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FieldsFields

Sacramento City CollegeEngineering Design Technology

Fields A field

is a special type of text object that can display a specific property value, setting, or

characteristic. Fields

can display information related to a specific object

general drawing properties, or the current user or computer system.

Fields AutoCAD can update field information

automatically. Fields are useful tools for displaying information

that may change throughout the course of a project.

Example : Datefield into a title block. The field is updated automatically with the current

date throughout the life of the drawing file.

Inserting Fields Inserting Fields

Fields can be inserted in both multi-line and single-line text.

Inserting Fields To insert a field in multi-line text

pick the Insert Field button from the Text Formatting toolbar

or select the Insert Field... option available from

the Options flyout button or the shortcut menu, or use the [Ctrl]+[F] key combination.

Inserting Fields To insert a field in single-line text

right-click and select Insert Field... from the shortcut menu

while entering text on-screen.

A field can also be inserted without first accessing the MTEXT or TEXT commands by picking Insert > Field... from the pull-down

menu.

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Inserting Fields The Field dialog box is displayed.

Many preset fields can be selected. Fields are separated into categories, to make it

easier to locate a specific field. Only the fields within the category are

displayed in the Field names list box.

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Inserting Fields Pick the field category Pick the field to be inserted from the Field

name box.

Field Format You can also select from a list of formats to

determine the display of the field.

Inserting Fields The Format list

varies, depending on the selected field. Pick field Pick format Click OK

The field assumes the current text style. By default, the field text has a gray background. Helps indicate that the text is actually a field.

The background can be deactivated in the Fields area of the User Preferences tab of the Options dialog box.

Updating Fields After a field is inserted into a drawing,

the value being displayed may change. Examples:

A field displaying the current date changes every date.

A field displaying the file name will change if the filename changes.

A field displaying the value of an object property will change if the object is modified and the property is changed.

Updating Fields Updating Fields

is AutoCAD's process of checking the value of the field and changing the display if needed.

Can be completed automatically or manually.

Updating Fields Automatic updating

is set using the Field Update Settings dialog box. To access this dialog box, pick the Field Update

Settings... button in the Fields area of the User Preferences tab of the Options dialog box.

Whenever a selected event occurs, (such as saving or regenerating), all fields are automatically updated.

Updating Fields Manual Updating

select Update Fields from the Tools pull-down menu (UPDATEFIELD command).

After picking the command, select the fields to be updated.

Use the All selection option to update all fields in a single operation.

Update a field within the text editor by right-clicking on the field and selecting the Update Field menu option.

Editing Fields To edit a field

Select the text object containing the field for editing.

Double-click the field to display the Field dialog box.

OR right-click the field and pick Edit Field... from the shortcut menu. Use the Field dialog box to modify the field

settings and pick OK to apply the changes.

Editing Fields Convert field to standard text.

When converting a field, the currently displayed value becomes text

the association to the field is lost the value no longer updates.

Select the text for editing right-click the field, and pick the Convert Field To Text option.