Dynamic Block Dependent List

[private2at1]

I am tinkering with making a dynamic block for standard culvert sizes.  The geometry of the block will be dependent on 3 variables.  Height, Span and Fill Height.  One solution is to write out every possible combination in a table.  The problem with this is when you click on the block to select your culvert the list would be HUGE.  I was trying to figure out a way to reduce the size of the pick list on the screen.

Fill height list is consistent for all culverts at the following set increments 0.6, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 (m)

Eligible sizes are bases on the table below:

So while spans of 2 to 6 m are possible, heights of 3.5 m are not available for each span.

In excel I an achieve this through dependent drop down lists and set it to go look at a table based on the three choices. Using lookup functions I can pull the wall and slab thickness required to generate a cross sectional drawing.

However I cannot figure out how to do this in a dynamic block while keeping the list short.  There are 45 standard culvert sizes which in my source book have their own table.  In each table there is a column for fill each of the 9 fill heights.  If I would to list each combination for a table selection, that would leave the CAD operator scrolling through a list of 405 names.

Is there a way for them to pick the span, then based on the chosen span only see the available heights for another choice?  and then finally a third pick for fill?

UPDATE:  The attached file is what I have tried so far.  It only has the entries for 6.0 m of fill.  I have the 405 entries in an excel table that was easy to generate that I could copy and paste in, but currently do not see how that work with the look up action.  I can not get my look up actions to work with my dimension constraints, and I cannot get my dimension constraints to work work with parameters in the formula.  I tried deleting the span dim constraint and replaced it with a linear parameter for a lookup action.  But then when I tried to use the linear parameter in the formula for the out to out dimension it would not work.

[private2at1]

I am tinkering with making a dynamic block for standard culvert sizes.  The geometry of the block will be dependent on 3 variables.  Height, Span and Fill Height.  One solution is to write out every possible combination in a table.  The problem with this is when you click on the block to select your culvert the list would be HUGE.  I was trying to figure out a way to reduce the size of the pick list on the screen.

Fill height list is consistent for all culverts at the following set increments 0.6, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 (m)

Eligible sizes are bases on the table below:

So while spans of 2 to 6 m are possible, heights of 3.5 m are not available for each span.

In excel I an achieve this through dependent drop down lists and set it to go look at a table based on the three choices. Using lookup functions I can pull the wall and slab thickness required to generate a cross sectional drawing.

However I cannot figure out how to do this in a dynamic block while keeping the list short.  There are 45 standard culvert sizes which in my source book have their own table.  In each table there is a column for fill each of the 9 fill heights.  If I would to list each combination for a table selection, that would leave the CAD operator scrolling through a list of 405 names.

Is there a way for them to pick the span, then based on the chosen span only see the available heights for another choice?  and then finally a third pick for fill?

UPDATE:  The attached file is what I have tried so far.  It only has the entries for 6.0 m of fill.  I have the 405 entries in an excel table that was easy to generate that I could copy and paste in, but currently do not see how that work with the look up action.  I can not get my look up actions to work with my dimension constraints, and I cannot get my dimension constraints to work work with parameters in the formula.  I tried deleting the span dim constraint and replaced it with a linear parameter for a lookup action.  But then when I tried to use the linear parameter in the formula for the out to out dimension it would not work.

[h_s_walker]

Have a look at this block (drawing attached) for the way forward. This was from an idea from @Libbya 

Create 9 visibilty states for your heights. Then in each visibility state put a lookup which only lists the available other information in that height.

[h_s_walker]

Have a look at this block (drawing attached) for the way forward. This was from an idea from @Libbya 

Create 9 visibilty states for your heights. Then in each visibility state put a lookup which only lists the available other information in that height.

[private2at1]

I think I understand the concept, but after looking at your sample drawing, I really need to go back and look at LOOKUP to make sure I understand how it works before I progress with this.

