AutoCAD Tip: AutoCAD Fields for Live, Auto‑Updating Title Block, Sheet Set, and Object Data

Fields let you embed live, auto-updating data across your drawings, eliminating manual edits and reducing errors.

Where Fields shine

• Title blocks: project name, drawing number, revision, sheet number, sheet count, author, and dates.
• Object properties: live area/length/elevation pulled from polylines, regions, solids, or blocks.
• Sheet Set Manager (SSM): sheet titles, numbers, view labels, callouts, and detail references that sync across the set.
• Document metadata: DWG file name, path, last saved date, custom properties (client, project code, discipline).
• Plot stamps and tables: scale, viewport name, layout name, and other plotting context values.

How to insert a Field

• Use FIELD at the command line or right‑click within MText, Attributes, or Tables and choose Insert Field.
• Pick a Category (e.g., Objects, Document, Date & Time, SheetSet), then a Field name and formatting.
• For object-driven fields, click Select Object and choose the geometry or block, then pick a property (e.g., Area).
• For title blocks, place fields inside ATTDEF attributes so every block instance updates automatically; use ATTSYNC after edits.

Key system settings for reliability

• FIELDEVAL controls when fields update. Recommended bit value: 31 (updates on open, save, plot, eTransmit, and regen).
• FIELDDISPLAY = 1 shows a gray background so you can identify fields; set to 0 to hide.
• REGEN or REGENALL forces updates; use on demand after batch edits or data links.

Best practices

• Standardize with a DWT: prebuild title block attributes and common notes using fields and save in your template.
• Leverage DWGPROPS custom properties for project-level data; reference them via Document fields in blocks and tables.
• Use Sheet Set Manager fields (CurrentSheetNumber, SheetTitle, SetProjectNumber) to keep multi-sheet data consistent.
• Format units and precision in the Field dialog; apply rounding where needed for schedules and tags.
• Lock a specific field (right‑click > Lock Field) when you need a snapshot that won’t auto-update temporarily.
• Avoid EXPLODE on blocks containing fields; it converts fields to static text and breaks automation.

Troubleshooting quick checks

• Field shows “####” or unexpected values: verify the source object exists and the referenced property is valid.
• Values don’t refresh: confirm FIELDEVAL includes the needed events; run REGEN; ensure the field isn’t locked.
• Sheet data mismatch: re-path or resave the Sheet Set DST, then open drawings from the SSM palette to refresh links.

Workflow tip: pair Fields with Data Extraction for tabular schedules that summarize live object properties; let fields handle headers, dates, and file context so the schedule looks complete without manual text.

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