Blocks with attributes

[brianwclayton1969]

I'm creating blocks with attributes, and I have attached a screen shot of the blocks I have problems with. The problems are with TEXT JUSTIFICATION. 

All these blocks and text have to scale every time I change the scale of the drawing in model space or using annotative scale. I have gotten other blocks to scale correctly when I'm just "one" attribute, justification works correctly but not when I have multiple attributes. 

[pendean]

share your blocks here for us to touch for ourselves.

TIA

[brianwclayton1969]

I have attached the dwg files (blocks) along with the screenshots again showing how the blocks with attributes are supposed to end up looking (jpeg).

As you can see in the .dwg files the attributes are NOT centered and when used they are not centered as the outcome. 

What am I missing or doing wrong?

Thanks

[Libbya · Accepted solution]

I see a couple things that might cause issues. 

First issue is that your block files are named 'TAG' and "HARDWARE' and within each, they have a block defined as 'TAG' and 'HARDWARE'.  Because of that, if you try to insert that block file into another file it causes an error because the 'block references itself'.  

The other issue I see is that instead of making the blocks annotative and having the objects within them non-annotative you have done the reverse.  You made the blocks non-annotative and the objects within them annotative.  That's not how to do it if you want the entire block to scale uniformly.   

[brianwclayton1969]

I'm not understanding how setting either blocks or text annotative will fix the text justification of setting up the blocks.

I have set all my other blocks up exactly the same, lining up the justification is what I'm having issues with. See the two attached files, the AutoCAD drawing justification I have issues setting it up to look like the jpeg. 

[Libbya]

An annotative block will scale everything within it from a single point (its basepoint) so everything looks correct.  Individual annotative attributes within a non-annotative block will all scale from their own justification point.  Because those points are all at different locations, the attributes will get skewed relative to each other when anno scale changes are made.  See the screencast to see the different behavior.  

[brianwclayton1969]

I understand you explanation BUT mine are not that straight from the beginning (what you are showing). I want to fix what I already have and understand where the base point and justification comes into play.

Attached is my original TAG_2 (dwg) and I need it to look like Annotative Block 1 (jpeg) and you can see my annotation and blocks are not straight like yours. When I bring it into a tool pallet and then into AutoCAD the final outcome is pictured below.

I appreciate any assistance.

[Libbya]

Post the block file that the tool palette is referencing. 

If the tool palette is referencing a block definition with random justification and placement of attributes, then the block will insert with attributes that are misaligned and have random justification.  If the block block definition that is being referenced by the tool palette has aligned attributes that are all justified appropriately, then the block will insert with aligned attributes and correct justification unless the block you are inserting them into already has the same block name defined with messed up attributes.  

[brianwclayton1969]

I appreciate the video, it all worked fine aligning the text, but when I go into make the attributes active so I can add information, after adding the block to the tool palette the attributes don't function. See the attached screen shot.

Thanks

[Libbya]

I'm not sure what process you used to make your tool palette tool for inserting the block but I wonder if it inserts the file rather than the block.  In which case the block ends up being a block within a block.  A single explode would show the nested block and make the attributes accessible.  A reworking of your tool creation or block creation process would be in order.  All of that is a guess based on the image file.  Actually posting the dwg files in question would be a lot more useful and eliminate the guesswork.  

[brianwclayton1969]

I have the attributes working and in aligned and blocked created. It all looks great and when it comes in a 1:1 (full scale) its all perfect, but when I change the scale at the bottom in model scale it all reverts back to stacked on top of each other. (See attached)

What happened?

[Libbya]

I described the cause in my first post in this thread.  You then blew it off in your following post.  I then demonstrated the issue in my followup post with a screencast showing exactly why and how to fix it.  You then blew it off again in your followup post...

Individual annotative attributes will scale from their justification point.  The justification points to do not scale relative to each other.  Because of that, individual attributes will only be aligned with each other for a single annotative scale.  If you want them to maintain their relationship to each other than put NON-annotative attributes into an ANNOTATIVE block.   

[s.borello]

Your attributes are not built into your block.  You need to copy all your attributes then paste them into your block.  Make attributes within the block non-annotative.  Save and close block editor, delete old attributes that were not inside your block.  Run attsync on your block, and you will see the attributes appear.  Add a few annotative scales to your block and test... works like a charm.  Excellent screencast by @Libbya  showing this process. 

[brianwclayton1969]

All that works fine. BUT When you insert it into a tool palette and then bring it into a drawing your can't change the attributes. it opens the "EDIT BLOCK DEFINITION"dialog box. See the attachments.

I need the blocks/attributes to function just like the other block/attributes that are in the existing AutoCAD tool palettes, when I create a custom block/attribute.   

[Libbya]

That is quite obviously an issue with how you are creating your tool palette tool.  I already stated that in a prior post.  Without added details on the process you are using it's hard/impossible to help.  What is your process? 

1. Make a screencast showing your step-by-step process of creating your tool palette tool! 

2. Post the actual block the tool palette is referencing!   

---

[Libbya]

Here's a step-by-step screencast from the last block you posted showing how to make the block work correctly and how to make a tool palette tool that works correctly.  There are various other ways to make a tool that will work correctly.

[brianwclayton1969]

I attached 2 drawing with recorded steps (I hope it works) first time making a recording of steps used in AutoCAD. I did everything in creating the TAG and then I inserted the tag into the Tool palette. Then I opened a new drawing and dragged the TAG on to a new drawing and it is a block where I cannot fill in the Attributes.

TAG_30 has the Block and Attributes created and then Drawing6 is where I dragged TAG_30 into the tool palette and then opened a new drawing (Drawing6) and it works like a block. 

When I create a new block with attributes I want it to live in my AutoCAD tool palette, then, and when I drag that new block with Attributes into a new drawing I want to be able to start filling out the Attribute information. And I want all the text to remain in the same location from the beginning when the block w/ attributes were created no matter what scale I'm using or change to.

Hope this helps.

[Libbya]

The action recorder is a tool for creating macros for automating repetitive steps.  It will not record to the dwg file.    Go here to download AutoDesk Screencast (it's free, as is the hosting).    

Did you watch the last screencast I posted?  It shows step-by-step how to create a tool palette tool that works correctly.  Follow those steps exactly and it will work. The 'block' in the Drawing6 file you attached is a block within a block.  Do a single explode and it works fine.  That shows definitively that you did not follow the steps I demonstrated in the screencast.  

[brianwclayton1969]

I have the block/attributes created just like the setup you have. Yes everything works fine scaling and the block and annotation scales along with it. 

But when I save it and bring that into the Tool Palette and try to bring that new block into a drawing the block goes into BLOCK EDIT dialog box. 

But if I copy and paste it to a new drawing the ENHANCED ATTRIBUTE EDITOR dialog box can open up (just like any symbol from the tool palette) so I can add my information.

What gives? Why is that so different that it bring one in one way causes one to act as a BLOCK that can't active the Attributes to change information, and where bring one another way the block will allow Attributes to be edited?

Thanks