KozMos AutoTableX-TableField

  Alterative TableField for AcDbTable cell contents
กก         TableField is the fifth member of the AutoTableX collective. TableField is not only the name of the software, but also the name of the annotations (MTexts or Attributes) or AcDbTable Cells linked with the content of AcDbTable cells.

        We can use native FIELD to record content of AcDbTable cells, but this will only valid for pure number content, if the contents are normal strings, we will only get "####" or "----" in field.
        In order to solve this limitation, AutoTableX-TableField used reactor to accomplish such contents record. Once the linkage between AcdbTable Cells and annotations (or other AcdbTable Cells), the change on on the source AcDbTable cells will be recorded and linked contents will be changed immediately. If we use FIELD in the linked objects or the linked object is inside blocks, we need a REGEN to make all changes take displayed.

        AutoTableX-TableField also provide many useful commands to manage the TableFields. We can attach, detach, clear TableFields, existing TableField or linkedannotations can be highlighted or Virtual-Filled (the virtual fill color can be defined within the dialog as well). In addition, we can make change between flat string and field for all linked annotations.

        To start AutoTabelX-TableField, just type TABLEFIELD at AutoCAD "Command:" prompt and all TableField relative commands can be accessed via the dialog.

Dialog Interface

        The TableField manage tools were divided into four different groups: New. Detach, View and Swap.

Create new TableFields
        There are two basic settings for new Tablefiels:

  • Object Type
    • Mtext
      Normal MTEXT will be used
    • Field
      The MTEXT will be converted into FIELD automatically
  • Object Location
    • Normal
      Linked objects are normal annotations (Including Text, MText and Attribute)
    • Cells
      Linked objects are other AcDbTable cells

        Two ways creating new TableFields when the Object location is set to "Normal":

  • New: Create new MTexts as TableFields
  • Link existing annotations: Use existing annotations (Including Text, MText and Attribute, linked Text will be converted into MText automatically) as TableFields

Detach and Clear the existing TableFields
        Each source cell for TableField has an ID. If many annotations ware added, we can use two simple way to detach the linking with some annotations: Indicate the annotations or just delete the annotations. Once the object is deleted, next time the reactor is activated, the link will be removed permanently.

        We can detach the TableField links for either linked mtexts or AcDbTable cells. Of cause if none of these two types were selected to be proceeded, the Detach and Clear button will turn to gray. 
        If we want to remove all the links quickly, just use "Clear". Clear will really clear all links automatically.

Notice:
        Field linked TableField (both annotations and cells) will be converted into normal mtext while detaching.

View existing TableFields

        Active TableFields has five different cell types: four in the source AcDbTable and one in the target AcDbTable:

Location Cell name Descriptions
Source EmptyLink The cell(s) has no links with either normal annotations or AcDbTable cells.
Source AnnoLink The cell(s) has links with normal annotations.
Source TableLink The cell(s) has links with AcDbTable cells.
Source AnnoTableLink The cell(s) has links with both normal annotations and AcDbTable cells.
Target LinkedCell Linked Cells in target AcDbTable(s).

        All these colors can be set within the dialog. Two view TableFields access are:

  • View TableField cells in source AcDbTable: All TableField cells will be virtual filled
  • Highlight linked mtexts: Linked annotations, especially the normal mtexts and field mtexts, will be highlighted while a valid source TableField cell is indicated

Swap TableFields
        Object type of existing TableFields (annotations and cells) can be changed. That mean we can change a normal mtext TableField into a field mtext TableField and vice versa. There are totally three different changing type:

  • All to MTEXT
    This will change all TableFields into normal mtext

  • All to field
    This will change all TableFields into field mtext

  • Swap object types
    All normal mtext TableFields will be changed into field mtext and all former field mtext will be converted into normal mtext. The links with AcDbTable cells are still be recorded after the swapping

       TableField SWAP can do such works very easily and friendly. Additionally, we can swap the object types between normal and field mtext while swapping the TableFields.

        We can process swapping in either linked mtexts or AcDbTable cells. If none of these two types were selected to be proceeded, we will not be able to access swap.

Program record

  • 2007-06-10
    2nd and final release of TableField with full document.
  • 2007-04-30
    1st release program and document done.
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//Koz Jono Yeoh//

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