Attribute with Attribute Definition field

[Anonymous]

I have a simple block with 4 attributes, all invisible except for the "height" attribute. I reference the height attribute as part of my "Description" attribute which I extract to build a parts list. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong? It seems straightforward enough and I have other blocks with essentially the same mechanics involved but I cannot get this block to work right.

I've created the "Description" attribute 2 different ways by inserting the field with a text string and then a block reference of the attribute "Height" and also by inserting an Object field / Attribute Definition / Value into the text string and both ways do not work properlly. I've attached the block file

[Libbya]

I think it is likely the issue is that you did not 'jumpstart' the block.  Fields within attributes will not update until some dynamic action is performed by a block.  Your block does not contain any dynamic properties so the fields will not update.  In the screencast I add a user parameter.  You can see that the field will not update until I change the value of the user parameter.  That is the dynamic action that jumpstarts the fields.  After that the fields update normally.

[vinodkl]

Hi,

Referencing the value of attribute into another attribute can be confusing if you don't it the right way. 

The field value of the attribute "description" inside the block won't change as the you give different value to the attribute "height" outside the block. hence the value of the attribute "description" remained-8'8" with the change in value of "height"

Instead of adding the field into the attribute before creating the block add it after creating the block. see the screencast for better understanding.

[Libbya]

VinodKL, you can see in the screencast I posted that if a block performs a dynamic action, fields that are inserted into the default value of a block *will* update from then on.  This has a distinct advantage over adding the field after insertion, as the user never has to deal with inserting the field which can be confusing to many users.  

[Anonymous]

I think this approach is correct (or at least best for my application) but I cannot duplicate your results. I say I think it'll work best because other blocks I have with the same attribute do have dynamic actions and maybe that's what's kick-starting the text string. 

I have watched your video and matched step for step but I'm not getting lasting results. When I insert the block in other files it doesn't work. I've gone so far as to purge the block from the drawings and have even completely re-drawn the block anew. Please forgive my ignorance on this but I'm self taught and was never really properly taught on the fundamentals of the dynamic blocks. Can you up-load the block file?

[Libbya]

Post the block you created following the screencast and I will diagnose the issue.

[Anonymous]

Here you go. Thank you for your help

[Libbya]

You did not add any dynamic parameters.  You need to add some sort of dynamic parameter and change its value in order to jumpstart the fields.  In the initial screencast I added a 'user parameter' to the block.  You can choose whatever type of parameter you want but you need something to perform a dynamic change.  The second issue is that within the field dialog you did not check the little box that says to display the block value.  Fix those two issues and it works fine.  

[vinodkl · Accepted solution]

Hi Libby,

You're right. User do get confused with inserting the fields, that's why I had mention in my post that if not done in correct way it can be confusing. But since the OP was for adding the value as field, so I suggested the same in my post.

Not sure why its not working for @Anonymous 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Success! Thank you so much. I should've told you that the block that I work on was the "3x3" block held within the file and had the kick start parameter but you solved it because I did not have the box checked to show results. Thanks again for your help and time.

[alopez]

Would this be the best way to create a block that would contain a single visible ATTDEF that will use the Field feature?  The visible ATTDEF will read A"-BC-E-F, where each letter will populate from invisible ATTDEFs. Here's the Work In Progress...

[varunpVSYE3]

Hi Friends...!!!

I need help. I am having an old title block and so I added few more details to it but unable to define attribute with same height of text. I tried to copy the old attribute and paste in new table but it changes whole sequence. Kindly help me