos, etc. and I just cannot seem to find the solution to my issue.  I am working on a Dynamic Block.  I am trying to make a door block for an HVAC unit.  This is what I am trying to do:

1. Stretch the width with limited dimensions: 6" increments, from 18" to 36"
2. Stretch the height in 0.5" increments, from 12" to 66"
3. Different visibility for the different styles of doors
4. Flip the door depending on the handing (right hand or left hand)
5. Once the door height is less then X dimension, one of the handles goes away and the remaining handle becomes centered
   • or add a handle that is at the center it appears and the other two disappear
6. Have attributes that show the door width, door height, visibility state, and the handing based on the flip state

I feel like I have 1-4 done.  I am having trouble with number 5 and number 6 and I am hoping for some help.  I have attached the file I am working on. 

For item 5, I have just not been able to find anything to help with this.  I was hoping to find a way to link a visibility with a dimension (once dimension gets greater then X show or hide the visibility state) but couldnt find anything.

For item 6, I have the attributes defined, but when I insert the block nothing shows up (I have done a regen and still nothing).  I feel like I am missing something simple but cannot figure it out.

Thanks,

Ben Fisher

[Charles_Shade]

Welcome to the Autodesk Forums!

A lot to look to do for a newbie DynBlk.

Lets take a look and see what we can come up with.

Its gonna bea few minutes...

Also there is a Dynamic Block Forum for your future questions

What is the program you are building this DynBlk in?

[Charles_Shade]

Your numbered list: (I'm going to ignore Attribs for the time being)

1. Okay

2. This is rather odd in how you have it set up with the Grip in the middle opposite the height.

    a. Start with the shortest door.

    b. This will help with the handle need.

3. What are the Styles and are they consistant in size with the first?

4. Okay

Review this simple start attached.

Create the Block at 0,0,0 and typically in the first quadrant ( X and Y positive and move to positive coords when you can)

Usually you Flip most everything. Especially Parameters

[Charles_Shade]

Same file with a start on the Double Handle and Attribs added to the single handle

BTW - You may need to run ATSYNC on the DynBLk to ge the Attribs to show. Also make sure they are Locked whrn you create them or they will not interact with Actions as you expect.

[Anonymous]

I am doing this in AutoCAD LT.  Since I was using LT, I wasnt sure if I should use the dynamic block or the LT forum.

Is the only way to make the second handle show-up after a certain height is by doing a look-up table?

In the original block that I created I had the 7 styles of doors, each as a different visibility state.  If I have to do a different visibility state for single handle and double handle, this would now mean I would have 14 visibility states.  I can do this, just seems excessive.

The styles doors are very similar, just a few things change depending on the thickness or whether it is in-swing vs out-swing.

I am not quite following what you did differently with the attributes.  Is there any way you can show in more detail what you did there?

I thought I created the block at 0,0,0 but obviously not!

Thanks for your help and taking the time to look at this for me.

[Charles_Shade]

A LookUp Table will likely be the better choice for what you need to acheive. Though this too will be rather large to create.

Essentially each combination can be entered into the Table to make most any combination you need. Not entirely sure how to work out the Height/Width piece if you just want to Drag with Grips and have the Door "autopopulate" so to speak but I suspect it can be done.

DynBlk with LookUp Table atached. Just so you can see how the heirarchy works. The bottem left Angle and bottom right Tube are examples.

Because you have used a PLINE for your door I've added a lines on the DEFPOINTS Layer for the Width and Height.

Creating a non-plot Layer would be a better choice or not use a PLINE. If you choose to EXPLODE the PLINE alll the Actions will need to be reassigned to what are now new entities.

F11 for me is mapped to REGEN. REGEN needed to update Fields

[Anonymous]

I have finally gotten some more time to work on this block.  I feel like I am about 95% done with it and the last part that I cannot figure out is how to get the visibility state and the flip state to appear as an attribute on my block.  I am not quite sure what I am missing and am hoping to get a little more help with this last part.

Thanks,