Display linear parameter as text within dynamic block appearing as ###

[Anonymous]

So this block(s) have become horribly convoluted, but I can't really backtrack and start over, so I have what I have. This is designed to display a TV elevation with a bracket and soundbar, in various configurations and layouts. To simplify things, I'm only attaching the "TV and Soundbar" block within an otherwise complex set of blocks. Knowing the answer to how to fix this one will help me fix the other 2.

I have a 'chart' at the bottom of the block which allows me to select a TV brand and model, which uses a lookup table to stretch a rectangle into the correct dimensions of the TV I've selected. Based on all of the dimensions that are on the drawing, we want to clean things up and put some of those standard dimensions on the chart to reduce the visible dimension lines. I tried creating attributes, and text fields, which pull the information from the linear parameter distance, but I'm just getting ### for information.

Drawing attached.  Any idea what I'm doing wrong?  Whatever the solution, I 'really' don't want to redo the Block Table, so if there's an easy solution, I'd be thrilled.  You can click on the "Samsung" drop down, select a different TV, and the size/shape with change along with an updated weight (the rightmost number).  Now I just need the Height/Width/Depth to show up also.  I can't remember how I did the weight one.

[Libbya]

If you only want the values from the block properties table, then add the attributes and add the appropriate values to the block properties table to automatically update the attribute values.  If you need custom values, then you will need to use fields instead.  I would use blockplaceholder fields in that case.  

[Anonymous]

I had that idea in mind, but I'm concerned in general as we missed and add TV sizes to that list that someone could make a mistake and enter mismatched info in the linear parameter column and the displayed attribute column. Granted, that copy and paste is awesome, I didn't know you could copy from multiple rows. 

What you did here would work, but could you help me understand why I couldn't just pull the value from the linear stretch distance like I was trying to do originally? It worked in block editor, but not once saved as a block.

[Libbya · Accepted solution]

I don't know what you were trying to do originally.  When selected, the fields just say the object doesn't exist.  If you were trying to use an object field and then select the linear parameter, that is not the way to do it.  As I mentioned in my last post, you can use blockplaceholder fields.  Set the parameters you want to link so that 'show properties'=yes so they show up in the field dialog - you can turn them off afterward if you do not want them to show and the fields will still work.  See screencast.

[Anonymous]

That is perfect! BlockPlaceholders are definitely what I was looking for. Thank you as always for your help. You are, quite literally, the best 👍👍