Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 12
Using Attributes
Early in this topic, you learned how to create blocks, which are assemblies of AutoCAD objects.
Blocks enable you to form parts or symbols that can be easily reproduced. Furniture, bolts, doors,
and windows are a few common items that you can create with blocks. Whole rooms and appli-
ances can also be made into blocks. There is no limit to a block's size.
AutoCAD also offers a feature called attributes that allows you to store text information as a
part of a block. For example, you can store the material specifications for a bolt or other mechan-
ical part that you've converted into a block. If your application is architecture, you can store the
material, hardware, and dimensional information for a door or window that has been converted
into a block. You can then quickly gather information about that block that may not be obvious
from the graphics. By using attributes, you can keep track of virtually any object in a drawing or
maintain textual information in the drawing that can be queried.
Keeping track of objects is just one way to use attributes. You can also use them in place of
text objects when you must keep text and graphic items together. In this chapter, you'll use attri-
butes for one of their common functions: maintaining lists of parts. In this case, the parts are
doors. This chapter also describes how to import these attributes into a database-management
program. As you go through the exercises, think about the ways attributes can help you in your
particular application.
In this chapter, you'll learn to do the following:
•u
Create attributes
Edit attributes
•u
Creating Attributes
Attributes depend on blocks. You might think of an attribute as text information attached to a
block. The information can be a description of the block or some other pertinent text. For example,
you can include an attribute definition with the Door block you created in Chapter 4, “Organizing
Objects with Blocks and Groups.” Subsequently, every time you insert the Door block, you'll be
prompted for a value associated with that door. The value can be a number, a height or width
value, a name, or any type of text information you want. After you enter a value, it's stored as part
of the Door block in the drawing database. This value can be displayed as text attached to the
Door block, or it can be invisible. You can change the value at any time. You can even specify the
prompts for the attribute value.
However, suppose you don't have the attribute information when you design the Door block.
As an alternative, you can add the attribute to a symbol that is later placed by the door when
you know enough about the design to specify what type of door goes where. Figure 12.1 shows
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