AutoCAD LT - Dynamic Block - Circular Reference for everything and anything!

[nikkilawsonPLKEN]

Hi all,

I have encountered an unusual issue. The block I am trying to create gives me this error...

This is happening for quite literally EVERYTHING that I do.

I have created a brand new parameter, completely unrelated to anything in the block and a completely new piece of geometry to match. I cannot assign any action to that parameter and geometry. This also happens with pre existing geometry that have all been working perfectly fine until now.

Also, I have made multiple blocks very similar to this one previously and never encountered this error on any of them. Circular references quite literally do not exist within this block.

The block is 'almost' finished after days of work. I only have 1 final thing to change and some things to show/hide on a few of the vis states. But now the whole thing has broken, for seemingly no reason. I cannot afford to lose days of work on something that shouldn't even be an issue.

I have no idea if any of you will have encountered this before, or if you can offer any assistance. But I would be very grateful for any assistance you can offer.

The exact thing I am trying to do is...

Add this

To this action

Thank you in advance for any assistance you are able to offer!

Nik.

[nikkilawsonPLKEN]

Update:

I have updated to AutoCAD LT 2023 and my PC has been restarted a couple of times since. Nothing has changed, so it doesn't appear to just be on my end. I feel like AutoCAD is acting as though the lookups are 'chained' and reacting to the stretch action, which in theory would then adjust the parameter the stretch is attached to, creating an endless loop. However, to my knowledge, a lookup cannot be chained in this way.

I think my only options here are:

Delete all of my lookups, add the required actions etc, redo all of the lookups (potentially hours of work).

Or, AutoDesk fixes their software.

Unless anybody else here has any better ideas, of course?

I will continue looking for any potential errors. I want to be certain this isn't user error before submitting anything to AutoDesk.

[nikkilawsonPLKEN]

It appears that nobody else has a solution to this and I cant figure it out either. I will contact AutoDesk Support as I have absolutely no idea what has caused this.

Thank you to anybody who looked into this at all. Appreciate your time, even if you weren't able to find a solution.

Nik.

[chriscowgill7373]

Unfortunately with the complexity of your block, and not knowing what your end goal is with it, I dont know that there is a way to fix it.  I did a search on the web for a similar error and several things came up,  but none of them seemed to match up with the parameters/actions you are using in your block.

In my opinion, this block seems overly complicated.  I know the goal is to reduce your number of blocks, but if the block is that complicated to the point that it is very difficult to rebuild, I would ask, "is it worth it?" vs having several less complicated dynamic blocks?

[nikkilawsonPLKEN]

Thank you for looking into this, I appreciate your time.

My main issue is, that I have already created numerous blocks very similar to this (Actually more complex, but using the same parameter and lookup combination) without issue. The complexity doesn't appear to be the issue, I think the issue is within AutoCAD.

I have been able to recreate the scenario (granted not to the same extent, as I can still modify other things within the block) using a single linear parameter and a lookup. However, the issue doesn't appear to be consistent. Sometimes AutoCAD seems to think a circular reference is present and sometimes it doesn't.

The biggest issue with this block is that I can't do anything with it now. If you draw a circle (or any other geometry) way off in the distance and try to apply any parameter and action to it, the same error pops up. It is a brand new piece of geometry, with a brand new parameter and action, none of which are related to anything else within the block. Where is AutoCAD pulling the circular reference from?

The answer to your question is, yes. It is worth it, very much so... When it works. I just don't understand why it wont work all of a sudden.

My end goal is more or less what you see before you within the block. I am literally just making finishing touches and tidying up slight bits that I may have overlooked (Like the issue in my screenshots in my previous post). I literally just need the little move and rotate symbols, that I have crudely drawn, to remain in line with the side view when the body (extrusion) is stretched. Then it is more or less finished. All of the complex work has been done. AutoCAD just won't allow me to proceed any further.

I am not saying that AutoCAD is 100% at fault. There could very well be something that I have missed and if that is the case, I don't mind at all, as long as it ends up working. But from what I can see, the only explanation is a 'bug'.

Thank you again for your time. I really do appreciate you taking the time to assist me with this!

Nik.

[nikkilawsonPLKEN]

So here is a totally new block where I have managed to replicate the same issue (but not as intense)

The lookup controls the length of 'Distance1' but I want the drop down arrow for the lookup to remain in line with the end of the line. So, I add it to the Stretch in order for the Lookup to move with the line.

Exact same scenario, but using an additional Move command

And attached is a block with this EXACT setup, only this time, it works. This is how I came to the conclusion that it is a bug within AutoCAD.

So I have this unusual conflict triggering multiple times within my main block. But it only started happening when I was almost finished with it and have no idea why. It hasn't happened a single time with any of my previous blocks and it only happened towards the end of this block. But, now I am able to replicate it relatively consistently. It makes no sense.

[h_s_walker]

It seems to be linked to you moving the lookup up action. I just tried your test block and only adding the lookup parameter to the stretch action worked, but as soon as I tried adding the lookup action I got the circular reference error message.

[nikkilawsonPLKEN]

That is exactly correct. But what I don't get is why? I have done this maybe a hundred times before without issue. Now it only works half of the time. Sometimes going into 'test block' and then back out allows it to work, sometimes not. It is just very odd and inconsistent. BUT, moving the Lookup doesn't do anything. It isn't chained to anything. So I don't understand where the circular reference is coming from. I could understand it if moving the Lookup made it cycle through the available options within the lookup, but it doesn't. Totally frying my brain and I have put a lot of work into this. Really don't want to have to scrap it! 😔

[nikkilawsonPLKEN]

Also... I uploaded the wrong block in my previous post! 🤦‍ Here is the version of it where it works.

Edit: OK, I had to upload the block a third time! I realise what I was doing now. Because I was rushing, I was trying to save it while I still had it open, so it wasn't saving it. Now the correct, working example is attached below!