Jump to content

Is there a "master block" command that can auto update other blocks in dwgs?


Sharkbite

Recommended Posts

I'm looking for an option to keep master or source blocks together in one file that when changes need to be made I can just update them once and those changes reflect immediately in drawings containing said blocks. I had thought that the wblock command was used for this but it seems to just be another way to insert blocks similar to the design center.

 

Appreciate any help with this!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WBLOCK is used to WRITE blocks from your drawing to a file of its own.

 

I cannot think of a way to do what you want although you could try XREFing your blocks rather than inserting them if you do it often. I use Design Center or the command line INSERT command if I need to update blocks within a drawing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sharkbite, here's an alternative to the xref approach and if you have multiple blocks that need updating you might find it useful.

 

First, you would need a drawing that contains all of the blocks that are updated - you might say the "Master Block Drawing"

 

Now, here's the trick, invert the process - that is rather than inserting the updated block drawing into the working drawing go the other way insert the working drawing into the "Master Block Drawing"

 

This will result in all blocks in the working drawing updating to what is in the MBD.

 

Now that the inserted working drawing is updated WBLOCK it out to its original name overwriting it. Of course much caution is needed when doing this - it may be better to WBLOCK out to a revised file name to avoid any errors.

Now purge the inserted working drawing from your MBD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you need to do so many steps, why not just insert the MBD into the files and eliminate the risk of errors. Nothing immediate about that at all. XREFs is the only way that comes to mind that will accomplish the automatic updates through multiple files.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you need to do so many steps, why not just insert the MBD into the files and eliminate the risk of errors. ...

 

Because inserting the MBD into the drawing won't update the (multiple) blocks in the drawing, doing it backwards will. If you are updating only one block it's ok to do that because you will be prompted to redefine the existing block however if there are multiple blocks when you insert the MBD, the blocks in the MBD take on the properties of the drawing's blocks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All that work just to avoid using xrefs? Seems counter-productive.

 

Let's go back to the original post, and the sentence quoted above...

I'm looking for an option to keep master or source blocks together in one file

I initially took this to mean a single drawing full of multiple blocks. For example let's say the "master dwg" contains a valve, a plug, a flange, a gauge, a 45° bend, etc. In that case, xrefs are not going to help - unless you xclip each insertion of the "master dwg" to only show the portion you need.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I initially took this to mean a single drawing full of multiple blocks. For example let's say the "master dwg" contains a valve, a plug, a flange, a gauge, a 45° bend, etc.

 

That was how I read it also R.K. and why I made the suggestion that I did. It is not an intuitive approach but once it is understood it can be useful. I've done it a number of times.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was how I read it also R.K. and why I made the suggestion that I did. It is not an intuitive approach but once it is understood it can be useful. I've done it a number of times.
my reading too which is why I said it couldn't be done. However I now realise it can be done so thank you Patrick. I don't think I'll be doing it though, I'll have forgotten how to by the next time it comes up! :D
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're welcome Dave. Even though I said I've done it a number of times it has not been frequent. When I have done it it has usually involved a large number of files and a script to automate the process.

 

The only reason I did remember the method is when looking at a problem I'll often think of doing things backwards when I'm stuck for an solution. That inversion thinking has saved my bacon many times.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sharkbite, here's an alternative to the xref approach and if you have multiple blocks that need updating you might find it useful.

 

First, you would need a drawing that contains all of the blocks that are updated - you might say the "Master Block Drawing"

 

Now, here's the trick, invert the process - that is rather than inserting the updated block drawing into the working drawing go the other way insert the working drawing into the "Master Block Drawing"

 

This will result in all blocks in the working drawing updating to what is in the MBD.

 

Now that the inserted working drawing is updated WBLOCK it out to its original name overwriting it. Of course much caution is needed when doing this - it may be better to WBLOCK out to a revised file name to avoid any errors.

 

Now purge the inserted working drawing from your MBD.

 

I cannot thank you enough! This works fantastically and is saving me an enormous amount of time :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Patrick.

That is thinking outside the box.

Absolutely Brilliant suggestion & helps me heaps.

Xrefs are fine if Not too many are used - but for everyday's symbols - your suggestion is great.

Cheers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wayne,

 

 

Years ago I had a crotchety old chief engineer that taught me when all the attempts to solve a problem fail try to do the opposite. It's the old "If you can't bring Mohammed to the mountain, bring the mountain to Mohammed"

 

 

:beer:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sharkbite

 

If you will give me the block location IE C:\blocks\my\inserts\ I have a Lisp written for you. I have attached the lisp file if you want to change this yourself

 

Note in this one it reads "H:\\dwg\\wblock" you will need to change yours to the locations of you blocks

UDB.lsp

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...