Working with Fields

Commands: FIELD, UPDATEFIELD, MTEXT and TABLE

A field is a variable text that. When a field is updated it displays the latest value of the data source it refers to. Fields can be used to insert drawing properties, custom properties or object properties in multiline texts or tables or as an attribute in a block. Fields in attributes are especially useful in title blocks: using drawing, sheet set, subset and sheet properties title blocks can be filled out automatically.

See the DWGPROPS command to learn more about default and custom drawing properties.

See the SHEETSET command to learn more about default and custom sheet set, subset and sheet properties.

If no value is available, a field displays hyphens (----).

If the FIELDDISPLAY system variable is ON, fields display on a light gray background which does not print.

The FIELDEVAL system variable controls when fields are updated.

General procedure to create fields

1. Do one of the following:

   • Click the Insert Field tool button () on the Insert toolbar.
   • Choose Insert Field... in the Insert menu.
   • Type field in the command bar, then press Enter.
   • Click the Field tool button () on the Text Formatting toolbar when creating or editing Mtext or a table cell content.

   The Field dialog box displays.

   

2. Under Field Names , expand a group, then choose a field name.
   The settings for the selected field display.

3. Adjust the settings, then click the OK button.
   The Field dialog box closes.
   The field is created in the Mtext or table cell being edited

   Or

   You are prompted: Specify start point or [Height/Justify]:
   A context menu displays:
   
   

   • (option) Type H or choose Height in the context menu to define the text height.
   • (option- Type J or choose Justify in the context menu to set the text justification.
     
     
   • Specify the insertion point of the field in the drawing.
     An Mtext entity, containing the field is created.

To display an entity property in a field

1. Launch the Field command.

2. Expand Objects in the Field names list and select Object.

3. Click the Select Entity button () on the Field dialog box.
   The Field dialog box closes temporarily.
   You are prompted: Select Entity:

4. Click the entity you want to display a property of.
   The Field dialog box displays again.

5. Select the entity property in the Property list.

   

6. Set the display layout:

   • Format : choose a unit format.
   • Precision : select a precision in the list button
   • Convert : this option allows to recalculate the field value.
     • Choose a formula in the list; e.g. f*#, where f is the factor you type in the Convert field and # is the field value.
     • Type a factor in the Convert field; e.g. 0.0001 to express the area of a polyline in square meters in a cm drawing.
   • Prefix : type a text string
   • Suffix : type a text string
   • Decimals : select a decimal separator character
   • Thousands : select a thousands separator character
   • Suppress 0 : allows to suppress leading and/or trailing zeros

7. Click the OK button.

8. Specify a point to place the field in the drawing.

To edit a field

1. Edit the table cell or Mtext entity that contains the field.

2. Do one of the following:

   • Double click the field.
   • Right click the field, then choose Edit Field ... in the context menu.
   • Select the field, then press Ctrl + F .

   The Field dialog box displays.

3. Adjust the properties of the field.

4. Click the OK button to apply the changes.

To update a field

1. Do one of the following:

   • Click the Update Field tool button () on the Redraw / Regen toolbar.
   • Choose Update Fields... in the Tools menu.
   • Type updatefield in the command bar.

   You are prompted: Select field(s) to update:

2. Select the field(s) you want to update, then right click or press Enter.
   The selected fields are updated.

To convert a field to text 

1. Edit the table cell or Mtext entity that contains the field.

2. Select the field.

3. Right click, then choose Convert Field to Text in the context menu.