Many Dynamic Blocks - Slow Regens, Big File - Alternatives?

[Robert.FordEH6ZF]

I'm working on a warehouse layout, and I'm using dynamic blocks for racks and floor storage locations. These allow me to use a few blocks to represent multiple sizes and orientations and also to allow for data extraction (e.g., location name, x and y coordinates, etc.). However, my drawing has over 7,000 instances of a block. Obviously, regens and file saves take a looooong time (several minutes each).

Is there a better way to do this?

The greatest single benefit for me is that I can use the drawing to export the x and y coordinates of each block, import them into Excel, and, combining them with WMS transaction data, calculate and optimize travel distances in the warehouse.

[pendean]

7,000 multiplied by the variations available and it can get quite the tracking task for the program: what year version are you running, PC specs and which OS?

[Robert.FordEH6ZF]

HP ZBook

Windows 10 64-bit

AutoCAD LT 2021

16GB RAM

i7-8750H 2.20GHz

Nvidia Quadro P1000

[steven-g]

Just plain old blocks may be better if there are not too many variations. A single simple block repeated 1000 times is no problem for Autocad, but a dynamic block with exactly the same settings in each one repeated 1000 times is a different storey, Each one becomes an anonymous block and Autocad has to keep track of the settings for each block as well as the block description.

In small doses, dynamic blocks can be great but it's a different storey for large numbers.

[Robert.FordEH6ZF]

There are 6 or so variations of the block--different sizes. However, I'd like to identify each location with an attribute, whether nested within the block or as a separate entity. I need to be able to extract the x and y coordinates with unique, logical identifiers (e.g., A0101 = zone A, aisle 1, bay 1).

[steven-g]

Just a plain old block can contain attributes no need to be dynamic for that. Dynamic blocks do carry a lot of overhead.

[Robert.FordEH6ZF]

So, I can have multiple (hundreds, thousands) instances of the same non-dynamic block, but each instance can have a unique attribute associated with it? 

[pendean]

Each can have a unique attribute value assigned to it, yes.

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

And using multiple attributes for zone, aisle, and bay you can select multiple blocks (say all in one aisle) and change the attributes for all of them in the properties palette at the same time.

[Robert.FordEH6ZF]

That's exactly what I was doing with the dynamic blocks! The downside is that I lose the flexibility of dynamic blocks (i.e., one block that can handle different sizes), but having the improved performance with non-dynamic blocks should be worth it. Either I had forgotten or I didn't realize that you can have "dynamic" attributes with "static" blocks. Thank you for your help.

[Robert.FordEH6ZF]

Examples of the benefit of dynamic blocks:

Our pallet racks can have 11 possible lengths, 6 depths, and 2 types of uprights...132 potential static blocks vs 1 dynamic block. (Fortunately, we don't use all possible combinations.)

And, I can't rotate labels so they're not upside down.

[pendean]

No one is anti-dynblocks here: your issue is and remains AutoCAD/Lt cannot handle too many of them in a file.

So either live with the challenges you are facing with performance on your laptop (you should see less of it on a better spec'd desktop but it will still be there) or just be way more deliberate about where to use dynblocks (critical always-changing locations vs. 7000 copies that once placed with never change).

Your tough choice: an ours, and everyone using autoCAD.

HTH

[Robert.FordEH6ZF]

That was just me venting. I'm surprised at how much overhead they consume.

[tracey.platt]

Hi, did you ever sort your dynamic block issues with regards to speed and regen etc in your drawings? I have a similar issue where i have created one dynamic block for example a 45 deg bend which in the past has had hundred of size and material variations and created one dynamic block which i use to extract all my stock codes, etc and other things but it is really slowing down my drawing and take few minutes to insert . I have not been able to find any info online but came across your post whilst doing a search.

[steven-g]

Nothing has changed, large numbers of dynamic blocks will just slow a drawing down.

[pendean]

There is no fix from Autodesk at this time. Join everyone and ask Autodesk for it here https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

[krazeymike]

I may have a solution for you as I had a similar issue with thousands of Dynamic Blocks in some drawings.

Firstly simplify the block by purging anything in the block not being used.

Secondly under Options - System - Layout Regen Options, Check the box that says "Cache model tab and all layouts" then Restart Acad.

This made all the issues I had with slow drawings go away since it is only an issue whenever AutoCAD has to Regen the dynamic block properties every time you switch layouts.  

When you open a Layout for the first time it may be slow but afterwards every time you swap between them it should be back to normal

[h_s_walker]

I'm not sure if it is on now, but that was never an option for LT and it wasn't at least up until LT2016, but it is still a good tip.

[RobFord2112]

I know it’s been almost a year, but I just now saw your reply. I’ll give “cache” setting a try. Thanks!