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You are here: Home / AutoCAD / Using Lookup Table in Dynamic Block

Using Lookup Table in Dynamic Block

December 11, 2009 by Edwin Prakoso 5 Comments

We created a door using stretch action in dynamic block tutorial. It was a good practice, but can be better. Stretching them might not be the best option. Sometimes we want the door at specific sizes. Providing the users a list would be better. We can use lookup table.

Let’s open the door in that tutorial. Rename the linear parameter to ‘width’ or ‘door width’. And change the ‘number of grips’ to 0. We don’t want our users to use other than specified sizes.

parameter properties

Place a lookup parameter. Place it anywhere you like it. When AutoCAD ask for the number of grips, type 1 then [enter]. It suppose to be the default value by the way.

lookup parameter

After you place the lookup action, change the parameter name to ‘door type’.

Then place the lookup action.

lookup action

AutoCAD will open a lookup table. We are going to define the door sizes here.

Click the ‘add properties’ button. We only have one parameter here. Select the width parameter and click OK. The width column is added to your table. If you have more than one parameter, you can show them all here. For example, our column has 2 parameters.

Fill the table with the sizes and door type as you want.

Make sure we set the last row properties as ‘allow reverse lookup’. If we set it as read only, we won’t see the list.

lookup table finish

Click OK, save your block, and save block editor. Try your block. Select the block and click the down arrow to access the list. No grips, so no body can use a size that’s not specified in our list.

Lookup result

We can do that too with dimensional constraints, using a block table. We will discuss about this later.

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Sr. Consultant in PT Cipta Satria Informatika. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn.

Filed Under: AutoCAD

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Bilal
Bilal
4 years ago

Hi Edwin,

Is there as way so that I should be able to see the D1, D2, D3, or D4 labels when I insert the block?

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C. Sofia
C. Sofia
13 years ago

Hai Edwin Prakoso,
saya kerja sbg drafter di Belanda.
saya mengerti cara kerja visibility dr dynamic block.
tapi apa kegunaan dan apa beda look up & block table dibandingkan visibility?

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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  C. Sofia
13 years ago

Hi Sofia,
Visibility berfungsi untuk menyembunyikan atau menampilkan objek.
Sementara lookup table berfungsi untuk mengubah ukuran objek yang diatur dengan dimension parameter. 
Semoga cukup jelas. 

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Gabriel
Gabriel
15 years ago

Hello. I have a lot of types and parameters to put into the Lookup Table, is there any way to do this quickly like copy and paste from excel file or I have to tape it all by hand?

Gabriel

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Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  Gabriel
15 years ago

Unfortunately no. But you can use block table that can do similar thing. I'm not sure what's the difference is, but pretty much the same. You can select your cells in Excel, copy them to clipboard, and paste them in block table.

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