Explode/extract out only part of a block?

[Vigilante]

Hi, yet another problem here.

So I have this drawing where the original CADer, for some reason, has put a truck load of everything into some kind of block or minsert or whatever. This is including the walls, doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, everything. So if I try to select the sink, it selects the whole room and other parts of the drawing. Don't ask me why.

So I figure OK, just explode this so I can edit the parts. But no, if I explode the block, all of the walls expand far out. Not only that, but I cannot trim or stretch the walls back to normal. This is no good, refer to images.

I cannot go demand different drawings, this is the way he does it. I don't have his special wall blocks or whatever the heck he's using.
So I'm wondering how I can explode this block without the walls expanding. OR if I can extract just a sink or feature so I can edit it separately.

In sum, I need to be able to edit the single parts of this, without screwing it all up.

Thanks.

[CarlB]

I think you have something created in Architectural Desktop.

Can you use Express Tools "ncopy" on items you need to edit?

If really desparate, I've heard plotting to a "dxb" plotter then using "dxbin" converts to basic lines/arcs but can't vouch for it :)

[CromCruithne]

Don't know which version of CAD you're using, but you could always try editing the block in place.

-Crom

[dbroada]

or save that drawing with a different name, explode the block in that and extract the items you need?

[Vigilante]

1) I don't have express tools.

2) I'll look into this DXB plotter thing. Unless you can provide some hints.

3) I'm not sure how to edit a block in place. As an example, I need to take the mop sinks and make them bigger. So yes I can extract the sink and overlay, but of course, I can't remove the old sink from out of the block. Some tips on editing a block in place?

4) I tried making the whole thing into a new block, copying, exploding, no good. Saving as DXF, importing, and so forth. Nothing works, those hidden expanding walls are killing me, I hate that.

5) Is there a way to just HIDE the old sinks in the block, so I can overlay new ones? Like some kind of clipping perhaps?

Thanks

[StykFacE]

what version of AutoCAD are you using? are you using REFEDIT? if you can use REFEDIT just open the Refedit Toolbar. once you enable Refedit to start editing, on they Refedit Toolbar there are two icons next to the Block Name - one with a "+" sign and one with a "-" sign. select the items you want out of there, then hit the "-" sign. that will remove those selected objects from the working set in the Block. REFCLOSE and Save before exiting out of the reference editor. then do what you will to the objects you removed from the Block. hope that helps. 8)

[hazardman]

i'm thinking that this may be a dynamic block...so if you explode it in an acad vesrion that doesn't directly support this type of block the "hidden" parts become visible after you give it some "tnt"...possible?..

[Vigilante]

So check this out. I was trying to find out how to edit block in place, found the refedit command, tried it, but was told something about a "non-uniformly scaled block", so that didn't work.

I looked up the error and saw that it happens if the block, obviously, has been scaled in some way.
So I looked at the properties and notices the Y scale as -1 while the other two were just 1. So I changed -1 to 1 so that all three scales were equal. This change caused the block to flip vertical. Not a problem.
However I still couldn't use refedit on it, same error. BUT, after changing the scale, I was able to explode it without the walls flying out like that!

I have no idea why this is, but after exploding it, I just mirrored the block again and replaced the original block with the exploded/mirrored one. And I was able to finish working on it.

So, any thoughts what this is all about?

[DANIEL]

i've encountered the non uniformly scaled blocks,your going to need to do a recover on the drawing as well as any referenced drawings associated with it, once you've done that your going to have to explode it purge it and reblock it

also it may stem from you not using autocads steel package or atleast thats what it was for me, in your case it may be an architectual package that you dont have, something i've also noticed IF this is in deed causing your issue are these goofy attributes that come with it, there invisible so you'll need to do a filter on attribute tags to see if there there, just use an * to locate all attribute tags

[Vigilante]

I don't want to reblock it, because it seems silly to block in all of your walls and furniture and doors and everything as one. That seems REALLY odd.

I am not familiar with editing/viewing attribute tags. Plus if there are like 40 walls, it sounds daunting to check attributes on every wall to keep things sane.

Fact is, the drawings I get from this dude are SO screwy for our system, if I can even get them passably workable, I'm happy. I've already spent like 3 hours just trying to change the size of a mop sink! I'm done! lol

[Cad64]

For Non-Uniformly scaled blocks, there is a simple fix. Click on the Block to select it and then Right click and select Properties. In the Properties palette under the 'Geometry' section, you have (3) scale values. One for X, one for Y and one for Z. They all need to read the same number. Even if they all read as 1.0000, one of them could actually be 1.00001 which would cause Autocad to throw the Non-Uniform Scale message. Just type in 1.0 for each of those settings and then you will be able to Refedit the block.

When you see one of the numbers reading as -1.0000, that just means that the block has been mirrored.

[Vigilante]

Exactly. But when all three values were the same, it still threw the error. Odd.