Assigning a plot style to LD objects using LDOBJECTUTIL

Issue

       You want to make your drawings look more professionally drawn, but you also want to save time in doing so.

Solution

      You can save time and make a drawing look more professionally drawn by using LDOBJECTUTIL to set up the visualisation mode of blocks and their attribute. This command contains two parts: one to edit block references and one for attributes.

• For blocks:

       Replace..." button replace one or more block references with another. To do that perform the following steps:

1. Choose Object Utilities command.

2. Select Replace button, from Block Reference Utilities tab.

3. Select the source block reference in the current drawing.

4. Select block references that you want to be replaced. 

        Set angle..." button rotate all selected objects/blocks with an angle introduced by user. First specify the rotation angle. The angle axis of rotation passes through the insertion point and is parallel to the Z axis of the current UCS. The object rotation (counterclockwise or clockwise) depends on the Direction Control setting in the Drawing Units dialog box.
       For rotation angle you can specify a real value or you can specify two points (the angle is relative to X axis). After specify the rotation angle, select the blocks that you want to rotate.
       

       Copy values..." button will copy attribute values from a block to others blocks. First, select the block from which it will be copy the attribute values and then select the block references to modify their attribute values.
       
       

       Copy data..." button will copy xdata (like Type, Price, Misc1, Misc2 ) and custom data from a block to others blocks. First you must select the source block and then select block references to change their xdata.

       Tip: Use this options (Copy data and Copy values) to quick attach data to LD objects. Then modify data with LD schedules.

       Append..." button append a predefined symbol (a circle or a hexagon) to one or more attributes. For adding symbol follow the steps:

1. Select Append button from Block Reference Utilities tab.
2. Specify C for circle or H for hexagon.
3. Select attribute you've want to add this symbol.

       Add solid fill..." add a solid fill to selected blocks, for solving hidden lines during plot.
       Tip: If object does not hide the lines behind it, select Bring to Front command from Tools>Display Order menu and aply to object.

       Default solid fill color is 9. You can change it by changing solid fill layer color. Also for a good result during plot, change fill color screening to 0 in current plot style table (.ctb or .stb) in PLOT command.
       

      Note: For hiding lines when plotting or for adding solid fill to objects it must that 2d objects part contain region or faces.

• For attributes:

        "Set height..." button sets text height for one or more attributes.
         
         Tip: Text Styles Height setting does not change the attribute text height. The properties of the attributes are separate from text properties and must be edited separately.
         There are more metods to adjust the Attribute Text Height.
         
           Note: You have the opportunity to make the text height whatever you need when you create the attributes. In the Attribute Definition dialog box under Text Options, you can change the Justification/Text Style/Height and Rotation.

        Method #1
        You can set attribute height using LDOBJECTUTIL command performing the following steps:

1. Select Set height button from Attribute Utilities tab.
2. Select an attribute as attribute source or specify the text height (entering H for "enter Height" or select "enter Height" from right click menu and then specifying desirable height).
3. Select attributes that you want to modify.

1. Double-click the block.
2. In the Enhanced Attribute Editor or the Block Attribute Manager, change the attributes as desired. 

       Method #3
        Change the attribute text height by using the Global Attribute Editor (-attedit) via the command line.
        Note: This method can be time-consuming.
       

        "Set angle..." button rotate all selected attributes with an angle introduced by user. 
         Note: In the Attribute Definition dialog box under Text Options, you can change the Justification/Text Style/Height and Rotation.
         If you want to change the attribute orientation for your final output use one of folowing methods:

         Method #1

1. Choose Set angle button from Attribute Utilities tab.
2. Specify the rotation angle: a real value (enter A for "enter Angle" or select "enter Angle" from right click menu and then specify desirable attribute angle) or select an attribute to use its angle as model. 
3. Select the attributes that you want to rotate.

