insert block with attributes by user from VBA

Before you decide to scold me, I must mention that I'm new to VBA yet learning quickly, and I've spent the last hour reading everything on this ng about blocks and attributes though I'm not understanding enough to answer my own question. OK, I have written a simple VBA proggie that gets information from user about what block that they'd like to insert to model space and then it should allow them to pre-answer attribute prompts (due to old block and new automation).
ex. window pops-up and user chooses a block with 6 attributes all requiring PVC sizes to display in block. I then want to allow the user to define these PVC sizes. after which the user clicks <OK> and the block is inserted with all attribute prompts answered.

I already tried ThisDrawing.SendCommand and just sent all string data to the command line separated by spaces but it doesn't work or maybe I'm just doing it wrong. I am now just inserting the block and then activating this LISP routine (COMMAND "DDATTE" "" "LAST")

I got the impression from other topics on this ng that it is possible to send the ThisDrawing.SendCommand with the attributes already defined before the block is actually inserted or maybe I misunderstood that as well.

Please, someone help by at least giving me some clue that I can read to better understand how I can do this. I'll post any code if necessary. Thanks, in advance.

 

Hi,

For this exercise, forget the "Sendcommand" process. Use the APIs to add
the blocks and populate the attributes.

There is sample code for doing this supplied with the software, and you
should find it quite straight forward to modify that code to suit your
specific needs.

If you have any queries from the sample code, then post again.

--


Laurie Comerford
CADApps
www.cadapps.com.au

learning quickly, and I've spent the last hour reading everything on this ng
about blocks and attributes though I'm not understanding enough to answer my
own question. OK, I have written a simple VBA proggie that gets information
from user about what block that they'd like to insert to model space and
then it should allow them to pre-answer attribute prompts (due to old block
and new automation).

requiring PVC sizes to display in block. I then want to allow the user to

the command line separated by spaces but it doesn't work or maybe I'm just
doing it wrong. I am now just inserting the block and then activating this
LISP routine (COMMAND "DDATTE" "" "LAST")

send the ThisDrawing.SendCommand with the attributes already defined before
the block is actually inserted or maybe I misunderstood that as well.

better understand how I can do this. I'll post any code if necessary.
Thanks, in advance.

 

Here's a small code snippet that should get you pointed in the right
direction, based on Laurie's suggestion:

Code:

Option Explicit

Sub Example_InsertBlock()
Dim insertionPnt(0 To 2) As Double
Dim blockRef As AcadBlockReference
Dim blockName As String
Dim attRefs As Variant
Dim attRef As AcadAttributeReference
Dim I As Long

blockName = "TDG" 'Change this to the block you want
insertionPnt(0) = 0#: insertionPnt(1) = 0#: insertionPnt(2) = 0#
Set blockRef = ThisDrawing.ModelSpace.InsertBlock(insertionPnt,
blockName, 1#, 1#, 1#, 0)

If blockRef.HasAttributes = True Then
attRefs = blockRef.GetAttributes
For I = 0 To UBound(attRefs)
Set attRef = attRefs(I)
'do your stuff with the values here
Next I
End If
End Sub