Update attribute with actual $FILENAME$ lisp

Hi, I wonder if anyone could tell me how I could write a script or a lisp to update an attribute called DRAWINGNAME within a titleblock called TITLE.DWG with an actual $FILENAME$. I am trying to update old titleblocks - ones that were not created with a FIELD concept in mind.

Thank you in advance,

Kameron

I may be way off the mark here, but how I understand it is that you want to update titleblocks within old drawings so that the attribute named "DRAWINGNAME" contains the filename of the drawing.

Am I correct?

Yes, Lee. I need the actual filename (whatever it's named) to be used by the DRAWINGNAME attribute. Thank you.

Give this a shot {Untested}

(defun c:dwgupd (/ ss eLst dNme aEnt aEntLst)
 (vl-load-com)
 (if (setq ss (ssget "X" (list (cons 0 "INSERT") (cons 2 "TITLE") (cons 66 1)
    (if (getvar "CTAB")
      (cons 410 (getvar "CTAB"))
      (cons 67 (- 1 (getvar "TILEMODE")))))))
   (progn
   (setq eLst (vl-remove-if 'listp (mapcar 'cadr (ssnamex ss)))
     dNme (vl-filename-base (getvar "DWGNAME")))
   (foreach e eLst
     (setq aEnt (entnext e))
     (while (not (eq "SEQEND" (cdadr (setq aEntLst (entget aEnt)))))
   (if (= "DRAWINGNAME" (cdr (assoc 2 aEntLst)))
     (entmod (subst (cons 1 dNme)(assoc 1 aEntLst) aEntLst)))
   (setq aEnt (entnext aEnt)))))
   (princ "\n<!> No Title Blocks Found <!> "))
 (princ))

this sounds very familiar doesn't it Lee.

Excellent, Lee! You are so knowledgeable. Thank you! I just need it to regen now so that I will know the change has taken place. I will try to figure that out. Thanks again!

this sounds very familiar doesn't it Lee.

I've had so much practice writing routines for Block Attribute Updating that I could probably do it with my eyes shut now Dave

Ahh yes, I didn't put a regen in there... just add this at the very end (just before the last (princ):

(command "_regenall")

i.e

(defun c:dwgupd (/ ss eLst dNme aEnt aEntLst)
 (vl-load-com)
 (if (setq ss (ssget "X" (list (cons 0 "INSERT") (cons 2 "TITLE") (cons 66 1)
    (if (getvar "CTAB")
      (cons 410 (getvar "CTAB"))
      (cons 67 (- 1 (getvar "TILEMODE")))))))
   (progn
   (setq eLst (vl-remove-if 'listp (mapcar 'cadr (ssnamex ss)))
     dNme (vl-filename-base (getvar "DWGNAME")))
   (foreach e eLst
     (setq aEnt (entnext e))
     (while (not (eq "SEQEND" (cdadr (setq aEntLst (entget aEnt)))))
   (if (= "DRAWINGNAME" (cdr (assoc 2 aEntLst)))
     (entmod (subst (cons 1 dNme)(assoc 1 aEntLst) aEntLst)))
   (setq aEnt (entnext aEnt)))))
   (princ "\n<!> No Title Blocks Found <!> "))
 (command "_regenall")
 (princ))

Thank you! I finally figured out also, with this command in the location you suggested. Seems to do the trick also, but I think I'll use yours...more professional that way!

(princ "\n No Title Blocks Found "))

(princ)

(COMMAND "REGEN")

)

No worries

Glad it will save some time

Cheers

Lee

Lee-

Common practice is to follow up an "entmod" of an attribute with an "entupd" of the block name; this usually updates the changes without need for a regen. Although I've read even with an "entupd" in some cases a regen is still needed.

Lee-

 

Common practice is to follow up an "entmod" of an attribute with an "entupd" of the block name; this usually updates the changes without need for a regen. Although I've read even with an "entupd" in some cases a regen is still needed.

How would you write entupd into the routine that you've written then, Lee? I am intrigued.

How would you write entupd into the routine that you've written then, Lee? I am intrigued.

I must admit, I don't normally use "entupd" to update atts, as it seems to cause an error sometimes, but try this:

(defun c:dwgupd (/ ss eLst dNme aEnt aEntLst)
 (vl-load-com)
 (if (setq ss (ssget "X" (list (cons 0 "INSERT") (cons 2 "TITLE") (cons 66 1)
    (if (getvar "CTAB")
      (cons 410 (getvar "CTAB"))
      (cons 67 (- 1 (getvar "TILEMODE")))))))
   (progn
   (setq eLst (vl-remove-if 'listp (mapcar 'cadr (ssnamex ss)))
     dNme (vl-filename-base (getvar "DWGNAME")))
   (foreach e eLst
     (setq aEnt (entnext e))
     (while (not (eq "SEQEND" (cdadr (setq aEntLst (entget aEnt)))))
   (if (= "DRAWINGNAME" (cdr (assoc 2 aEntLst)))
     (progn
   (entmod (subst (cons 1 dNme)(assoc 1 aEntLst) aEntLst))
   (entupd e)))
   (setq aEnt (entnext aEnt)))))
   (princ "\n<!> No Title Blocks Found <!> "))
 (princ))

Try adding (entupd aEnt) after the entmod function and see if it works.

You would also need a "progn" wrapper, as the IF will then contain more than one statement to be evaluated

As quoted from ACAD Help file:

Note If entupd is used on a nested entity (an entity within a block) or on a block that contains nested entities, some of the entities might not be regenerated. To ensure complete regeneration, you must invoke the REGEN command.

Thanks, Lee. I tested your routine and I got an extra right parenthesis error. I took away the other two on the right and it works fine now.

(entmod (subst (cons 1 dNme)(assoc 1 aEntLst) aEntLst)))

(entupd e)

(setq aEnt (entnext aEnt)))))

(princ "\n No Title Blocks Found "))

;(command "_regenall")

(princ))

Well, this has been most educational. Thanks for the input, everyone! Have a wonderful day, okay? Grab some zZzZ too!

As quoted from ACAD Help file: Note If entupd is used on a nested entity (an entity within a block) or on a block that contains nested entities, some of the entities might not be regenerated. To ensure complete regeneration, you must invoke the REGEN command.