Custom grips can be
added to manipulate the geometry of a dynamic block reference.
Parameter Type
|
Grip Type
|
Actions You Can Associate with a Parameter
|
Point
|
|
Standard
|
Move, Stretch
|
Linear
|
|
Linear
|
Move, Scale, Stretch, Array
|
Polar
|
|
Standard
|
Move, Scale, Stretch, Polar Stretch, Array,
|
XY
|
|
Standard
|
Move, Scale, Stretch, Array
|
Rotation
|
|
Rotation
|
Rotate
|
Flip
|
|
Flip
|
Flip
|
Alignment
|
|
Alignment
|
None (The action is implied and contained within
the parameter.)
|
Visibility
|
|
Lookup
|
None (The action is implied and controlled by
visibility states.)
|
Lookup
|
|
Lookup
|
Lookup
|
Base
|
|
Standard
|
None
|
When you add a parameter to a dynamic block definition,
custom grips associated with key points of the parameter are automatically
added to the block.
All parameters (except
the alignment parameter, which always displays one grip) have a
property called Number of Grips. When you select
a parameter in the Block Editor, the Number of Grips property is
displayed in the Properties palette. This property allows you to
specify, from a preset list, the number of grips you want to display
for the parameter.
NoteParameters that are
not associated with an action do not display grips.
If you specify that a
parameter has 0 grips, you can still edit the dynamic block reference
through the Properties palette (if the block is defined that way).
If a dynamic block definition
contains visibility
states or a lookup
table, you can define the block so that
the only grip that is displayed is a lookup grip. When you click
this grip on the block reference, a drop-down list is displayed.
When you select an item from the list, the display of the block
reference may change.
Grips are automatically added at key points
on the parameter. You can reposition a grip anywhere in the block
space relative to its associated key point on the parameter. When
you reposition a grip, it is still tied to the key point with which
it is associated.
NoteGrips are not displayed
for key points that are not associated with an action.
The type of parameter you add to the dynamic
block definition determines the type of grips that are added to
the block..
Grip Type
|
|
How the Grip Can Be Manipulated in a Drawing
|
Associated Parameters
|
Standard
|
|
Within a plane in any direction
|
Base, Point, Polar, and XY
|
Linear
|
|
Back and forth in a defined direction or along
an axis
|
Linear
|
Rotation
|
|
Around an axis
|
Rotation
|
Flip
|
|
Click to flip the dynamic block reference
|
Flip
|
Alignment
|
|
Within a plane in any direction; when moved
over an object, triggers the block reference to align with the object
|
Alignment
|
Lookup
|
|
Click to display a list of items
|
Visibility, Lookup
|
Specify Tooltips on Grips
Each
of the dynamic block parameters has one or more description fields with
the exception of the basepoint and alignment parameters.
Parameter
|
Description
|
Point
|
Position description
|
Linear
|
Distance description
|
Polar
|
Distance description,
angle description
|
XY
|
Horizontal distance description,
vertical distance description
|
Rotation
|
Angle description
|
Flip
|
Flip description
|
Visibility
|
Visibility description
|
Lookup
|
Lookup description
|
Alignment
|
Set to “Aligns
block to object”
|
Basepoint
|
No special tooltip is
required
|
Specify Insertion Cycling
for Grips in Dynamic Blocks
Grips
in dynamic blocks have a property called Cycling. When
this property is set to Yes, the grip becomes an available insertion
point for the dynamic block reference. When you insert the dynamic
block reference in a drawing, you can use the Ctrl key to cycle
through the available grips to select which grip will be the insertion
point for the block.
To specify the number of
custom grips displayed for a parameter in a dynamic block
- In the Block Editor, select a parameter.
- On the Properties palette, under Misc,
click Number of Grips, and then select the number of grips you want
to display for the parameter.
- (Optional) If you are finished using
the Block Editor, click Close Block Editor.
To reposition a grip in
a dynamic block definition
- In the Block Editor, select a custom
grip (not the standard grip associated with the key point of the
parameter).
- Do one of the following to reposition
the grip:
- Drag the grip to another position in
the block space.
- On the Properties palette, under Geometry,
enter values for the Base X and Base Y properties. (These values
are relative to the base point of the parameter.)
- (Optional) If you are finished using
the Block Editor, click Close Block Editor.
To reset grips in a dynamic
block definition to their default locations
- In the Block Editor, at the Command prompt,
enter bgripset.
- Select the grip for which you want to
reset the grip position(s).
- At the Command prompt, enter reposition.
- (Optional) If you are finished using
the Block Editor, click Close Block Editor.
To turn insertion cycling
on or off for a custom grip in a dynamic block reference
- In the Block Editor, at the Command prompt,
enter bcycleorder.
- In the Insertion Cycling Order dialog
box, select a grip from the list, and click Cycling to turn cycling
on or off for the grip. (A check mark in the Cycling column indicates
that cycling is turned on for the grip.)
- Click OK.
- (Optional) If you are finished using
the Block Editor, click Close Block Editor.
To modify the insertion
cycling order for custom grips in a dynamic block reference
- In the Block Editor, enter bcycleorder at
the Command prompt.
- In the Insertion Cycling Order dialog
box, select a grip from the list, and click Move Up or Move Down.
(A check mark in the Cycling column indicates that cycling is turned
on for the grip.)
- Repeat step 2 until you are finished
modifying the grip cycling order.
- Click OK.
- (Optional) If you are finished using
the Block Editor, click Close Block Editor.
CommandsBEDIT
Opens the block definition
in the Block Editor.
BCYCLEORDER
Changes the cycling
order of grips for a dynamic block reference.
BGRIPSET
Creates, deletes, or
resets grips associated with a parameter.
BPARAMETER
Adds a parameter with
grips to a dynamic block definition.
System VariablesGRIPTIPS
Controls the display
of grip tips and Ctrl-cycling tooltips.
