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Create and edit a dynamic block using the Block Authoring palette, and then test the block.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:04
The creation of dynamic blocks is a procedure that
00:07
takes a few steps and involves different elements.
00:11
If block elements are already defined as blocks,
00:14
you can edit them in the block editor to begin adding parameters and actions to them,
00:20
which will essentially turn them into dynamic blocks.
00:23
These elements are located in the
00:25
block authoring palette which we'll cover shortly
00:29
to get started with creating a dynamic block.
00:32
It's a good idea to have a strategy for what you want the block to do.
00:36
For example, if we look at these dynamic blocks,
00:41
do you want it to have
00:43
multiple view options?
00:45
Like in this example,
00:47
we can change to a different view
00:50
and even flip the block
00:54
and then change back to the original view
00:57
or
00:58
do you want it to be able to
01:01
flip
01:03
such as this section arrow
01:06
or do you want to do something like rotate
01:09
and rotate to specific angles?
01:13
These are all examples of what dynamic blocks can do
01:18
for these examples. In this lesson,
01:22
I'm gonna start off with objects that have already been turned into blocks
01:27
and then I'll turn them into dynamic blocks
01:32
for the first one,
01:33
I'll take a title, call out block
01:36
and add the functionality
01:38
to be able to lengthen the line on it.
01:41
The first thing to do
01:42
is to bring it into the block editor
01:45
and then add a linear parameter to it.
01:49
So this block has attributes.
01:51
So to bring it into the block editor, I'm going to select
01:56
it right click and choose block editor
01:60
once in the block editor.
02:02
Like I said, I'm going to add a linear parameter to it.
02:08
We'll go ahead and
02:12
add it.
02:14
I'm gonna use the nearest O
02:16
snap right about here. I don't have to add it to the entire line.
02:21
Then I'm gonna bring it over to the endpoint
02:24
and stretch above to place this where I can see it. So this is
02:30
a linear parameter.
02:33
Next, we're gonna add a stretch action to it
02:37
by coming to the actions, tab
02:40
clicking on stretch
02:42
and notice when I add this, it asks me to select the parameter.
02:47
So I'm gonna select the parameter
02:50
and then when it asks for a point, I want to use the endpoint of this line.
02:57
It then asks for the first corner of stretch frame.
02:60
So we're going to essentially draw a
03:02
rectangle
03:06
around the end point.
03:09
Then it asks to select objects. I'm going to grab this attribute
03:14
and this line,
03:15
you might be asking why am I grabbing the attribute?
03:19
We want this attribute to move with the line when the action is
03:25
completed.
03:27
So just like that I've added
03:31
a parameter and an action.
03:34
But there's a couple of housekeeping things I like to point out number one,
03:38
I'm gonna go into the properties
03:41
of the parameter
03:44
by selecting it
03:46
right, clicking and going to properties.
03:49
Then what I wanna do
03:51
is
03:52
I can change the name of the parameter and I can also put a
03:58
description which is gonna be important,
04:02
change this name to stretch.
04:06
And then for the description,
04:08
I'm gonna type in
04:10
length and line because this is what's gonna show
04:13
up when we hover over the grip for this.
04:18
So just like that, I'll close the properties parameter.
04:22
Now, when we feel we're
04:24
OK with our block instead of getting out of the
04:28
block and then finding out maybe something doesn't work properly.
04:32
What you wanna do is come over here to the test block function.
04:36
This brings you into the test block area
04:40
and allows you to
04:42
literally test the block out.
04:45
So notice the first thing I want to do is click
04:47
on the block to show the grip that was added.
04:50
And when I hover over that grip, it gives me the description that I entered earlier.
04:56
This is important that way your users know what this functionality is gonna bring.
05:01
So when I lengthen the line,
05:03
you can see that it works
05:06
beautifully.
05:08
It takes the attribute with it
05:12
and it still keeps the anchor point of the line
05:17
and does everything that we wanted it to do.
05:20
So at this point, I can click close test block
05:24
and then my block is ready.
05:27
So I'll be able to click the close block editor.
05:31
And this is important. We wanna save the changes
05:36
to the dynamic block.
