Dynamic Callout box with multiline-leader style leader

[barry2104]

Hello,

for a particular plan type that I often have to create for a regular client, the client has specific requirements regarding callout boxes which are often needed in the plan. They have provided a callout consisting of two rectangles and a circle, each shape with text inside, along with a single leader (line). Since this callout gets used dozens of times in each plan, I want to create an attributed block for it to streamline my work.

The only part I’m stuck on is to get the leader to be dynamic so that it functions just like a leader in a standard Multiline-Leader (where if I point the end of the leader to the right of the textbox, the start of the leader jumps to the right edge of the textbox, and vice versa). I want to incorporate a „jumping“ leader which can start from either the top left, bottom left, or bottom right corner of my block (the top right has a circle / no corner to comfortably start from).

Can anyone help me out here?

Attached is the original callout from the client and to the right is my block which needs amending to have the dynamic leader. (The leader can just be a line / doesn’t need an arrowhead!)

I don’t know if it’s possible to make this dynamic block be that smart/dynamic though? If not, then I would settle with having a block with a freely movable leader, starting on the bottom left corner, but „set to the back“ so that if i point the leader north-east of the block, the leader doesn’t cross over, but rather under the block (which has a white hatch behind it).

[barry2104]

attached is an updated version of my block with 4x dynamic (polar array) leaders, of which I'd alway have 3 "hidden" (snapped to the edge of a rectangle nearby).

Obviously as I mention above, it would be much easier to make this smarter so I'd only need one leader which was intuitive enough to switch its start-point to the nearest corner (closest block corner to the leader's end-point).

Also, moving this block using the grip on the bottom left currently moves the leaders with it. Ideally I can get the box to move (using the grip/base point @ bottom left) and have the leader endpoint stay put, akin to a standard multiline-leader

[barry2104]

can no-one confirm at least whether it's possible to have the leader in this block jump to the nearest / most logical corner of the block, just like a typical annotative multiline leader does?

[timothy_crouse]

To get the leader to stay put as the callblock is moved you would use a second move control focused on the callblock,  the control would actually have to be a stretch such that it stretched the leader as the callblock is relocated.

If you want to reposition the leader to various corners you could use a lookup table or a block properties table.

This would allow you to define the position of the leader by having a it linked to a move parameter that you set for each instance in the lookup table.  Each row (instance) would have a different position value set there-by providing a move action.

Does this Help?

-Tim C.

[h_s_walker · Accepted solution]

@barry2104 Try the attached block it should do exactly what you want

[barry2104]

Brilliant!
The only other feature that would make this perfect would be to have the end of the leader stay put when the block gets moved by left-clicking the block insertion point, similar to how the text of a multi-leader can be moved and the leader head stays put, but the leader itself stretches accordingly (see screenshots below)

If this is possible (no idea if/how myself), perhaps it would be better to have the block insertion point in the middle of the block, so that the move-pick-point/node doesn't coincide with a possible leader start-point.

Should I assume that the leader start-points cannot be fixed to the corners of the block, which would help to avoid the possibility of these accidently getting moved/stretched from the wrong (start) end?

[h_s_walker · Accepted solution]

@barry2104  I've updated the block. You need to use the grip which is on the middle horizontal line in at the left. See the image below (use the ringed grip). The drawing is also attached

[barry2104]

great work. Thanks a bunch!

The only difference this block has to a classic multiline leader is that after moving the block via the new grip on the left, the leader doesn't automatically snap to the desired corner.

Not a big issue though, I'm very happy with the block as it is.

Thanks again!

[barry2104]

Hi again.

This block is working great, however I've now realised it would save me time if the Attribute "F1" in the top-left box was split so that the "F" was fixed (e.g. as text instead of an attribute) and I then only had to double click on the attribute and type in a number (currently I either have to prefix the number with an "F" or move the mouse to select the number and replace it with another number, leaving the "F" where it was).

The same goes for the Area "m²" attribute at the bottom...

The "m²" should be affixed to be close to the right end of its box, and the value (Attribute) should be justified to the right, so e.g. for an area of 1234,56 m², the space between the 6 and the m remains fixed. Typically there are always 2 decimal places and up to 4, sometimes 5 integers (i.e. up to 7 numbers with a decimal point/separator in between)

The F1 (Area Number box) varies typically from F1 up to F999, so because the "F" (desired now as Text/MText in that wierd Italicc font style) is a prefix, the following number (Attribute) should be left-justified.

I tried doing this myself in Block Editor but couldn't get the polar/stretch movements of the block to move these new "F" and "m²" text fields with the rest of the block. I imagine this change is easy for an expert though and would really appreciate your help!

Have a nice day

[barry2104]

One more thing: I don't suppose it's possible to be able to let the block fill out the m² area automatically, e.g. can one insert the block, pick the end of the leader to move its end point to the desired area/hatch-object, and then prompt it to "link" to the hatch so that the area value in the block is automatically taken as that of the associated hatch?

I've done something similar with fields inside basic M-Text, but that involves many clicks to select the object, choose what characteristic (in this case: Area), define the number of decimal points, etc. I wouldn't know how to build that into the dynamic block anyway, and even if that method was the best/only way, it would likely take more time to go through the Fields dialogue than just to type in the area of the hatch in the attribute-field by hand.

Downside to "by hand" is simply that there is more margin for typos when manually entering >100 values/fields, and if one hatch gets resized later, the area needs to get updated again manually - which can on occasion be forgotten!

[miguelbagh]

Hello,
I have downloaded and analyzed the latest version of Callout.dwg, and it is brilliant, as I was looking for something similar, but I don't understand how it works. How can I add to the list the vertex in the upper right corner? In lookup table, I add the coordinates of that vertex, but it ignores it. What does that lookup action depend on? I need to know. Thanks!

[j.palmeL29YX · Accepted solution]

Do you need a functionality as shown here?

If yes, you only need to change this value in the Lookup2 table

from currently 4 to 6. 

Or do you need additional to the current snap points a new snap point at the upper right corner? 

Then examine the attached file. 

If one of these meets your goal and you can not see how it works let me know. I will try to explain the "background secrets". 

[miguelbagh]

Hi @j.palmeL29YX ! Thank you very much for answering!

Yes, I want to add more snap points to the existing ones. The file you have sent does just that, with a new snap point in the upper right corner, as you rightly point out.

I had already performed this operation, but it did not work. I do not know why. I also don't know why changing the values I indicate below, it also stops working.

Now I have tried adding another snap point to the dynamic block you have sent, and it still does not work. This is what I have entered, in case it helps.

I don't know why it doesn't work for me

[miguelbagh]

Excuse me, @j.palmeL29YX 

The correct picture of values is this:

The second row is the only one that does not execute.

[j.palmeL29YX]

If you want additional snap points you also need additional lines in the other table (Lookup1). Didn't you see in my file? 

Post your dwg please and also a sketch where we can see which points you want to snap. 

[miguelbagh]

I suspected there was another table that I can't see, but it doesn't appear. I'm using AutoCAD 2020, I don't know if it's a compatibility issue, but it shouldn't be.

I also retrieved the file you sent and it found an error.

This is what I see on screen:



I am sending you the file, to see if we can find out where the problem is. Or also, upload the screenshot of that table that I can't see and add it manually, please.

Thank you!

[j.palmeL29YX · Accepted solution]

Set BACTIONBARMODE to 0, then you can see (and edit  😉 ) all lookup tables

[miguelbagh]

Oh, my God! That was it! I can see it now! I didn't know this variable exists, it's a bit confusing.

Mystery solved! I was going crazy 😂😂😂

Thank you so much and have a nice day!