I was trying to use a Block Table to reduce the number of time the culvert is drawn.  I tried doing a block table per visibility state since you can name the block table I though you could have more than one but apparently according to this article, you can only have one.

[private2at1]

I think I understand the concept, but after looking at your sample drawing, I really need to go back and look at LOOKUP to make sure I understand how it works before I progress with this.

I was trying to use a Block Table to reduce the number of time the culvert is drawn.  I tried doing a block table per visibility state since you can name the block table I though you could have more than one but apparently according to this article, you can only have one.

[private2at1]

Added my block to the question and added some of the problems I am having trying to use look ups.

[private2at1]

Added my block to the question and added some of the problems I am having trying to use look ups.

[h_s_walker · Accepted solution]

@private2at1 You've almost got it you need to move the SPAN column to the front. The first two images are your list at the moment and what it looks like in the block properties table. The third image shows the span column moved and the final image shows you the result.

[h_s_walker · Accepted solution]

@private2at1 You've almost got it you need to move the SPAN column to the front. The first two images are your list at the moment and what it looks like in the block properties table. The third image shows the span column moved and the final image shows you the result.

[private2at1]

SERIOUSLY!!!! (^(&%)@+#*(&^@  I was so close!  I did not know that is how you made dependent drop down lists.  I went back and tried to convert everything to parameters and tried using Triple look ups.  My vertical dimensions worked just fines but my horizontals are giving me serious grief.  Not to mention the number of time I have to keep re-entering the table is a royal pain in the arse!

Let me give this option a go as it looks almost exactly what I need.  Can it do three layers of choices?  Ie Fill Height, Span, and Height?

[private2at1]

SERIOUSLY!!!! (^(&%)@+#*(&^@  I was so close!  I did not know that is how you made dependent drop down lists.  I went back and tried to convert everything to parameters and tried using Triple look ups.  My vertical dimensions worked just fines but my horizontals are giving me serious grief.  Not to mention the number of time I have to keep re-entering the table is a royal pain in the arse!

Let me give this option a go as it looks almost exactly what I need.  Can it do three layers of choices?  Ie Fill Height, Span, and Height?

[h_s_walker]

@private2at1 

Yeah you just need to move the columns around. If F is Fill Height move that to the front, then have Span as the second column and Height as the third. You can get rid of the Size column.

A shortcut to continually filling/ unfilling them is to do all the hard work in excel and then copy and paste the information into the table

[h_s_walker]

@private2at1 

Yeah you just need to move the columns around. If F is Fill Height move that to the front, then have Span as the second column and Height as the third. You can get rid of the Size column.

A shortcut to continually filling/ unfilling them is to do all the hard work in excel and then copy and paste the information into the table

[private2at1]

@h_s_walker 

That is what was killing me with the parameters method.  You can only copy one cell at a time.  The block property table was a simple copy paste from excel.  It was a thing of beauty  The final product wound up being column 1 as a visibility state to control looking at either an open footing culvert, or a box culvert.  Column 2 wound up being user parameter Fill Height.  Next was SPAN, followed by fill height.  The things now works as intended.  Admittedly something was glitchy with the visibility state the first 4 or 5 times I tried it, but it worked in the end oddly enough the same way I tried it the first time.

F is actually Minimum Footing width.  I reused the variable in the table for Bottom Slab Thickness for the box culvert

Thank you for the assist on this.

[private2at1]

@h_s_walker 

That is what was killing me with the parameters method.  You can only copy one cell at a time.  The block property table was a simple copy paste from excel.  It was a thing of beauty  The final product wound up being column 1 as a visibility state to control looking at either an open footing culvert, or a box culvert.  Column 2 wound up being user parameter Fill Height.  Next was SPAN, followed by fill height.  The things now works as intended.  Admittedly something was glitchy with the visibility state the first 4 or 5 times I tried it, but it worked in the end oddly enough the same way I tried it the first time.

F is actually Minimum Footing width.  I reused the variable in the table for Bottom Slab Thickness for the box culvert

Thank you for the assist on this.