4 Drawer Base Dynamic Block

[gretchen.chan]

I have created a dynamic block of a 4 drawer base cabinet. I need the height of the whole cabinet to stretch, then be able to adjust the individual drawer size and keep the drawer pulls centered on the drawer front. I have figured out the horizontal stretch (width) and I can make the vertical stretch (height) work with the drawer front stretch, but my pulls always go wonky. I have tried to move them with the height, but then the drawer front stretch moves them out of place. I've tried to move them with the drawer front stretch, but then the height moves them. I've tried to move them with ALL the vertical stretches, but that doesn't work either. Is there a specific order the stretches should be created in? I'm ok with parameters & actions, but not very familiar with the constraints and haven't used them yet. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. 

[j.palmeL29YX]

I don't understand what you're complaining about. If I ignore (or delete) the parameters Distance1, Distance2, Distance3 and Distance4 then the block works like I would expect.

Or do you need different values for this four Distances? If so, then you must tell us more. For example, if you increase the value of Distance2: What do you now you expect:

- the value of Distance3 is reduced by the same amount
- or the value of Distance3 and Distance4 is reduced by half the amount in each case
- or Distance3 and Distance4 remain unchanged and the total height changes
- or ...?

[gretchen.chan]

The problem is, I can't keep the drawer pulls in the correct position. The
rest works like i expect it to.
Thank you.

[j.palmeL29YX]

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@gretchen.chan wrote:
The problem is, I can't keep the drawer pulls in the correct position.

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Hmm. The one of the drawer drawer handles (Edge Pull) is located at the top edge and stays here if you stretch the model. The others are in the center and also stay in the center during streching. That is exactly what I would expect.

Please show us what you want. (explode the block an d move the handles where you want it. )

cadder

[gretchen.chan]

So, this is how it works in my mind... 

When H is stretched to accommodate the counter top height, the drawer fronts (D H 1-4) change height equally. Then I can adjust the drawer fronts according to the specs. The magenta drawer pulls need to remain centered on the red drawer fronts after all the stretching is finished.  

[gretchen.chan]

So, this is how it works in my mind... 

When H is stretched to accommodate the counter top height, the drawer fronts (D H 1-4) change height equally. Then I can adjust the drawer fronts according to the specs. The magenta drawer pulls need to remain centered on the red drawer fronts after all the stretching is finished.  

[Libbya · Accepted solution]

That sounds like it would not be user-friendly.  If you want specific heights for the individual drawers then when you change the height, it should not change 'all of the drawers evenly' it should just change the top height and the height of the top drawer.  Otherwise, if you set the individual drawer heights and then change the overall height, then the individual drawers will all change and be off by the fraction of the change of height.  In other words, someone sets the overall height to 40" and then adjusts the bottom two drawers to be 12" and the top two to be 8" each.  They then decide that the overall height should be 36" instead.  The drawer heights will all change and need to be adjusted individually again.  That conflict between having them all adjust evenly and having them able to adjust individually also creates a conflict that I'm not sure can be resolved.  If you have individual actions with appropriate distance modifiers to stretch the block evenly, and then you adjust the drawers individually, those distance modifiers will then no longer be correct for stretching the drawers evenly.  If someone changes the overall height then the drawers will not stretch evenly but instead will be off by whatever difference there is between the individual heights and an even distribution.  The little 1/8" gap between drawers adds another wrench in the works as a scale action (which could potentially resolve the first issue) will scale that gap making it incorrect.  Trying to use chained gripless point/stretches does not seem to be able to resolve the conflict either as they will either become misaligned with the individual drawer parameters or the overall parameter OR, they will create a circular reference.  I think you will need to either abandon the overall even stretch or the individual adjustment of the drawers.  

[gretchen.chan]

Ok, thank you for your input and your time. I already have 2 blocks
created, one to adjust the height where the drawers adjust equally, and one
to adjust the drawers. I was just hoping to combine them.

[Libbya]

You could combine them with two separate sets of linework and a visibility state to switch between equally spaced and individually adjusted.