Using a dynamic block (Dropdown list of text) to control fields

[Anonymous]

I am hoping someone can help me with this!

I am trying to create a drop down list in one cell of my title block that then controls which field is displayed in an adjacent cell.

I am only working with text here, essentially we have lots of spaces in one drawing and want to be able to choose them from a dropdown list but as the project progresses the names of the spaces will change, hence I was thinking of using fields so everything updates easily further down the line.

I have had a look at other posts and see there is a lot about using lookup tables but cannot for the life of me make any sense out of how to actually do this!

Thanks,

Simon

[steven-g]

It just so happens I once did a video for just that, drop down it sounds like you may want to use the technique differently but take a look see if it makes any sense

[Anonymous]

This is great thanks Steven.

I achieved a similar thing using visibility states but this is clearly a more powerful way to do it.

So all I need to do now is to use the current output of the lookup table to control the visibility state on another block next to it....... Any pointers?

Many Thanks,

Simon

[steven-g]

You can use a field in one block to read the value of an attribute in a seperate block by picking that block as the object and looking for the name of the attribute in the properties. Just remember that fields don't update untill you do a regen of the drawing when it comes to using it. Post your drawing if you get stuck someone will take a look.

PS it would be easiest to create the attributes for the second block first in model space, (I don't know if it's possible to select objects in model space from inside the block editor) and then create the second block

[Anonymous]

ok so i am still struggling with this one I'm afraid.

Current state of play is as follows:

I have 11 "Space name" custom properties configured in the file properties.

I have a drop down list in my title block that allows me to pick the same named attributes from a lookup table (Thanks Steven).

I now want to create a cell next to the drop down list that picks the appropriate Space name from the file properties when it is selected in the drop down list.

I was thinking a series fields with visibility states might be the way to do  this but cant get the states and the lookup table connected.

Then I thought maybe pointing another lookup action at the same table to select visibility stats but that doesnt want to work either.........

Apologies if I am getting my terminologies muddled too, i'm not confident I have quite grasped the fundamentals of this yet.

I have attached a version of the file I am working in.

Any guidance much appreciated!

Thanks,

Simon

[steven-g]

I think I can see what you are getting at, do you want this as a seperate drop down or should it be linked to work when the space name is selected

[Anonymous]

Steven,

I want it linked so that it automatically updates when the space name dropdown is updated.

Many Thanks,

Simon

[steven-g]

I was afraid of that , LT isn't that adaptable that it will allow for that measure of programming, so it will mean that you have to put those values into attributes to start with, just thinking aloud here, I'll get back to you shortly.

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

OK getting somewhere, I see you had placed a double Lookup in the drawing so hopefully you know how those work, take a look at the attached and see if it makes sense. I did have to delete a few things and replace them but that was just to get it all running, and I added the visibility state to show the names.

[Anonymous]

This is great thanks Steven!

Could I ask you just to describe how you got the visibility states to connect to the lookup table as that bit frustrated me in particular!

Many Thanks,

Simon.

[steven-g]

Very simply explained, the double lookup works because they both use the exact same name in the right hand lookup properties column, the left hand column can contain any parameters that are normaly used in a lookup and providing the lookups would work as individual lookups would, ie. no wrong spellings or values that stop the look table from showing the reverse lookups are allowed, then everything works. The important part is that the lookup properties are exactly the same.

You choose the visibility state when you add properties to the input properties column, and then for each row you highlight select the correct visibility state from the drop down list.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your help Steven!

That all makes sense now.

Simon

[steven-g]

You are welcome Simon, any more problems down the line just give a shout.

[Anonymous]

Hey, this video was great but is there any way to do this list with images? Like a company logo to put in a customer position.

[steven-g]

This is a pure text based method, If you want to choose different images in a block you would be better looking at the visibility state options.

[p.scanlon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL2RVrzIgUc&ab_channel=LTZDesign
This should do it