Defining attributes
You add an to a drawing by first defining it and then saving it as part of a . To define an attribute, you specify the characteristics of the attribute, including its name, prompt, and default value; the location and text formatting; and optional modes (hidden, fixed, validate, and predefined).
To define an attribute
Advanced experience level
- Do one of the following:
- Choose Tools > Define Attributes.
- On the Tools toolbar, click the Define Attributes tool (
).
- Type ddattdef and then press Enter.
- In the Define Attribute dialog box, type the name, prompt, and default value.
- Under Insert Coordinates, specify the location of the attribute, or click Select to select a point in the drawing.
- Under Attribute Flags, select the optional attribute modes.
- Under Text, specify the text characteristics.
- To add the attribute to the drawing, do one of the following:
- Click Define to add the attribute and keep the dialog box active so you can define another attribute.
- Click Define And Exit to add the attribute and end the command.
- Type the name you want to assign to the attribute.
- Enter the identifying prompt information displayed when you insert a block containing the attribute.
- Enter the default or constant value. For variable attributes, the default value is replaced by the actual value when you later insert a block containing the attribute.
- Specify the x-, y-, and z-coordinates for the attribute insertion point.
- Select to create a hidden attribute.
- Select to create a fixed-value attribute.
- Select to create an attribute whose value must be validated when you later insert a block containing the attribute.
- Select to create an attribute whose value is defined and not requested when you later insert a block containing the attribute, but that you can edit after the block is inserted.
- Click to add the attribute and keep the dialog box active so you can define another attribute.
- Click to add the attribute and end the command.
- Specify the text rotation angle, or click to specify the rotation angle by selecting two points in the drawing.
- Specify the text height, or click to specify the height by selecting two points in the drawing.
- Choose the text justification.
- Choose the text style from those styles already defined in the drawing.
- Click to specify the attribute insertion point by selecting a point in the drawing.
Tell me about...
Attaching attributes to blocks
Editing attribute definitions
Editing attributes attached to blocks
Extracting attribute information