Toolbar: Tools > Define Attributes ()
Menu: Tools > Define Attributes
Keyboard: DDATTDEF
Alias: AT
Experience Level: Advanced
Displays the Define Attribute dialog box so you can define attributes (informational text) associated with a block.
DIALOG BOX OPTIONS
Name Enter a name for the attribute. You can enter alphabetical and numerical characters without spaces. The attribute name is how you identify the attribute for editing and extraction purposes.
Prompt Enter a name for the prompt. You can enter alphabetical and numerical characters with spaces. Prompt text is displayed when you insert the attribute into the drawing. The prompt is not necessary when the Attribute Flag is set to Fixed.
Default text Enter attribute text. You can enter alphabetical and numerical characters with spaces. The default text is the default value for the attribute; you can override it when you insert the attribute into the drawing.
Insert Coordinates Specify the x,y,z-coordinates for the insertion point of the attribute text. Insert Coordinates defaults to the coordinates of the last point you selected. The LASTPOINT system variable stores these coordinates.
Select To specify the insertion point in a drawing, click Select. The dialog box disappears temporarily and the program prompts you to specify a point. The dialog box then reappears.
Attribute Flags To create an attribute that is not displayed in the drawing, select Hidden. (You can force hidden attributes to display with the On option of the Attribute Display command.) To create an attribute with preset values, select Fixed. If you select Fixed, you are not prompted for a value during insertion, and you cannot edit the value of the attribute. To create an attribute that prompts you to confirm the value you type, select Validate. To create an attribute that automatically takes on its default value, select Defined. If you select Defined, you can edit the value later with the Edit Block Attributes command.
Text Specify the text style, justification, text height, and rotation angle for the attribute text. The program defaults to the rotation angle stored in the LASTANGLE system variable. To specify the text height and rotation angle on the drawing, click Select. The dialog box disappears temporarily, and the program prompts you to specify a point. The dialog box then reappears.
Define To place more than one attribute, select Define. Additional attributes are automatically placed below the preceding attribute, unless you specify different insertion coordinates.
Define and Exit To place the attribute and exit the dialog box, select Define and Exit.
After you have defined the attribute(s), you must use the Tools > Create Block command to convert the attribute text into a block, and then you must use either the Insert command or the Block command to insert the attribute into the drawing.
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