2004

342 | Chapter 16 Draw Geometric Objects
To create an attribute definition
1 From the Draw menu, choose Block ➤ Define Attributes.
2 In the Attribute Definition dialog box, set the attribute modes and enter
tag information, location, and text options.
3 Choose OK.
After creating the attribute definition, you can select it as an object while
creating a block definition. If the attribute definition is incorporated into
a block, whenever you insert the block, AutoCAD prompts you with the
text string you specified for the attribute. Each subsequent instance of the
block can have a different value specified for the attribute.
Command line
ATTDEF
To edit an attribute definition before it is associated with a block
1 From the Modify menu, choose Object ➤ Text.
2 Select the attribute to edit.
3 In the Edit Attribute Definition dialog box, specify the attribute tag,
prompt, and default value. Then choose OK.
Command line
DDEDIT
Extract Data from Block Attributes
With Enhanced Attribute Extract, you can query drawings for block attribute
information and save it to an external file in comma-delimited ASCII text for-
mat, tab-delimited ASCII text format, or in either Microsoft
®
Excel or Access
file format (if the appropriate application is installed on your system).
Enhanced Attribute Extract is ideal for producing a schedule or bill of mate-
rials directly from your drawing data. For example, a facilities drawing might
contain blocks representing office equipment. If each block has attributes
identifying the model and manufacturer of the equipment, you can generate
a report that estimates the cost of the office equipment.
The Attribute Extraction wizard guides you through selecting drawings,
blocks, and block attributes.
To export block attributes
1 On the Tools menu, choose Attribute Extraction.
2 In the Attribute Extraction wizard, on the Select Drawing page, use one of
the following methods to specify the set of blocks from which you want
to extract information. When finished, choose Next.