Can my block be dynamic?

In some design, particularly architectural design, some of the blocks(furniture, television .etc) need to move or rotate the position freely in order to get a better preview. Actually, it’s not difficult so much. Today, GstarCAD brings you a practical feature_ block editor.

You use the Block Editor to define and modify the objects and behavior in a block definition. In the Block Editor, you add parameters and actions, which define custom properties and dynamic behavior.

You can access the Block Editor by typing BEDIT command or double-click the block without attribute. You will see The Block Editor ribbon interface as below, the black arrows mark stand for parameters, while yellow lighting symbol for action. If users are working under classic interface, it will pop-up toolbars.

Dynamic Block Editor Tool Panels:

You can use the tools at Panels to define, edit and modify dynamic block definitions, makes it very convenient and fast.

Manage: Save or Save as the default block; Create or edit another block.

Tool: Define, edit or update the block attribute.

Parameter: You can add parameters for Dynamic Blocks on this panel.

Action: You can add actions for Dynamic Blocks on this panel.

Parameter Sets: You can add the parameter set on this panel.

Visibility: This panel is specially used for Visibility editing.

Close: It is used to exit the Block Editor. Before exiting, some commands like save or open etc. might not work.

Dynamic block editor parameters:

Parameters have an appearance similar to dimensions. Parameters also specify positions, distances, and angles for geometry in block reference. When you add a parameter to a dynamic block definition, the parameter defines one or more custom properties for the block.

A dynamic block definition must contain at least one parameter. When a parameter is added to a dynamic block definition, grips associated with key points of the parameter are automatically added. You must then add an action to the block definition and associate the action with a parameter.

Point Parameter: Defines an X and Y location in the drawing. A point parameter can be associated with a move or stretch action.

Linear Parameter: Shows the distance between two anchor points. Constrains grip movement along a preset angle. A linear parameter can be associated with a move, stretch, scale or array action.

Polar Parameter: Shows the distance between two anchor points and displays an angle value. You can use both grips and the Properties palette to change both the distance value and the angle. A polar parameter can be associated with a move, scale, stretch, polar stretch, or array action.

XY Parameter: Shows the X and Y distances from the base point of the parameter. It can be associated with a move, scale, stretch, or array action.

Rotation Parameter: Defines an angle. The rotation angle can be in any value, or be defined in a range or a specified value.

Alignment Parameter: Defines an X and Y location and an angle. An alignment parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. An alignment parameter allows the block reference to automatically rotate around a point to align with another object in the drawing. An alignment parameter affects the rotation property of the block. 

Flip Parameter:  A flip parameter flips objects. You can associate a flip parameter with a flip action.

Visibility Parameter: Controls the visibility of objects in the block. A visibility parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. In a drawing, you click the grip to display a list of visibility states available for the block reference.

Lookup Parameter: Defines a custom property that you can specify or set to evaluate a value from a list or table you define. It can be associated with a single lookup grip. In the block reference, you click the grip to display a list of available values. You can associate a lookup parameter with a lookup action.

Base Point Parameter: Defines a base point for the dynamic block reference relative to the geometry in the block. Cannot be associated with any actions, but can belong to an action’s selection set.

Point Parameter: Defines an X and Y location in the drawing. A point parameter can be associated with a move or stretch action.

Linear Parameter: Shows the distance between two anchor points. Constrains grip movement along a preset angle. A linear parameter can be associated with a move, stretch, scale or array action.

Polar Parameter: Shows the distance between two anchor points and displays an angle value. You can use both grips and the Properties palette to change both the distance value and the angle. A polar parameter can be associated with a move, scale, stretch, polar stretch, or array action.

XY Parameter: Shows the X and Y distances from the base point of the parameter. It can be associated with a move, scale, stretch, or array action.

Rotation Parameter: Defines an angle. The rotation angle can be in any value, or be defined in a range or a specified value.

Alignment Parameter: Defines an X and Y location and an angle. An alignment parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. An alignment parameter allows the block reference to automatically rotate around a point to align with another object in the drawing. An alignment parameter affects the rotation property of the block. 

Flip Parameter: A flip parameter flips objects. You can associate a flip parameter with a flip action.

Visibility Parameter: Controls the visibility of objects in the block. A visibility parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. In a drawing, you click the grip to display a list of visibility states available for the block reference.

Lookup Parameter: Defines a custom property that you can specify or set to evaluate a value from a list or table you define. It can be associated with a single lookup grip. In the block reference, you click the grip to display a list of available values. You can associate a lookup parameter with a lookup action.

Base Point Parameter: Defines a base point for the dynamic block reference relative to the geometry in the block. Cannot be associated with any actions, but can belong to an action’s selection set.

Dynamic block editor action:

Actions define how the geometry of a dynamic block reference will move or change when the custom properties of the block reference are manipulated in a drawing.

Move: Move action causes objects to move a specified distance and angle such as a point, a linear, a polar, an XY parameter, etc, moves all objects in a selection set in a/any direction.

Scale: Scale action such as a linear, a polar, an XY parameter, and so on, scales the selected objects in the direction of the parameter. Users can manipulate the grips in different way by changing the properties and values in the Properties palette.

Stretch: Stretch action causes objects to move and stretch a specified distance in a specified location. A stretch action associated with a point, a linear, a polar, an XY parameter, etc. 

Polar Stretch: Polar stretch action rotates, moves, and stretches objects a specified angle and distance when the key point on the associated polar parameter is changed through a grip or the Properties palette. A polar stretch action can only be applied to a polar parameter.

Rotate: Rotate action is always associated with a rotate parameter. Selected objects can be rotated freely, or the way the grips are manipulated is different in the Properties palette. 

Flip: Flip action is always associated with a flip parameter. 

Array: Array action is associated with a linear, a polar, an XY parameter, etc, copies and arrays selected objects in different way. 

Lookup: Lookup action can only be associated with a lookup parameter.