The new fields in AutoCAD 2005 make it easy to add text that updates automatically. For example, you can put today’s date, the sheet number, and Drawn By initials in your title block. However, if you don’t have 2005 but have Express Tools (they come with 2004 and you can purchase them for $149 if you have 2000, 2000i, or 2002), you can create fields using the Express Tools RTEXT command and some simple DIESEL expressions. Don’t let the DIESEL scare you; these expressions are easy to use. Here’s how:
- Start the RTEXT command or choose Express>Text>Remote Text. (RTEXT is often used to display text coming from an outside, or remote, file.)
- Choose the DIESEL option.
- In the Edit Rtext dialog box, enter one of the following expressions:
- Drawing file: $(getvar, “dwgname”)
- Drawing name with path: $(getvar, “dwgprefix”)$(getvar, “dwgname”)
- Tab (model or layout): $(getvar, ctab)
- Date: $(EDTIME,0, M/DD/YY)
- Drawing property: $(getprop, property name) The standard property names are Title, Subject, Author, Comments, Keywords, LastSavedBy, and Revno. You can even use a custom property, with the format $(getprop, %custompropertyname). For example, if you have a custom property named Customer, you would use $(getprop, %customer).
- Click OK and follow the prompts to place the text.
Tip: To add the drawing name without the “.dwg” use the following expression:
$(substr,$(getvar, dwgname), 1[, $(-, $(strlen,$(getvar,dwgname)),4 )])
Thanks to Curtis Waguespack for this tip and the idea for this entire topic.
As you may have guessed, the “getvar” part of the code gets the value of system variables. You may find other system variables that you would like to display in your title blocks. Experiment!
- Breaking a line into two in AutoCad - April 15, 2021
- Use Quick Select to select objects in your AutoCAD drawing - April 13, 2021
- Clean your screen with AutoCAD’s Clean Screen feature - November 26, 2020
Hello,
Thank you for the expression
Thanks (it works also in Progecad)
THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS HELPED A LOT!