Inserting/updating multiple blocks? 1

[DaveZR2]

Is it possible so insert/update more than one block at a time?

As you can probably guess, I have several diagrams that share the same 10-15 blocks. The blocks are stored as separate files (should have just used xrefs?). I decided to make some changes to the block files, and I would like to update them in my diagrams without having to Insert Block ->> Update ->> Repeat for 15 blocks, then do the whole thing over again for the rest of the diagrams. Is this possible?

Thanks for your help.

Dave

 

[CarlB]

you could write a script, looks like (untested):

-insert
"c:\\directory name\blockname1"
y
(command)
-insert
"c:\\directory name\blockname2"
y
(command)
etc...

The line (command) acts like 'escape' to end the insert so no picking points & scale but the block replacement should occur. I believe you need the quotes around the path if there are spaces in any directory name.

 

[IFRs]

Yes, xrefs would have been the way to go. You may yet be able to do that - I'll look into it. In the meantime, just create a script, macro, VB or lisp that steps through a list or folder and does this:

(command "insert" "block=drive:\path\block" "y" "0,0" "1" "1" "0")
(command "zoom" "e")
(command "erase" "l" "")

 

[chicopee]

If you open any one of the base(parent) drawing containing the X-ref(child) drawing and make the change in that child drawing using the REFEDIT command, that change will be also made in the child drawing file automatically. When you open any other parent drawing containg that drawing you should see that change.

 

[Exxit]

aveZR2,

which ACAD-version are you running? LT?
I know a lisp, which does update all blocks, if they are saved in one path as an own *.dwg.

Lothar

ADT 2004

 

[DaveZR2]

Running AutoCAD 2006.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Dave

 

[Exxit]

Hi,

try this lisp:

http://ww3.cad.de/foren/ubb/uploads/Kramer24/block-upd.LSP.txt

Rename to "block-upd.LSP" -> _appload -> start with "all-block-upd" -> browse to the folder with the library-blocks...

Lothar

ADT 2004

 

[ohiocad]

Another one to look for that we use here, is rib.lsp

I haven't been able to modify it to run with a script routine yet, so you have to click on each block to update, but it's still a lot faster than re-inserting each block one at a time.

 

[230jhp]

A place I used to work had BOM information linked to blocks of components like fittings and relays. That is, if you brought a block into the drawing it automatically updated the BOM.

What I did to avoid bringing the blocks in onesey-twosey was make a block that had all the component blocks in it. Then I brought that block in and exploded it. Now everything was on the BOM. I picked out the component blocks I wanted as I made the drawing. When finished I deleted the unused blocks and the purged the drawing. Once I purged the drawing the BOM only counted the fittings I used.

I even had all these component blocks on layers so that all 1/2" conduit fittings were on one layer; all 1" fittings on another layer and so on.