Overview of Using Actions in Dynamic Blocks
 
 
 

Actions define how the geometry of a dynamic block reference will move or change when the custom properties of a block reference are manipulated in a drawing. A dynamic block usually contains at least one action.

In general, when you add an action to a dynamic block definition, you must associate the action with a parameter, a key point on the parameter, and geometry. A key point is the point on a parameter that drives its associated action when edited. The geometry associated with an action is called the selection set.

In the following example, the dynamic block definition contains geometry that represents a desk, a linear parameter with one grip specified for its endpoint, and a stretch action associated with the endpoint of the parameter and the geometry for the right side of the desk. The endpoint of the parameter is the key point. The geometry on the right side of the desk is the selection set.

When you want to change the block reference in a drawing, you move the grip, and the desk stretches.

The types of actions you can use in a dynamic block are

You can assign more than one action to the same parameter and geometry. However, you should not assign two or more of the same type of actions to the same key point on a parameter if both actions affect the same geometry. This can result in unexpected behavior in the block reference.

Actions and Parameter Types

Each type of action can be associated with specific parameters. The following table shows the parameters with which you can associate each type of action.

Action Type

Parameter

Move

Point, linear, polar, XY

Scale

Linear, polar, XY

Stretch

Point, linear, polar, XY

Polar Stretch

Polar

Rotate

Rotation

Flip

Flip

Array

Linear, polar, XY

Lookup

Lookup