Cadtales

AutoCAD 2007
USING FIELDS TO CAPTURE DATA

Attributes have long been a staple feature of AutoCAD ? a convenient place to capture local data elements for titleblocks, part numbers, specs, etc. for extraction into tables. Each instance of an Attribute in a drawing becomes the placeholder for a different bit of data. With the advent of the Project feature in Architectural Desktop and Sheet Sets in AutoCAD, ?fields? were added to capture global data for distribution to all drawings (sheets) or documents in a Sheet Set ? i.e. project titles, author?s name, contractor listings, project notes, etc.

Fields can be inserted in Multi-line (MT) text objects, attributes and anywhere you encounter the Field icon or Insert>Field from the pull-down menu. Selecting this icon will open the Field dialog box.



In the ?Field category? window select a category to narrow your search.

The ?All? category includes 47 standard Field names, from ?Author? to ?Title,? ready for your selection and use.

 

We can illustrate the use of a Field to store the area of a defined space by drawing a polyline around the space (or use the Boundary command if the area is closed). Then start the MT Text Formatting editor using the icon on the Draw toolbar or ?t? at the keyboard. Pick two points to define the text box and type ?AREA? and a space, then pick the Field icon on the MT Text Formatting tool bar to open the Field dialog box.


In the Field dialog box select ?Objects? in the ?Field category? window. Select ?Object? in the Field names? window.

Move to the ?Object type? window and pick the ?show me? button. The program will hide the Field dialog box and the command line will prompt you to ?Select object.? In the drawing, pick the polyline or boundary prepared earlier.



Selecting the object will return you to the Field dialog box. Since Area is the default selection for ?Property? you will see the actual area calculation in the ?Preview? window. You can now select ?Area? in the ?Property? window, and ?Architectural? (or your choice of format) in the ?Format? window.




Pick OK to close the dialog box and return to the MT Text Formatting window. The area field will be inserted and display the actual area calculation. Pick OK on the Text Formatting tool bar to exit the editor and save your new creation.

Note: You can identify a Field by the filled background. This background can be switched on or off with a check box in the Options dialog box, User Preferences tab:

Press the ?Field Update Settings? button to control when fields will be updated.

Testing our Example:
In the drawing pick a polyline node Grip and change the boundary. REGEN the drawing and see the Area Field update and display the new area calculation.



Overview:
-Create a polyline or Boundary object
-Start MT and enter text
-Insert a Field
-Select ?Object? Field name
-Pick ?Show me? & Pick the object
-Select AREA Property and Format
-OK to close both dialog boxes
-Test your creation

We Want You to Succeed
Do you see a productivity benefit in learning more about using Fields to capture, store and distribute data in your drawings, and adapting these features to your design process? We can help! Call your Hagerman Sales Representative for software upgrades, training and technical support.