Quick Selection Lisp

Hi,

I want to automate the quick select process by having a lisp that can delete all blocks in a drawing except those containing string "column," "beam" as block|name. I can't use quick select in autolisp. There is no command line equivalent. I learned about ssx and filter but I really don't know how to use them effectively.

Regards,

Nicolas.

Hi nicolas,

Use the ssget function:

(ssget "_X" '((0 . "INSERT") (2 . "column,beam")))

And to highlight the set:

(sssetfirst nil (ssget "_X" '((0 . "INSERT") (2 . "column,beam"))))

Thank you Lee Mac for the codes. However due to having but little knowledge of autolisp, I am still in darkness as to how to apply the codes You have send. I do understand that ssget have to do with selection that is going to be recorded in a variable. Is such variable called _X or am i totally lost here? What is sssetfirst? Some tips are greatly needed. Thank you very much in advance.

I do understand that ssget have to do with selection that is going to be recorded in a variable. Is such variable called _X or am i totally lost here?

The "_X" mode string will instruct the ssget function to search the whole database when acquiring a SelectionSet. In this respect I would suggest that you read the help documentation on the ssget function, this short tutorial will show you how.

What is sssetfirst?

sssetfirst will highlight a SelectionSet (turn on the grips) - again, if unsure about a function, just type it in the Visual LISP IDE and open the help for that function. A short introductory lesson on the Visual LISP IDE can be found here.

As for how to apply the code, after re-reading your post, I notice you want to delete all blocks which are not called either column or beam, so the following function will demonstrate how to highlight a SelectionSet of all blocks which are not callled either column or beam:

(defun c:test nil
 (sssetfirst nil (ssget "_X" '((0 . "INSERT") (-4 . "<NOT") (2 . "column,beam") (-4 . "NOT>"))))
 (princ)
)

A reference for the DXF codes used in the SelectionSet filter can be found here.

Following selection you can delete them using the erase command. A LISP could also perform the deletion, but I felt it was safer to let the user hit the delete key. :wink:

Hi Lee Mac,

Thank you for the code. However, when applying it to the drawing, it select everything. The two layers containing beams and columns that I want to filter out is : 1A_2_Columns, beam. I also note that the file start likewise:

(defun c:test nil

should i insert a variable name in the place or use the slash + space when defining local variable

Meanwhile im digging the help files on sssget. Many thanks.

Regards,

Nicolas

This will select all blocks except those on the layers you specified:

(defun c:test nil
 (sssetfirst nil (ssget "_X" '((0 . "INSERT") (-4 . "<NOT") (8 . "1A_2_Columns,beam") (-4 . "NOT>"))))
 (princ)
)

The space after 'test' would contain the local variables, but the above code has no local variables, so this can be nil.

Lee

Nothing wrong with what Lee posted, but knowing how to use SSX and QSelect will be much more valuable.

SSX eg.

Command: ssx

Select object <None>:

Enter filter option [block 
name/Color/Entity/Flag/LAyer/LType/Pick/Style/Thickness/Vector]: E

>>Enter entity type to add <RETURN to remove>: INSERT

Current filter: ((0 . "INSERT"))
Enter filter option [block 
name/Color/Entity/Flag/LAyer/LType/Pick/Style/Thickness/Vector]: B

>>Enter block name to add <RETURN to remove>: ~BEAM

Current filter: ((2 . "~BEAM") (0 . "INSERT"))
Enter filter option [block 
name/Color/Entity/Flag/LAyer/LType/Pick/Style/Thickness/Vector]:

Will Select all blocks (insert) that do not match the block name "BEAM" (the "~" ignores such text, whereas if I had put "DOG" it would have selected all blocks with name of "DOG"). Also note that except for the 1 code (text/attribute strings), dxf codes are not case sensitive.

Hi Lee Mac,

I try the program anew. The problem was that the content of the beams were actually in beam layer but the outer entity was on layer 0. I correct both contents and overall block to beam layer and that little program is indeed working. Hence the (8 . "1A_2_Columns,beam")

Hence I do understand that we can extend and add wildcards to

the deselect list.

For Example:

(8. "*?olumns*,*?eam*,*walls*)

So that having Column 200, column, Column, Column 200x200 or beam,

Beam 200 ... all will work.

Thanks again,

Regards,

Nicolas.