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In the first segment we covered Parametric modeling which entails Geometric and Dimensional
constraints. Before we move on to some more new commands we need to take a closer look at the
Parameters Manager.
Like we covered in the first segment, the final panel on the Parametric menu
tab is the Manage panel. This panel has only two commands, Delete
constraints and the Parameters manager.
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Another option is to create a user parameter
and name the parameter as a new variable.
Dynamic blocks haven’t received a lot of attention since they were first introduced in AutoCAD 2006 (an
even numbered release I might add). AutoCAD 2010 finally gives the command some long overdue
enhancements. The biggest addition is that dynamic blocks have been enhanced to support the new
parametric tools. There are also some new features to dynamic block editing and the ability to create a
table of the variations to the dynamic block.
One of the first things you’ll notice when you edit a block, by either double clicking on a block or typing
BEDIT at the command prompt, is the Block editor tab. The Tab is one of the new context sensitive
tabs; you can recognize this by the green tint color of the menu. We’ll cover more about context
sensitive menus later.
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Open/Save Panel – The Open/Save panel has the obvious commands to
open a Block for editing and save a block that is currently being edited.
There is a new command available for testing a block without exiting the
Block editor. Open the Test Block command by typing BTESTBLOCK at the
command prompt or by selecting eth Test Block icon. AutoCAD will open a
temporary window, similar to a drawing window, with the block reference
already inserted.
When the Test Block Window is active it is easy to identify because the title bar background color
changes and the context sensitive ribbon tab changes. The new panel tab includes a button to Close
Test Block window. When you test the block and close the test block, you’re automatically returned to
the Block Editor, not the drawing environment.
Constraint
parameters behave
just like dimensional constraints but they have the
additional feature that they expose their name as a
property for the block reference similar to dynamic
block parameters.
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Managing constraints – The Manage panel contains
several tools that are not contained in the similar panel in
the Drawing environment version of the Parametric tab.
The panel also contains the Constraint Status command. Selecting this icon or typing BCONSTATUS
at the command prompt will turn the constraint display status on or off and also changes the shading of
the constrained objects.
The Block Authoring Pallet also has an additional Tab for applying
Constraints to the block definition. Constraints can perform similar
tasks as the ones available on the Actions tab with some additional
functionality not available with Actions. Because of these similarities, it
is advised that they should not be mixed in the same block definition to
avoid confusion.
These are the sane commands that are available in the Geometric
panel on the Menu Ribbon.
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The Parameters Manager functions like the Drawing environment version with the exception that some
additional Columns are
available for Block
definitions. It lists legacy
action parameters, block
constraint parameters,
and attributes. Using the
Parameters Manager,
you can open columns to
control whether or not a
parameter is displayed in
the Properties palette and
you can also specify the
order in which the
parameters appear.
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Conclusion of Segment 2
Hopefully this segment helped shed some light on the new Dynamic Block enhancements. In the next
segment we’ll look at all of the improved commands and some of the ones that have been completely
overhauled. These are referred to as the “fit and finish” improvements that improve productivity and
make editing your drawings easier.
Remember that this material is only a portion of the class, support is always available online in the
private course forum. I encourage you to visit the course forum and ask any questions that you may
have about this segment or simply join in the discussion. The ATP Mantra is: the only stupid question is
the one you don’t ask. Thanks again for attending this course!