Materials List

[Anonymous]

I am working with dynamic blocks in AutoCAD LT 2017. Is there any way i can get the program to automatically generate a Bill of Materials or Materials List of all the blocks i have in the drawing?

Also, some of these dynamic blocks use a 'Linear Array' parameter. Do all the 'arrayed' blocks get counted or does it just count it as a whole block?

e.g. in the picture attached, would it count 7 separate blocks or just one dynamic block?

Grateful for helpful answers....

[pendean]

Look up ATTEXT command, here is a tutorial and a nice discussion on how to use it all
http://www.cad-notes.com/how-to-extract-block-attributes-in-autocad-lt/
https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en#hl=en&q=autocad+lt+data+extraction
https://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=44172.0

Dynamic blocks forum is over there http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/dynamic-blocks/bd-p/154

[Anonymous]

Thanks. That actually has helped in my understanding of AutoCAD LT, but it still doesn't do exactly what i expect.

I have a attached a few files to aid me in explaining the problem.

I can produce the list and everything, as per the cad notes website you provided. But I does not count some of the dynamic blocks, and with other dynamic blocks it counts all the 'sub-blocks' that i have added attributes to, therefore making it seem as though there are more blocks than there actually are.

In the DWG file i have attached, i have inserted four of the blocks i work with. The dynamic one is linked to the other three via a blocks pallette on my computer. I can insert these from the pallette onto my workspace through the design centre.

You can have a play with these blocks to see what i am working with. You can see  in the zoomed up pictures below (Pic1-Pic3) where i have attached the attribute to the block.

The first text file is my Template that i use when generating the list using ATTEXT. The second text file is the result. As can be seen from the DWG, it should be counting 7 different items, but when i do the ATTEXT it only registers that i have selected 4 objects, but only lists 3.

The question i really need to know is:

Is there any way to fix or overcome this???

[john.vellek]

Good morning @Anonymous,

I am looking at your drawing and I think I see what is going on. When you created your dynamic block, you simply inserted the other blocks into it, each with its own visibility state.

What you need to do is not nest the blocks but have just the linework and text for each visibility state set up. Does this make sense? I could certainly do this for you but as part of the learning curve it is probably best if you give it a try first.

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

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

Thanks for that. I also have another block that i have tried to add another visiblity state to. I played around with parameters and managed to get it to sort of work, but when i change it from that visibilty state to an exiting one, it doesn't hide like the others do when they are changed.

So i think what you have said is the reason why it behaves that way.

Do you know of any tutorials on this sort of scenario? I find it easier to learn by watching...

Part of the problem is that i got the blocks off someone else, who in turn revceived tham off another person who may or may not have got them elsewhere so it is not easy to just go back to the person who created them because i have no idea who they are, so that is why i am trying to resolve the issue myself.

Glad if you could point me in the direction of any helpful tutorials.

MT.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi reubens,

Start with this video. There is a lot of good stuff on YouTube for AutoCAD! You could also check out Lynda.com and the Autodesk University

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