Fields in blocks that reference attributes of items outside of block

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to have a field within a block that will reference an attribute of an object outside that block?

ie: a block shows the area of a polyline that is drawn elsewhere in the drawing.

(if not in autoCAD LT is this possible in full AutoCAD?)

[rkmcswain]

Yes. See attached drawing for an example.

[steven-g]

You would need to create the new "ATTDEF" within modelspace first using a field and selecting the first block as an 'object' this will let you choose the attribute from that block. And then create your second block including this new attribute.

Once you have created the second block and open it in the block editor then you cannot select objects outside of the block editor, when you try and add new attributes, which is probably the problem you are trying to solve.

[Anonymous]

So basically I can't have a field within a block that would reference a
different object for every instance of that block used?

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

Not automatically, at least not in LT. If you create your 'measurement' block as described above ('attdef' first and then make the block) then for any further blocks you could just copy the original and use the 'Enhanced Attribute Editor' (double click on the attribute in the block) and then right-click on the attribute value and select 'Edit Field' and you can choose a new object to read the area from, but it is a manual one by one process, but certainly quicker than creating a new block each time.

[Anonymous]

Oh! It works!!
(Now if only the field's additional formatting didn't get reset every
time I change the reference object.)
It's helpful to add that there is an 'insert field' button in ATTDEF next
to the 'default' monit. I didn't know this. Later you gotta do some double
clicking in EATTEDIT to get to edit the field.
Thanks so much for your help!