Problems keeping objects centered in dynamic block

[Anonymous]

I am having problems with keeping objects centered when changing sizes in the dynamic block. Please see attached. Can anyone please tell me how to make the block to work properly so that the objects will remain centered while changing sizes?

Thank you,

[Libbya]

Stretch actions are not appropriate.  A stretch action will stretch vertices that are surrounded by the stretch window and leave vertices outside the stretch window unaltered.  If the stretch window completely surrounds an object or does not surround any vertices within an object, the object is moved.  Circles do not contain any vertices so they are moved and their size is not altered.  You could potentially stretch the hex bolt  head to a different size by using SIX different stretch actions with the angle offset of each action modified accordingly but that is more complicated than necessary. 

You should use scale actions.  Set the parameter base to midpoint so the parameter remains centered.  Set the scale base type to independent and move the action's base point to the midpoint.

There is no need for the additional base point parameter within the block.  The origin is the block base point by default and unless you want to move that base point dynamically within the block there is not any need for the additional parameter.  

See screencast.

[Anonymous]

thank you so much libbya

[Anonymous]

Libbya,

I followed your tutorial but I cannot get the dynamic block to work because in the scale action I do not have the options to “specify action location or [Base type]” then “Enter base point type [Dependent/Independent]. Is this because I am working on CADLT 2017? Please see my attached file.

[Libbya · Accepted solution]

I haven't used LT in many years so I couldn't say.  Do you have the command line on?  

Regardless, you can always add the action and then select it, and change the base type in properties.

[Anonymous]

Libbya,

Thank you so much, I appreciate all valuable help. I am moving on to my next task and that is creating dyn. blocks for current steel shapes (WF, HSS, Angles, etc.)

One last question: on the video you selected all the 3 action scales at once. How did you do that? I tried selecting them  by pressing down ctr, or shift and could not do it. I had to select one by one. Would you share your tip?

Thanks again, it was fun.

[Anonymous]

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY DYNAMIC BLOCK AND SO HERE IT IS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO USE ACADLT AND DRAFT A LOT OF STEEL CONNECTIONS THIS DYN. BLOCK CAN BE QUITE USEFUL. IT IS TO CURRENT SIZE STANDARDS PER AISC-10. READ DESCRIPTION OF THE BLOCK FOR MORE INFO.

ENJOY.

[Libbya · Accepted solution]

Do your actions look like little square icons rather than the yellow lightning bolts?  If so then you have the system variable BACTIONBARMODE=1.  If you change it so that it is =0 you will get the lightning bolts.  1 is the default and allows the selection of only one action at a time.  Another very important difference is that when BACTIONBARMODE=1, you cannot add actions to the selection sets of other actions.  Most of the time that is good but there are some times when proper behavior requires that you can add an action to the selection set of another action.  

[Anonymous]

Yes, my actions looked like squares instead of lighting bolts. So I fixed it. Thanks. I also stretched up the command line a couple of lines more to see the series of prompts in the command line. When I used the scale command I did no see the prompt for the scale action base location. Thanks for all the tips.

This sounds complicated and helpful, adding actions to other actions, quote  " Another very important difference is that when BACTIONBARMODE=1, you cannot add actions to the selection sets of other actions.  Most of the time that is good but there are some times when proper behavior requires that you can add an action to the selection set of another action." I will get to that later. I feel like it  will be a very handy thing to use when for my future complicated blocks. So I guess you will be hearing back from me in the near future.

Thanks,