Blocks trimming lines on insertion

Is there a way to create a block that could trim a line when you insert it? The block I'm using is not rectangular, so to create a wipeout for this block would only mess it up. I know could just click the 2 ends of the lines and trim what's in between, but I have many of these blocks to insert, and having to avoid this step would save a lot of time.

I don't know if this feature is on the new version of AutoCAD, but I'm running AutoCAD 2008. Any suggestions?

Yes it can be done. I don't have the instructions right at my fingertips at the moment but I'll look around for them and if I find them post back.

Thanks ReMark.

Has anyone else dealt with this issue before that could help me?

Would this work for you?

http://cadtips.cadalyst.com/edit-blocks/break-line-block

Or this? See LISP routine at end of thread.

http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=462076&tstart=12555

Would this work for you?

 

http://cadtips.cadalyst.com/edit-blocks/break-line-block

I tried loading the lisp from this site, but I get this error message after it says the software successfully loaded.

"; error: bad character read (octal): 3"

Am I using the lisp wrong?

Can't say as I have not tried it out. Sorry.

Here's one I found right here at CT:

http://www.cadtutor.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=22990

Gotta go. The turkey is done and then it's time to watch football in America! Go Giants!!

This should work for most blocks:

[i][color=#990099];; Auto Block Break by Lee McDonnell  ~  27.11.2009[/color][/i]

[i][color=#990099];; Will Break Object by Rectangular Block Width at 0 Rotation.[/color][/i]

[b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]defun[/color][/b] c:ins [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]/[/color][/b] *error* doc spc vl ov bNme pt uFlag
                       Obj ent Minp Maxp lst dis ang[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
 [b][color=Red]([/color][color=Blue]vl-load-com[/color][color=Red])[/color][/b]

 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]defun[/color][/b] *error* [b][color=RED]([/color][/b]msg[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]and[/color][/b] uFlag [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-EndUndoMark[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]and[/color][/b] ov [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]mapcar[/color][/b] [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setvar[/color][/b] vl ov[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]or[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]wcmatch[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]strcase[/color][/b] msg[b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"*BREAK,*CANCEL*,*EXIT*"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
       [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]princ[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]strcat[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"\n** Error: "[/color][/b] msg [b][color=#ff00ff]" **"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]princ[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] doc [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-get-ActiveDocument[/color][/b]
             [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-get-Acad-Object[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
       
       spc [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]if[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]zerop[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-get-activespace[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
             [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]if[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]=[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-get-mspace[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=Blue]:vlax-true[/color][color=RED])[/color][/b]
               [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-get-modelspace[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
               [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-get-paperspace[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
             [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-get-modelspace[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] vl [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=#ff00ff]"CMDECHO"[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"OSMODE"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] ov [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]mapcar[/color][/b] [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]getvar[/color][/b] vl[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]while[/color][/b]
   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]progn[/color][/b]
     [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] bNme [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]getstring[/color][/b] [b][color=BLUE]t[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]strcat[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"\nSpecify Block Name <"[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]getvar[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"INSNAME"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"> : "[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

     [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]cond[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b]  [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]eq[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]""[/color][/b] bNme[b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] bNme [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]getvar[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"INSNAME"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=BLUE]nil[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

           [b][color=RED]([/color][/b]  [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]and[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]snvalid[/color][/b] bNme[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
                   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]or[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]tblsearch[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"BLOCK"[/color][/b] bNme[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
                       [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] bNme [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]findfile[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]strcat[/color][/b] bNme [b][color=#ff00ff]".dwg"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=BLUE]nil[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

           [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]t[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]princ[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"\n** Block not Found **"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
           
 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]if[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] pt [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]getpoint[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"\nSelect Point for Block: "[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]progn[/color][/b]    
     [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] uFlag [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]not[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-StartUndoMark[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
             
           Obj   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-InsertBlock[/color][/b] spc [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-3D-point[/color][/b] pt[b][color=RED])[/color][/b] bNme [b][color=#009999]1.[/color][/b] [b][color=#009999]1.[/color][/b] [b][color=#009999]1.[/color][/b] [b][color=#009999]0.[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
      [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setvar[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"INSNAME"[/color][/b] bNme[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]  

