Display dynamic data using fields

00:03

Autocad

00:04

fields are a powerful way to create text that dynamically

00:07

updates to reflect changes to the drawing or other external

00:10

factors fields act like a placeholder that is used to

00:14

display information that may be subject to frequent updates.

00:17

After completing this video, you'll be able to

00:21

use annotation fields to display dynamic data,

00:25

open the yard layout drawing provided in the data set

00:28

on the ribbons insert tab, click the field tool on the data panel.

00:32

You can also type in field on the command line,

00:35

change the field category to date and time.

00:38

Choose the save date field name,

00:41

click the example showing hours, minutes and seconds.

00:44

The format is shown in the date format box. Click OK.

00:48

Change the text height to three inches if necessary and click to place the text.

00:53

This piece of m text represents a field that reflects the drawing's last save time.

00:58

As a piece of mt text, additional text can be added in front of or after the field.

01:04

Double click the text

01:06

and add the prefix last saved,

01:11

click close text editor and now save the drawing to see the time update.

01:15

This is the power of fields to be able to add

01:18

textual information to a drawing that is dynamically updated automatically,

01:22

some fields may require the region command to be updated.

01:25

But by default, the fields are automatically updated when a drawing is opened,

01:29

saved, plotted, regenerated or sent via e transmit

01:35

double click on the front yard M

01:37

text

01:39

go to the end of the first line and press. Enter

01:41

on the contextual text editor, ribbon, click the field tool

01:47

change the field category to objects,

01:49

select object under field names and choose the select object button.

01:54

Select the green poly line outline around the front yard.

01:58

Note all of the properties that can be

01:60

displayed as field text objects in the drawing.

02:03

For this exercise, we want to show the square footage of the front yard,

02:07

select area in the property list.

02:09

The current value is displayed in the preview,

02:11

change the format to architectural set, the decimal places to two

02:16

and click.

02:16

OK to return to the MT text editor in the MT text editor field

02:21

data is always shown with a gray background to differentiate it from other text.

02:27

Click close text editor.

02:30

The square footage shown in this piece of MT text

02:32

is a field linked to the green poly line.

02:35

Select the green poly line, grab any of the grips

02:39

and stretch it to change the area.

02:41

Press escape to release the selection type in regen

02:45

to regenerate the drawing

02:47

and the field updates to reflect the change in the poly line that it's

02:52

linked to select the poly line again

02:54

and type in explode regenerate the drawing again

02:58

and note what happened to the field.

02:60

The field now shows us all hash marks because the object that it

03:03

was linked to the poly line no longer exists to resolve this,

03:08

the field would have to be edited and linked to a new object.

03:11

The fields feature can be used in a variety of solutions,

03:15

providing many opportunities to add dynamic text to your

03:18

drawings that automatically updates as the drawing changes.