CAD Notes

We created a door using stretch action in dynamic block tutorial. It was a good practice, but can be better. Stretching them might not be the best option. Sometimes we want the door at specific sizes. Providing the users a list would be better. We can use lookup table.

Let’s open the door in that tutorial. Rename the linear parameter to ‘width’ or ‘door width’. And change the ‘number of grips’ to 0. We don’t want our users to use other than specified sizes.

Place a lookup parameter. Place it anywhere you like it. When AutoCAD ask for the number of grips, type 1 then [enter]. It suppose to be the default value by the way.

After you place the lookup action, change the parameter name to ‘door type’.

Then place the lookup action.

AutoCAD will open a lookup table. We are going to define the door sizes here.

Click the ‘add properties’ button. We only have one parameter here. Select the width parameter and click OK. The width column is added to your table. If you have more than one parameter, you can show them all here. For example, our column has 2 parameters.

Fill the table with the sizes and door type as you want.

Make sure we set the last row properties as ‘allow reverse lookup’. If we set it as read only, we won’t see the list.

Click OK, save your block, and save block editor. Try your block. Select the block and click the down arrow to access the list. No grips, so no body can use a size that’s not specified in our list.

We can do that too with dimensional constraints, using a block table. We will discuss about this later.

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You might also interested to these posts:

1. Dynamic Block Action vs Dynamic Block Parameters
2. Dynamic Block Tutorial #3: Door
3. Dynamic Block Tutorial #4: Adding More Actions
4. Dynamic Block Tutorial #5: Controlling Visibility
5. Creating Profile Parameters

Written by Edwin Prakoso

Application Engineer. Jakarta, Indonesia. 5+ years experience as CAD engineering application. AutoCAD, MicroStation, Revit, Inventor, and certified CATIA part design specialist. Here are some topics I am currently focusing on

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