     [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]if[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]and[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] ent [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]car[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]nentselp[/color][/b] pt[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
              [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]not[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vl-catch-all-error-p[/color][/b]
                     [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vl-catch-all-apply[/color][/b]
                       [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-curve-getEndParam[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]list[/color][/b] ent[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
       [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]progn[/color][/b]
         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] pt [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-curve-getClosestPointto[/color][/b] ent pt[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
         
         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-getBoundingBox[/color][/b] Obj [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b]Minp [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b]Maxp[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] lst [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]mapcar[/color][/b] [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-safearray->list[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]list[/color][/b] Minp Maxp[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
               dis [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]-[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]caadr[/color][/b] lst[b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]caar[/color][/b] lst[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-put-Rotation[/color][/b] Obj
           [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] ang [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]angle[/color][/b] [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=#009900]0[/color][/b] [b][color=#009900]0[/color][/b] [b][color=#009900]0[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-curve-getFirstDeriv[/color][/b] ent
                                       [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-curve-getParamatPoint[/color][/b] ent pt[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]mapcar[/color][/b] [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setvar[/color][/b] vl [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=#009900]0[/color][/b] [b][color=#009900]0[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]command[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"_.break"[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]list[/color][/b] ent pt[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
                  [b][color=#ff00ff]"_F"[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]osnap[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]polar[/color][/b] pt ang [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]/[/color][/b] dis  [b][color=#009999]2.[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"_nea"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
                       [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]osnap[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]polar[/color][/b] pt ang [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]/[/color][/b] dis [b][color=#009999]-2.[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=#ff00ff]"_nea"[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]mapcar[/color][/b] [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setvar[/color][/b] vl ov[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

     [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] uFlag [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-EndUndomark[/color][/b] doc[b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
 
 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]princ[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

           

           

Did my code work for you Ivan?

Did my code work for you Ivan?

Sorry, but it did not work. I tried loading both codes, but it did not work. I don't know what else to do?

What error occurs?

Let me guess.... no function vlax-get-acad-object

Please try my posted code again.

Yep. That's the message I get.

It say's: "; error: no function definition: VLAX-GET-ACAD-OBJECT"

Yes, its not a big one, it just means the Visual LISP console isn't loaded.

Most people (me included) have (vl-load-com) in their ACADDOC.lsp and so don't realise if (vl-load-com) is missing from code.

I have updated my code in my previous post, it should work now.

I have updated my code in my previous post, it should work now.

Thanks Lee Mac. It works now.

I'm going to use this lisp for now to finish my job, but I was wondering for the future, could this lisp have the option of browsing for other blocks?

Also, I don't know if there is a fourm that explains how to do this, but is there any way to create a button that loads the lisp?

Thanks again,

Ivan8)

Thanks Lee Mac. It works now.

Excellent - good to hear.

I'm going to use this lisp for now to finish my job, but I was wondering for the future, could this lisp have the option of browsing for other blocks?

The LISP should work for most blocks - (assuming they don't have any protruding features).

Also, I don't know if there is a fourm that explains how to do this, but is there any way to create a button that loads the lisp?

To automatically load the LISP on startup, you can either add it to the Startup Suite on the appload dialog.

Or, alternatively, you can create an ACADDOC.lsp in your ACAD search path and put a call, like this in it:

(load "ins.lsp" "Load Failed")

More info here:

Auto-Loading LISP (ACADDOC.lsp etc):

http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=30946.msg364983#msg364983

http://www.cadtutor.net/faq/questions/53/How+do+I+automatically+load+variables%3F

To call the LISP from a button, create a new button, and in the Macro Box put this:

^C^C(c:ins)

Lee Mac,

I tried your code and it does work but it doesn't trim the lines to the edge of the block. Some blocks work correctly some don't. I would like to use this to create a custom toolbar to place P&ID symbols. Is it possible to alter the code to work something like this for a button macro...

Button macro

-start ins command

-specify block name for button

-total length of line break

^C^Cc:ins;block_name.dwg;###;

Also could you add a way to search a specific directory if the block isn't in the current drawing?

I'm trying to figure this stuff out on my own but my knowledge of code is limited. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi,

The code assumes a central base point and calculates the trim points using the rectangular size of the block, so it may not be suitable for all blocks...