Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
In the next section, you'll go through an exercise that demonstrates how you
can create dynamic blocks that vary their appearance based on user input.
Creating a Dynamic Block
In Chapter 7, you created blocks for the windows and doors. However, because
of its schematic appearance, you were not able to scale the door block as you
did with the window block. Scaling the door and swing would have allowed one
door block to it into any size opening, but it would have also scaled the thick-
ness of the door differently for each door width. Dynamic blocks are standard
blocks with additional functionality to allow certain features to change without
affecting all objects in the block. The door blocks are an excellent opportunity to
explore the abilities of AutoCAD's dynamic blocks.
The basic procedure for setting up a dynamic block has the following stages:
1.
Create the block using the
BLOCK
command.
2.
Right-click the block, and choose Block Editor.
3.
Click a parameter, and follow the command window prompts to cre-
ate the parameter.
4.
Click the Actions tab, and click an action to associate with the param-
eter; then, follow the command window prompts to set up the action.
5.
Use the Properties palette to rename and specify settings for the
parameter and any actions associated with it.
6.
Save your work back to the block definition, and close the Block Editor.
You'll work through this process by converting the A-DOOR-36IN from
09A-FPLAY2
into a dynamic block in a new drawing:
1.
With
09A-FPLAY2
as the current drawing, zoom into the floor plan
at the back of the cabin.
2.
Right-click in a blank area of your drawing and select Clipboard
➢
Copy With Basepoint from the context menu that appears.
The command prompt changes to
Specify base point:
.
3.
Use the Insert osnap to select the insertion point of the back door
block as the base point. Select the back door block, and press
↵
.
This copies the door block to the Windows Clipboard.
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