ADT 3.3 and higher versions

Those who are using 3 dimensional blocks sometimes would like 2 dimensional different views of these blocks to be different when looking from different angles. For example; we want a table, which has a 2 dimensional top view in its plan view, to look 3 dimensional in other perspective views. So some blocks, which includes different layers that are closed according to the view that is selected, has been prepared for this purpose. When AutoDESK bought SoftDESK company and included Architectural Desktop (ADT) program in it software inventory, since 3rd version of this program this feature has been added. In this article, I will explain about the multi-view block feature which has been available since ADT 2000 (3.0). This article was prepared by using ADT 3.3 (2002), however ADT 2006 and ADT 2007 has some differences in menus.

Fig. 1

Table that is shown in Fig. 1 is prepared by using multi-view block properties. By this way, you can get plan in plan view and side view from left and right view and front view in front and back views. Your table will look 3 dimensional from all of the other viewpoints.

Fig. 2

Main principle is pretty simple here. You simply have to prepare a different blocks for each different viewpoints that you would like to prepare a view, and then you have to combine these blocks by using ‘ADT Style Manager‘ together (Fig. 2). However, we must pay attention to the names that we give to blocks that we prepare and also to the layers that we use dependin on our preferences. You can see the blocks that we must prepare, their insertion points and names was shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

You may have noticed that the name of the main block is MASA. Taking into account that we will prepare a different block for each of the views, we need 4 numbers of blocks in total for 3-D, side, front and plan views. We named these as 3D_MASA, LR_MASA, FR_MASA and PL_MASA. Insertion point of each block must be its LOWER LEFT corner. If you examine figure 2 in detail, then you will notice that insertion points of all of the blocks intersects at the lower left corner of 3 dimensional virtual prism. This is one of the most important points that you must pay attention to. In addition, all of the blocks must be prepared in the same coordinate system (UCS = WCS). ADT blocks will turn by themselves. After completing all of the preparations up to this point, now we can proceed with defining the multi-view block:

Fig. 4

You can see the Style Manager screen of ADT in Fig. 4. In order to open this window:

1. Command : _AecMvBlockDefine
2. You can also use AEC Blocks Profiles set among the toolboxes ( Fig. 5 )

Fig. 5

Just under the drawing name, there is a list of all of the styles that are defined inside the drawing. We are interested in the ‘Multi-view Block Definitions‘ part. Right click on it and create a new block named as ‘MV_MASA‘ (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6

Let’s open the editing window by making double-click on the name of the block that we have just added and add the new view blocks that we have just prepared:

Fig. 7

Use the ‘Add…‘ button in the window shown in Fig. 7 and add all of the table blocks that we have prepared so far. You can see the representation types that are available in ADT inside the list that is on the left side. We have to mark which blocks will be seen through which of the view points depending up on these representation types. Here, we will use PLAN (PL_MASA), for ‘General‘ and all of our blocks for ‘Model‘. First, we will mark ‘General‘ from the list that is on the left side and add the PL_MASA block. Then, we will select ‘Model‘ from the same list and add all of the 4 blocks. ADT will allow us to select only one of the blocks every time. For this reason, we will use the ‘Add…‘ button 4 times. After this stage, our work becomes much more easier. We have only the plan block in general view.  We would like the plan block to be seen only in the top and bottom views. For this reason, let’s select ‘Top‘ and ‘Bottom‘ options (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8

However, in ‘Model‘ option, we have to mark the views that each block belongs to and the others unmarked. At this stage, names that we have given to the blocks will help us. For 3D_MASA, only ‘Other‘ option; for LR_MASA, ‘Left‘ and ‘Right‘ options; for FR_MASA, ‘Front‘, ‘Back‘ options and finally for PL_MASA, ‘Top‘ and ‘Bottom‘ options just like it is for ‘General‘ option must be marked (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9

When you exit this and previous window by using OK button, then our multi-view block will be completed. Now, it is time to insert this block into the drawing. In order to do this,

1. Command : _AecMvBlockAdd
2. You can use AEC Blocks Profiles set among the toolboxes.

Fig. 10

The window that is shown in Fig. 10 is a floating window and it enables you to insert the block that you select until press the ‘Close‘ button. After inserting the block, you can view properties of the block by using different view angles.  Don’t forget that this block is prepared to be used in ADT. In order to use it with AutoCAD 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005, you have to download and install “Object Enablers” program from AutoDESK website. In AutoCAD 2007, you can directly use this block.

Technorati Tags: AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop, Multiview Blocks

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ADT, Blocks