Tips For Creating Dynamic Blocks To Prevent The Block Editor From Duplicating Objects

[timothy_crouse]

There has been an anomaly(s)  that has plagued the creation of dynamic blocks for a while now.

For some reason, the dynamic block being edited and others in the same drawing will have duplicate objects added to the block.

This seems to happen when the block editor is closed.   If your workflow is to open and close the block editor to test the block you could be setting the conditions to trigger the problem.

Typically you will be aware this has happened after you have saved, closed, and re-opened the file.  The indication is the error dialog pops up when the file is opened.  If you select YES to run the recovery process chances are the file will become polluted.

Through editing various blocks I have come up with a way to tell that trouble is about to happen:

1.  The dynamic controls will highlight and stay highlighted, even and REA will not release the highlight.

2.  The mouse cursor will not be allowed to properly align atop the dynamic parameters, eg MOVE, SCALE, STRETCH.  The cursor will be forced to stay at the edge of the icon not being allowed to pass over the center of the icon.  You can barely select the corner of the icon to initiate an editing task.

3.  Pay attention to the file size.  You will see it increase in size even though no objects have been added to the block.  For example, even though you may be in the editor setting up visstates the corruption buildup will be indicated when you save the file and you see it jump in size, many times it will double in size.

4.  When you exit the editing session and you hover your mouse over the block you will see multiple instances of the block appear in the selection list even though you only see one block on the screen (selection cycling has to be enabled to see this).  If this has happened you need to copy the objects to a clean canvas ASAP before you save and close the file.

5.  Hatching will add polyline boundaries, basically duplicating the boundary selected to create the hatch.  This will be noticed outside the block editor when you manipulate the block.  Or inside the block editor as duplicate abjects will appear in the selection list.

I opened a case about this problem and have asked for it to be elevated to the developers.  At the moment the tier one response was that they are aware the files become corrupted but they do not know the root cause.

More to come on this part of the topic hopefully . . . 

I have attached example files with mystery bloat added simply by using the block editor to setup visstates.  No objects are added.

Last but not least, if the error dialog pops up when the drawing is open you should select NO to cancel the recovery process and copy all the objects to a clean drawing.

Hope this saves some folks some trouble.

-Tim C.