inserting/deleting a block based on filename

Hello,

Is it possible for a script or lisp routine to insert a block at predetermined coordinates or deletes a specific block name based on the filename. If so, How?

For example, if a drawings filename is BlahBlah_Draft.dwg, a block named Draft (which is a dwg in a folder defined in the ACAD search path) will be inserted at say 0,4,0 and if the filename does not contain a "_Draft" the routine deletes a block called "Draft".

Your help is very much appreciated!

 

Something like this: (untested)

(defun C:draft ( dwg check ss )
(setq dwg (getvar "dwgname")); get dwg name
(setq dwg (substr dwg 1 (- (strlen dwg) 4))); strip the .dwg
(setq check (strcase (substr dwg (- (strlen dwg) 6) 6)))
(if (= check "_DRAFT")
(progn
(setq ss (ssget "X" '((2 . "draft"))))
(if ss
(command "_erase" ss "")
); if
); progn
); if
(if (/= check "_DRAFT")
(command "-insert" "draft" "0,4" "" "" "")
); if
(princ)
); fuction

Bob

 

Hey Bob,

Thanks for helping me out. I trying your code and I get a "Too Few Arguments Function Cancelled" message. Any ideas of what it can mean? I apologize for my lack of LISP knowledge.

Thanks again!

 

(defun C:draft ( / dwg check ss )

Forgot the / in above, add it in.

Bob

 

That put me on track as far as inserting the draft block when the filename is filename_Draft.dwg. But when the draft block is already in the drawing and the filename is filename.dwg it won't delete the draft block and I receive the message "bad argument value: positive -2". Any ideas? This is what I have so far.

(defun C:draft ( / dwg check ss )
(setq dwg (getvar "dwgname")); get dwg name
(setq dwg (substr dwg 1 (- (strlen dwg) 4))); strip the .dwg
(setq check (strcase (substr dwg (- (strlen dwg) 6) 6)))
(if (= check "_Draft")
(progn
(setq ss (ssget "X" '((2 . "DRAFT"))))
(if ss
(command "_erase" ss "")
); if
); progn
); if
(if (/= check "_Draft")
(command "-insert" "DRAFT2" "0,4" "" "" "")
); if
(princ)
); function

I temporarily changed this line (setq ss (ssget "X" '((2 . "DRAFT")))) to (setq ss (ssget "X" '((2 . "DRAFT2")))) to match the actual block name reloaded the LISP and restarted ACAD but it didn't help resolve the issue.

 

Everything is possible...
....for reasonable price...

predetermined coordinates or deletes a specific block name based on the
filename. If so, How?

Draft (which is a dwg in a folder defined in the ACAD search path) will be
inserted at say 0,4,0 and if the filename does not contain a "_Draft" the
routine deletes a block called "Draft".

 

(defun C:draft ( / dwg check ss )
(setq dwg (getvar "dwgname")); get dwg name
(setq dwg (substr dwg 1 (- (strlen dwg) 4))); strip the .dwg
(setq check (strcase (substr dwg (- (strlen dwg) 6) 6)))
(setq ss (ssget "X" '((2 . "DRAFT2"))))
(if ss
(command "_erase" ss "")
); if
(if (/= check "_Draft")
(command "-insert" "DRAFT2" "0,4" "" "" "")
); if
(princ)
); function

Will delete the block 'draft2' - if it exists in any drawing.
Bob

 

I just realized that it's because block2 is a nested block. How does that affect the Routine you've created? I wish they offered classes on this stuff.

 

It won't 'find' the nested block - all you can do is to explode the parent block - expose the nested block, then run the routine.

Bob

 

Anything better to do today ?

 

In the following line:
Uppercase the "_DRAFT".

(if (/= check "_Draft")

Bob

 

Ok, I resolved the nested block problem issue and now another problem has developed. In a file where the filename for example is filename.dwg the routine deletes the draft block but inserts a draft block at 0,4,0 when I only need the draft block inserted in a drawing that named for example filename_Draft.dwg.

Things that make you go Hmmmmm.

 

looks like someone doesn't know the meaning of helping others out. Always looking looking on the ground for a penny.

 

Change the code to be:

(defun C:draft ( / dwg check ss )
(setq dwg (getvar "dwgname")); get dwg name
(setq dwg (substr dwg 1 (- (strlen dwg) 4))); strip the .dwg
(setq check (strcase (substr dwg (- (strlen dwg) 6) 6)))
(setq ss (ssget "X" '((2 . "DRAFT2"))))
(if ss
(command "_erase" ss "")
); if
(if (= check "_DRAFT")
(command "-insert" "DRAFT2" "0,4" "" "" "")
); if
(princ)
); function

Note changes: UpperCase on '_DRAFT', and = rather than /=.

Bob

 

Bob,

Sorry for the delay on replying to your last post. I did as you suggested, "UpperCase on '_DRAFT', and = rather than /=." The routine would not run so I had to add the / in order to get the routine to at least function. Don't know if it makes a difference but I am running ACAD 2004.

The routine works perfectly if the filename has "_Draft" in it. If I have a drawing with a filename say, filename.dwg with a Draft2 block in the drawing, the routine still won't erase or delete the Draft2 block. I am thinking that the routine is missing another a line stating that "if / is 'not equal to' '_Draft', then erase ss.

From my understanding of the routine,
the routine will check the filename, look at the 6 characters before the .dwg and if those characters = "_DRAFT" then it will insert a Draft2 block at the given coordinates.

Could there be another check missing?

 

To clarify what I meant by "The routine works perfectly if the filename has '_Draft' in it." Meaning, if the filename has "_Draft" in it, the routine performs the function of inserting the Draft2 block.