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AutoCAD Fields Revisited

13 July 2009 2 Comments

Q:  I want to insert a block containing Fields and then select existing objects in my drawing to associate with the Fields in the block.  How can I do this, such as insert the block and select a Viewport to associate with a Scale Field?

A:  AutoCAD doesn’t prompt you to select an object from the drawing you’re inserted the text block into by default. However, there is a default way to select an object in the drawing.

-Go ahead and insert the block containing all of your title block text including the Feld for a Viewport scale.
-Double-click the block to enter the Enhanced Attribute Editor.
-Select the attribute for the scale within the list and right-click the “Value”.
-Select “Edit Field” from the short-cut menu.
-Pick the “Select Object” button from the dialog box and pick your Viewport.
-Hit “OK” back in the dialog box and “OK” in the enhanced attribute editor.
-If you don’t see the change immediately, update your Fields.

There you have it. This solution isn’t as seamless as it could be with a “built in” prompt to select the Viewport when the block is inserted, but it’s an excellent alternative for anyone not skilled or willing enough to create a routine to make it happen.

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2 Comments »

  • Eric Colburn said:

    Thanks for this tip. I’m going to try this right now.

  • Bryan Tanner (author) said:

    Great. Let me know how it works for you and if you think up additional ways to use this technique.

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