Dynamic Blocks

There are a few steps which must be followed to ensure the successful usage of AutoCAD dynamic blocks within Retail Viewer M.

AutoCAD

Only import the dynamic block. It is not necessary to import the standard blocks that make up the dynamic block.

Distance Markers

Distance marker must be ON fixture end and not halfway between. Make sure Distance value looks sensible.

Distance marker must only be on ONE end of the block and not both ends.

Stretchable blocks should be imported to the fixture library as singular units i.e. unstretched. When importing to Fixture Manager, ensure block Distance is set to single fixture/minimum size.

Flip States

Flip states must be consistently named across all instances and in all drawings. For example, 'FlipX' or 'FlipY' or 'FlipX state' or 'FlipY state'.

Numbers at end of parameter are ignored. All parameter lookups are matched with Starts with ("name") so lookup of 'FlipX state' will match 'FlipX state4’.

Flips Off

Ideally flips off. Ongoing work will be simpler without the flip state at all. It is better to set any flips to be off OR be consistent: if you import a flipped block to Fixture Manager then keep to it always being flipped during layout background import.

Consistency

Blocks must be consistent across CAD files. In particular, ensure origin points are consistent for a block every time it is used.

Single Array Option Only Supported

As shown below in Fig 1. this graphic can be arrayed in 2 directions. Only ONE can be used and MUST be along the + x-axis as shown in Fig 2.

Retail Viewer M

If dynamic blocks are included in the CAD files to be imported a block import profile needs to be defined. See Block Import Profiles

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