Creating advance block (dynamic)

Mastering PTCAD Advance Blocks: A Step-by-Step Guide

            PTCAD also provide function similar to advance block called "advance block".  Allowing you to create intelligent, flexible block definitions that can be easily modified without having to insert new blocks or explode existing ones. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of advance blocks, from understanding their components to creating a practical example.

Why Use Advance Blocks?

Imagine you're designing a room and need various door sizes (70cm, 80cm, 90cm, etc.). Without advance blocks, you'd either create a separate block for each size or manually scale and adjust a generic door block every time. With a advance door block, you can simply stretch it to the desired width, saving immense time and ensuring consistency.

Key Benefits:

Increased Efficiency: Modify block geometry on the fly.

Reduced File Size: One advance block can replace multiple static blocks.

Improved Accuracy: Maintain design standards and prevent errors.

Enhanced Productivity: Spend less time drafting and more time designing.

The Anatomy of a advance Block: Parameters and Actions

Every advance block is built upon two core elements that work together within the Block Editor:

Parameters (The Controls): These define the custom properties and grips that appear when you select the advance block in your drawing. They control what can be changed and provide the visual handles for manipulation.

Examples: Linear (for distance), Rotation (for angle), Point (for location), Flip (for mirroring), Visibility (for showing/hiding geometry).

Actions (The Behavior): These are the rules that dictate how the selected geometry within the block changes when its associated parameter is manipulated. An action links to a parameter and defines a selection set of objects it will affect.

Examples: Stretch (to resize), Move (to relocate), Rotate (to spin), Scale (to proportionally resize), Array (to create patterns).

When you combine a Parameter with an Action, you give your block its "advance" intelligence.

Step-by-Step Example: Creating a Resizable Door

Let's create a simple advance block: a rectangle that can be stretched horizontally and vertically. This is a fundamental skill that applies to many real-world objects like windows, doors, tables, and more.

Phase 1: Create the Base Block Geometry

Draw 2 Rectangles as door: In a new or existing drawing, use the RECTANG command to draw a simple rectangle. Make it an arbitrary size, for example, @70,120 (70 cm unit wide, 120 cm unit high).

Define as a Block:

1. Type BLOCK and press Enter to open the Block Definition dialog.

2. Name: Give it a descriptive name, e.g., "Door01".

3. Pick Point: Click "Pick Point" and select the bottom-left corner of your rectangle (this will be the block's base point).

at Objects: Click "Select Objects," select your rectangle, and press Enter.

Ensure "Convert to block" is selected.

4. Click "OK." Your door is now a standard block.

Phase 2: Enter the Block Editor and Add Dynamics

Open Block Editor: Double-click your newly created block. This will open the Block Editor environment, indicated by a grey background and the Block Authoring Palettes (Parameters, Actions, Parameter Sets, Constraints).

Add a Horizontal Linear Parameter:

From the Block Authoring Palettes (usually on the left), click the Parameters tab.

Select Linear.

Click the bottom-left corner of the door , then click the bottom-right corner.

Drag the dimension label (e.g., "Distance1") above the rectangle and click to place it.

Result: You'll see a linear parameter with blue grips.

Add a Vertical Linear Parameter:

Repeat the process, but click the bottom-left corner and then the top-left corner.

Place the dimension label (e.g., "Distance2") to the left of the rectangle.

Add a Horizontal Stretch Action:

From the Actions tab, click Stretch.

Select parameter: Click on the "Distance1" parameter label.

Specify parameter point to associate with action: Click the blue grip on the right side of "Distance1" (this is the grip that will control the stretch).

Specify first corner of stretch frame: Draw a crossing window that includes the entire right side of the rectangle (the top-right and bottom-right corners). This defines what geometry will be stretched.

Select objects: Select the entire rectangle (all four lines) and press Enter.

Add a Vertical Stretch Action:

Repeat the Stretch action.

Select parameter: Click on the "Distance2" parameter label.

Specify parameter point to associate with action: Click the blue grip on the top side of "Distance2".

Specify first corner of stretch frame: Draw a crossing window that includes the entire top side of the rectangle (the top-left and top-right corners).

Select objects: Select the entire rectangle and press Enter.

Phase 3: Test and Save

Test Block: On the Block Editor ribbon, click Test Block. This opens a temporary environment where you can try out your advance block.

Select the rectangle. You should see the blue grips corresponding to your parameters.

Click and drag the horizontal grip to stretch the width.

Click and drag the vertical grip to stretch the height.

User can see sample VDO at https://youtu.be/-mZ9Sfrexlk?si=SKoxXoCsbYytUJBe