An important part of working with CAD software is the insertion of predefined symbols. Autostage offers thousands of symbols from the different trades through the design center. These are inserted by double-clicking on an entry in the list on the left side of the design center.
From version 2.3.1 there are two ways to insert symbols into a drawing: as a autostage object or as autocad block. In this article, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of the two options.
view of the autostage design center with the STARTER gewerke
Insert symbols as autostage object
Autostage objects are objects specially programmed for exhibition, theater and event technology, which have advanced display capabilities and a variety of additional information (sog. metadata) store. Metadata can be z. B. weight, name, article number (for an inventory management system) or other important information about the object.
An autostage object is inserted when the green button "insert as autostage object" is pressed is displayed in the upper right area of the design center. Double-click on an entry in the symbol list to start the insertion process. First you have to select the insertion point with the cursor in the drawing, often in the second step you also have to enter a rotation angle for the symbol. This can be z.B. This can also be done with the cursor, using a "rubber band" displayed, which indicates the angle of rotation.
insert a chair from the STARTER design center by double clicking on the entry as a autostage object
autostage objects in the drawing have the following properties
The symbol shows one or more handles after selection. the handle is displayed as a blue square. By focusing the cursor on the handle and clicking the left mouse button once, the handle is captured, so that the object can now be changed via the handle. Another click with the left mouse button releases the handle again. The handles can be z.B. To move the symbol use. Some objects also offer other functions through the handles, such as.B. A change of the rotation angle or the size of the object. The object snap can also be used to snap the positions of the handles on the symbol.
In the top view the symbol is displayed as a regular 2D view. As soon as the top view is left and a 3D view is set, the symbol is displayed as a 3D model. By changing the view alone, all symbols in the drawing can be displayed as a 3D model. However, this only works if a corresponding 3D model is available for the symbol. If the entry of the symbol in the design center is displayed in black letters, then a 3D model is available for the symbol in addition to the 2D view. If the entry of the symbol in the design center is displayed in red letters, then only a 2D view is available for the symbol.
The metadata of the autostage object can be displayed and in many cases also changed via the properties palette. As soon as the symbol has been selected, the metadata appears in the properties palette, which can be selected with the keyboard shortcut CTRL + 1 be shown and hidden at any time.
In the title bar of the properties palette you can also see what type of object it is. Autostage has different object types for different tasks and/or symbol types (such as.B. spotlights, traverses, suspension points, etc.).
Many autostage objects can have an arbitrary text (like here in the example with the austblock object-type) or also display a predefined text. The text is usually always aligned in such a way that it can always be read optimally by the drawer.
All autostage objects have (except for very few exceptions) a fill, the color of which can be changed according to your own wishes and ideas. This can be done via the properties palette, but there are also special tools for each craft to change the fillings of the symbols. The fill can also be turned off, so that only the outline is visible with or without transparency.
Extensive evaluation lists for creating legends, tables and printouts
All autostage objects are counted and evaluated with the extensive evaluation lists. legends and tables can be created from the lists and the data can be exported to excel, CSV or PDF. A lot of the metadata of the autostage object can also be changed directly in the evaluation lists, the values are automatically transferred to the drawing.
Disadvantages of autostage objects
Autostage objects offer the designer a variety of functions and possibilities for the graphical design of the symbols. However, there is also a disadvantage that should not remain unmentioned.
Autostage objects are specially programmed objects, which are displayed in the drawing, if the programming is available. Now there is the workflow that the drawing was created on a computer where either autostage 20xx as a complete package or autostage app is installed as a plug-in for autocad. There is programming to display the objects so that they are displayed accordingly in the drawing.
The user saves the drawing and now sends it to a colleague, who is working with a "normal" autocad object autocad (or also bricscad) works. With this one the programming of autostage is not installed. The colleague can open the drawing and see all symbols. But because of the missing programming the autostage objects become so called proxy objects, because autocad can’t do anything with the data of the autostage objects because of the missing programming.
Proxy objects are present in the drawing, but cannot be deleted, shown or hidden, moved or rotated. The user cannot do anything with the proxy objects, they can only be ignored.
Insert symbols as autocad block
Due to the characteristic of the programmed autostage objects when sending the drawing to colleagues without existing autostage programming, it may be useful to insert a symbol as a normal autocad block.
An autocad block is a symbol that can be inserted with any autocad (or also bricscad) without problems, because this is a basic element in the autocad world. When a symbol is inserted as a block, any other autocad can open the drawing without problems.
By clicking on the green button "insert as autostage object" in the upper right area of the design center, this becomes a red button with the label "insert as autocad block". By a double click on an entry in the symbol list the insertion is started. First you have to select the insertion point with the cursor in the drawing, often you have to enter a rotation angle for the symbol in the second step. This can be z.B. Also can be done with the cursor using a "rubber band" which indicates the angle of rotation.
Inserting a chair from the STARTER design center by double-clicking on the entry as an autocad block
Compared to the autostage object, the autocad block lacks a number of properties:
- There is only one handle, which is located at the insertion point of the autocad block.
- The autocad block is always only a 2D symbol. A 2D view is not possible.
- There is no metadata like z. B. Weight, name or article number.
- The autocad block cannot display arbitrary texts.
- an autocad block is always displayed without filling. Except for colored areas that are created in the block (see example below).
- Autocad blocks can be counted, but the possibilities of evaluation are limited.
Limited evaluation possibilities for autocad blocks
More examples of simple symbols with colored areas inserted as an autocad block
Conclusion
Autostage objects provide a variety of functions and features that cannot be achieved with normal autocad blocks. Basically we recommend to prefer this to autocad blocks.
However, there are situations where it is sufficient to insert the symbol as an autocad block. This is the case, for example, when a symbol for an escape route has to be inserted quickly. The insertion as autostage object would speak in this case the frame, in addition come the above-mentioned negative characteristics, if the drawing is to be exchanged with others, which if necessary are to be exchanged. Do not have autostage programming available.
Jens mueller is the inventor and chief developer of autostage, the CAD application for the planning of fairs and events based on autocad. Previously he has worked as a planner, technical manager, light operator and lighting technician for optimal lighting on the stages of this world. besides his creative development work, he likes to travel with his family, do sports or relax by reading.