         Method #2
        In products based on AutoCAD 2002 software, use the following procedure:

1. Double-click the block.
2. In the Enhanced Attribute Editor or the Block Attribute Manager, change the attributes as desired. 

       Method #3
        Change the attribute text angle by using the Global Attribute Editor (-attedit) via the command line.
        Note: This method can be time-consuming.

       Tip: The attribute rotation (counterclockwise or clockwise) depends on the Direction Control setting in the Drawing Units dialog box.
        

        "Copy color..." button will change the attributes color. 
         Note: In the Edit Attribute dialog in Attribute Proprieties tag, you can change the Color, Layer and Linetype.
        For changing the color af attributes use one of following methods:

         Method #1

1. Choose Copy color button from Attribute Utilities tab.
2. Specify a color: enter C for "enter Color" or select "enter Color" from right click menu and then enter an AutoCAD Color Index (ACI) number, an integer from 1 through 255 or select another attribute to use its color as model. 
3. Select the attributes that you want to modify color.

         Method #2
        In products based on AutoCAD 2002 software, use the following procedure:

1. Double-click the block.
2. In the Enhanced Attribute Editor or the Block Attribute Manager, change the attributes as desired. 

       Method #3
        Change the attribute text color by using the Global Attribute Editor (-attedit) via the command line.
        Note: This method can be time-consuming.

        "Copy style..." button will set the text style to all selected attributes. 
         Note: In the Attribute Definition dialog box under Text Options, you can change the Justification/Text Style/Height and Rotation.
         To modify the attribute style use one of methods:

         Method #1
         You can set attribute height using LDOBJECTUTIL command performing the following steps:

1. Select Copy style button from Attribute Utilities tab.
2. Select an attribute as attribute source for style or specify a text style (entering S for "enter Style" or select "enter Style" from right click menu and then specify the name of an existing text style).
   
      To create a new text style in a drawing:
   1. Type ddstyle on the command line, or from the Format menu choose Text Style.
   2. Choose New.
   3. Enter a new and unique name for your style. Autodesk Product Support recommends that you enter a descriptive name.
   4. Choose OK.
   5. Select the font you want to use from the Font Name drop-down list.
      Note: Look at the Preview section in the lower right of the dialog to see the font appearance.
   6. Keep the text height setting as 0. If you set a text height in the Text Style dialog box, you will not be prompted to enter a new height when you place text. Enter a text height only if you want this text style all text to be created with the same height.
   7. If desired, select any of the following effects for the text.
      • Upside down flips the text 180 degrees.
      • Backwards mirrors the text.
      • Vertical aligns the text characters vertically instead of horizontally.
      • Obliquing angle sets a slant to the text characters.
      • Big Font - Allows you to use a Kanji or double-byte font. Select the Big Font from the Big Font drop-down list.
   8. Choose the Apply button to make the changes to your new text style.
   9. Choose the Close button to exit the dialog box.
      
   
   
3. Select attributes that you want to modify.

       Method #2
        In products based on AutoCAD 2002 software, use the following procedure:

1. Double-click the block.
2. In the Enhanced Attribute Editor or the Block Attribute Manager, change the attributes as desired. 

       Method #3
        Change the attribute text height by using the Global Attribute Editor (-attedit) via the command line.
        Note: This method can be time-consuming.

        

        "Append..." button append a new attribute to one or more blocks. When choose to add a new attribute you must enter the attribute name/tag, the the attribute text/value and then select a block reference to add attribute and specify an attribute insertion point. You can add an attribute to one or more block reference. For the new attribute text style and text height are use the current text style and height.
       

        "Add mask..." button add mask to selected atributes. Mask is added to solve hidden lines during plot. 
         Tip: If mask does not hide the lines behind it, select Bring to Front command from Tools>Display Order menu and aply to mask. 
         Default mask color is 9. You can change it by changing mask layer color. Also for a good result during plot, change mask color screening to 0 in current plot style table (.ctb or .stb) in PLOT command.