2011

Table Of Contents
For compatibility with previous versions, contextual fields in blocks and xrefs
are not updated when you insert them in a drawing; instead, the field displays
the last cached value. Therefore, if you want to use a contextual field within
a block, for example, a title block, you must insert the field as an attribute.
For example, a title block can use the CurrentSheetNumber field as an attribute.
When you insert the title block, the field displays the sheet number of the
sheet on which the title block is inserted.
Most fields are not contextual and are updated in blocks and xrefs. Fields in
xrefs are updated based on the host file, not the source xref. These fields do
not have to be placed in attributes. For example, a field that displays the sheet
number of a particular sheet in a sheet set and that updates if that sheet
number changes, is a property of the sheet set. When you create the field, you
select the SheetSet field name, select the sheet set and the sheet that you want
in the tree view, and then select the property SheetNumber for the field value
to be displayed. This field displays the sheet number of that sheet, even if you
put the field in a block and insert it in another drawing. If the sheet is removed
from the sheet set, it no longer has a sheet number, and the field becomes
invalid and displays pound signs.
Some sheet set fields can be inserted as placeholders. For example, when you
create your own callout blocks and label blocks, you can insert the
SheetNumber field as a placeholder. Later, when the block is inserted from
the Views List tab shortcut menu in the Sheet Set Manager, the field displays
the sheet number of the drawing.
Compatibility with Previous Releases
When a drawing with fields is opened in AutoCAD 2004 or earlier, the fields
are not updated; they display the value last displayed in the drawing before
it was opened. If no changes are made to a field, it is updated normally when
it is reopened in a release that supports fields.
Fields are not available in the previous releases of AutoCAD LT. When a
drawing with fields is opened in the previous releases of AutoCAD LT, the
fields are evaluated based on the setting of the FIELDEVAL system variable in
the drawing, but the FIELDEVAL system variable is not accessible.
See also:
Work with AutoCAD Drawings in AutoCAD LT on page 1825
To update a field manually
1 Double-click text.
Update Fields | 1359