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ATP244Whats new in AutoCAD 2010

Segment 2

Date: April 13, 2009

Instructor: Kenneth LearyLevel: All LevelsCategory: AutoCAD 2010

Web: www.AUGI.com


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In the first segment we covered Parametric modeling which entails Geometric and Dimensionalconstraints. Before we move on to some more new commands we need to take a closer look at theParameters Manager.

More about Managing Constraints

Like we covered in the first segment, the final panel on the Parametric menutab is the Manage panel. This panel has only two commands, Deleteconstraints and the Parameters manager.

The Parameters Manageris a palette that displays the constraints in adrawing and all of the associative variables (dimensional constraint variablesand user-defined variables).

The Name column displays the name that

AutoCAD generated for the dimensionalconstraint. This name can be changed tosomething more user friendly or meaningful bydouble clicking the name box or selecting thebox and pressing F2. For example, this iswhere you can rename the value to reflectLength, width, bolt hole, etc.

You can also select the constraint and renamethe constraint the same way you would edit the text in a dimension, this is referred to as in placeediting. The change will be reflected in the Parameters table and all instances of the variable in thedrawing.

The new name can now be inserted inthe expressions column for otherconstraints or used as part of anexpression with another function. Toadd a predefined function to anexpression, select the expression textand right click to open the short cutmenu, select the Expressions pulldown menu and it will reveal a listfunctions that can be added to theexpression.


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Another option is to create a user parameterand name the parameter as a new variable.

Clicking on the Create user parameter buttonand it creates a new a new user parameterlisted under User Variables. This newparameter can be named just like theconstraints and given an expression like theconstraints. These are handy when used asa convenient way to display measurementsthat you would otherwise have to calculate.

A value from the User definedvariables can also be used as a part ofan expression for the otherdimensional constraints.

Dynamic Block Enhancements

Dynamic blocks havent received a lot of attention since they were first introduced in AutoCAD 2006 (aneven numbered release I might add). AutoCAD 2010 finally gives the command some long overdueenhancements. The biggest addition is that dynamic blocks have been enhanced to support the newparametric tools. There are also some new features to dynamic block editing and the ability to create atable of the variations to the dynamic block.

One of the first things youll notice when you edit a block, by either double clicking on a block or typingBEDIT at the command prompt, is the Block editor tab. The Tab is one of the new context sensitivetabs; you can recognize this by the green tint color of the menu. Well cover more about contextsensitive menus later.


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Open/Save Panel The Open/Save panel has the obvious commands toopen 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 theBlock editor. Open the Test Block command by typing BTESTBLOCK at thecommand prompt or by selecting eth Test Block icon. AutoCAD will open atemporary window, similar to a drawing window, with the block referencealready inserted.

When the Test Block Window is active it is easy to identify because the title bar background colorchanges and the context sensitive ribbon tab changes. The new panel tab includes a button to CloseTest Block window. When you test the block and close the test block, youre automatically returned tothe Block Editor, not the drawing environment.

Geometric constraints - Constraints can be added toblocks and Dynamic blocks in the Block editor just liketheyre used in the standard drawing environment.

Constrained geometry that is taken from the Drawingenvironment and copied into the Block Editor, or selectedwhen creating a block with the Block command, will remainconstrained in the Block Editor.

Dimensional constraints Dimensional constraints are alsoavailable for dynamic blocks only theyre called ConstraintParameters when used in the Block Editor.

Constraintparameters behave

just like dimensional constraints but they have theadditional feature that they expose their name as aproperty for the block reference similar to dynamicblock parameters.

Also in the Dimensional panel is the block tablecommand, which can also be run by typing BTABLE atthe command prompt. This is where the functionality ofthe Constraints varies the most from Actions whencreating dynamic blocks. The Block Properties Tableis where you can define different variations of aproperty set for the block reference. You can enter the

properties manually or copy and paste from an Excelspreadsheet.

This will now offer a new grip when the block isinserted into a drawing, which allows you to change theblock from one set of dimensions or values to another.


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Managing constraints The Manage panel containsseveral tools that are not contained in the similar panel inthe Drawing environment version of the Parametric tab.

This panel also contains the Construction command icon,which converts lines into construction lines. Constructionlines are visible in the block editor as a dashed line butdo not plot and are not displayed when the block is inserted in a drawing. Typing BCONSTRUCTIONat the command prompt can also activate the command.

The panel also contains the Constraint Status command. Selecting this icon or typing BCONSTATUSat the command prompt will turn the constraint display status on or off and also changes the shading ofthe constrained objects.

The Block Authoring Pallet also has an additional Tab for applyingConstraints to the block definition. Constraints can perform similar

tasks as the ones available on the Actions tab with some additionalfunctionality not available with Actions. Because of these similarities, itis advised that they should not be mixed in the same block definition toavoid confusion.

These are the sane commands that are available in the Geometricpanel on the Menu Ribbon.


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The Parameters Manager functions like the Drawing environment version with the exception that someadditional Columns areavailable for Block

definitions. It lists legacyaction parameters, blockconstraint parameters,and attributes. Using theParameters Manager,you can open columns tocontrol whether or not aparameter is displayed inthe Properties palette andyou can also specify theorder in which theparameters appear.

Action Parameters Actions have also been given someattention.

Action objects in the Block Editor now behave more consistentlywith Constraint bars. Action objects are automatically grouped intoAction bars based on the parameters with which they areassociated

they are no longer placed individually in theBlock Editor. If you place your cursor over an

action in an Action bar, both the associatedparameter and affected geometry arehighlighted.

If you dont like the new functionality, you canchange back to the old display styles by settingthe BACTIONBARMODE system variable to 0.But this has to be done before entering theBlock Editor.


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Conclusion of Segment 2

Hopefully this segment helped shed some light on the new Dynamic Block enhancements. In the nextsegment well 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 andmake editing your drawings easier.

Remember that this material is only a portion of the class, support is always available online in theprivate course forum. I encourage you to visit the course forum and ask any questions that you mayhave about this segment or simply join in the discussion. The ATP Mantra is: the only stupid question isthe one you dont ask. Thanks again for attending this course!

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