Convert Circles to Blocks

I received a file with thousands of circles to represent hydro poles. Is there a way that I can convert all of these circles, globally, to a standard block? I know with the express tools, I can replace a group of blocks with another block but I don't know how to change a group of circles to a block.

Thanks in advance,
Mac

Running AutoCAD Map 5 with AutoCAD Express Tools 2000

 

A little LISP, perhaps?

(defun C:C2BLK ( / ss blk n)
(prompt "\nSelect Circles to replace: ")
(setq ss (ssget '((0 . "CIRCLE")))
blk (getstring "\nName of Block: ")
)::setq
(if (and ss (tblsearch "block" blk))
(progn
(setq n (1- (sslength ss)))
(while (>= n 0)
(setq pt (cdr (assoc 10 (entget (ssname ss n))))
n (1- n)
);; setq
(command "_.-insert" blk pt "" "" "")
);;while
);;progn
);; if
(princ)
)
___

 

Oops ... this one works (also erases the circles):

(defun C:C2BLK ( / ss blk ent pt n)
(prompt "\nSelect Circles to replace: ")
(setq ss (ssget '((0 . "CIRCLE")))
blk (getstring "\nName of Block: ")
);;setq
(if (and ss (tblsearch "block" blk))
(progn
(setq n (1- (sslength ss)))
(while (>= n 0)
(setq ent (ssname ss n)
pt (cdr (assoc 10 (entget ent)))
n (1- n)
);; setq
(command "_.-insert" blk pt "" "" "")
);;while
(command "_.erase" ss "")
);;progn
);; if
(princ)
)
___

 

Hi lil,

Looks like Paul provided you with a nice lisp function to accomplish your task, but non the less, I will tell you what I did once without any lisp available to me. (actually, I didn't think to ask here)

But since circles are closed loops, they do not have to be regions or polylines to extrude, so I performed an extrude and windowed the entire area to include all of the circles and gave an extrude depth. Then went to the front view, moved all the solids (all the extruded circles) a known distance (to isolate them), then exploded all the solids and erased the bodies and top circles (now regions converted by the software).

Now the remaining circles (regions) are still at z=0 and I blocked them (as you want), then moved them back the known distance to return them back to their original positions.

Sounds long, difficult and convoluted, but actually took less than a minute.

 

woah...

i'm usually pretty good at following directions, but that really messed me
up!

why not just use quickfilter to select them?

task, but non the less, I will tell you what I did once without any lisp
available to me. (actually, I didn't think to ask here)

polylines to extrude, so I performed an extrude and windowed the entire area
to include all of the circles and gave an extrude depth. Then went to the
front view, moved all the solids (all the extruded circles) a known distance
(to isolate them), then exploded all the solids and erased the bodies and
top circles (now regions converted by the software).

(as you want), then moved them back the known distance to return them back
to their original positions.

minute.

 

Hi JD,

Reply From: The Real JD
Date: Feb/24/05 - 16:10 (CST)

Re: Convert Circles to Blocks

Probably because I didn't even know about Quick Select back then or more likely that I was using R14.

At any rate, it was a work around that I found when I needed it.

 

I think he wants each circle replaced by a block that represents whatever
the circle was.