00:04
The creation of dynamic blocks is a procedure that
00:07
takes a few steps and involves different elements.
00:11
If block elements are already defined as blocks,
00:14
you can edit them in the block editor to begin adding parameters and actions to them,
00:20
which will essentially turn them into dynamic blocks.
00:23
These elements are located in the
00:25
block authoring palette which we'll cover shortly
00:29
to get started with creating a dynamic block.
00:32
It's a good idea to have a strategy for what you want the block to do.
00:36
For example, if we look at these dynamic blocks,
00:41
do you want it to have
00:43
multiple view options?
00:45
Like in this example,
00:47
we can change to a different view
00:50
and even flip the block
00:54
and then change back to the original view
00:57
or
00:58
do you want it to be able to
01:01
flip
01:03
such as this section arrow
01:06
or do you want to do something like rotate
01:09
and rotate to specific angles?
01:13
These are all examples of what dynamic blocks can do
01:18
for these examples. In this lesson,
01:22
I'm gonna start off with objects that have already been turned into blocks
01:27
and then I'll turn them into dynamic blocks
01:32
for the first one,
01:33
I'll take a title, call out block
01:36
and add the functionality
01:38
to be able to lengthen the line on it.
01:41
The first thing to do
01:42
is to bring it into the block editor
01:45
and then add a linear parameter to it.
01:49
So this block has attributes.
01:51
So to bring it into the block editor, I'm going to select
01:56
it right click and choose block editor
01:60
once in the block editor.
02:02
Like I said, I'm going to add a linear parameter to it.
02:08
We'll go ahead and
02:12
add it.
02:14
I'm gonna use the nearest O
02:16
snap right about here. I don't have to add it to the entire line.
02:21
Then I'm gonna bring it over to the endpoint
02:24
and stretch above to place this where I can see it. So this is
02:30
a linear parameter.
02:33
Next, we're gonna add a stretch action to it
02:37
by coming to the actions, tab
02:40
clicking on stretch
02:42
and notice when I add this, it asks me to select the parameter.
02:47
So I'm gonna select the parameter
02:50
and then when it asks for a point, I want to use the endpoint of this line.
02:57
It then asks for the first corner of stretch frame.
02:60
So we're going to essentially draw a
03:02
rectangle
03:06
around the end point.
03:09
Then it asks to select objects. I'm going to grab this attribute
03:14
and this line,
03:15
you might be asking why am I grabbing the attribute?
03:19
We want this attribute to move with the line when the action is
03:25
completed.
03:27
So just like that I've added
03:31
a parameter and an action.
03:34
But there's a couple of housekeeping things I like to point out number one,
03:38
I'm gonna go into the properties
03:41
of the parameter
03:44
by selecting it
03:46
right, clicking and going to properties.
03:49
Then what I wanna do
03:51
is
03:52
I can change the name of the parameter and I can also put a
03:58
description which is gonna be important,
04:02
change this name to stretch.
04:06
And then for the description,
04:08
I'm gonna type in
04:10
length and line because this is what's gonna show
04:13
up when we hover over the grip for this.
04:18
So just like that, I'll close the properties parameter.
04:22
Now, when we feel we're
04:24
OK with our block instead of getting out of the
04:28
block and then finding out maybe something doesn't work properly.
04:32
What you wanna do is come over here to the test block function.
04:36
This brings you into the test block area
04:40
and allows you to
04:42
literally test the block out.
04:45
So notice the first thing I want to do is click
04:47
on the block to show the grip that was added.
04:50
And when I hover over that grip, it gives me the description that I entered earlier.
04:56
This is important that way your users know what this functionality is gonna bring.
05:01
So when I lengthen the line,
05:03
you can see that it works
05:06
beautifully.
05:08
It takes the attribute with it
05:12
and it still keeps the anchor point of the line
05:17
and does everything that we wanted it to do.
05:20
So at this point, I can click close test block
05:24
and then my block is ready.
05:27
So I'll be able to click the close block editor.
05:31
And this is important. We wanna save the changes
05:36
to the dynamic block.