Need to Update Blocks...

[AQucsaiJr]

I have upwards of 40 drawings that all have a border block on them that I need to update. There was a PLINE within the block that needed to be exploded. I am trying to figure out the fastest way to do this? I have searched for commands to run in a script but have not found any command that can to this... I should mention, this block has no attributes. It is basically an image of a border. I have found plenty of commands to update attributes but nothing for just a block... I tried the -INSERT border=border and for some reason it keeps coming up with path errors even though the path is saved in the support file search path.

Any suggestions?

[dbroada]

I tried the -INSERT border=border and for some reason it keeps coming up with path errors even though the path is saved in the support file search path.

Any suggestions?

That is how I would do it. Make sure that your new border drawing doesn't contain a block named border.

[AQucsaiJr]

I dont understand... I want to update the "border" block with the up-to-date "border" block. The block names are the same in the old border drawing and the new. Unless I am misunderstanding your statement. I read your post about the -INSERT Border="Boarder Drawing"... Thats where I got the idea from. However when I try this I get an "incomplete" error.

[dbroada]

my statement was "just in case" you were getting into the old trap of saving a block to a file with the same name.

 

I use the following syntax

 

-insert
border=border

then esc.

 

 

 

Wait a minute - just spotted it!

try

-insert
border=

[Lee Mac]

If not, would BLOCKREPLACE (ET), not cut it?

[AQucsaiJr]

Still coming up *Invalid* using -insert, border=... What if I change the name and use -BLOCKREPLACE? Is there a way for this command to find a block that is not on the current drawing but in a drawing located on my desktop?

-delayed-

[dbroada]

just to confirm

 

you have a block in your current drawing named "border"

you have a newly created file named "border" which DOESN'T contain a block named "border" and is on the search path.

 

if that is the case I don't know why border= doesn't work

 

as well as the above I have used RENAME within my drawing to change OldBorderName to NewBorderName and then -insert NewBorderName although I could have used -insert OldBorderName=NewBorderName

 

I have never had to use BlockReplace so I don't know how it works

[AQucsaiJr]

Ok... Ok... I see what you are talking about... Let me explain a little further...

I have a drawing called BorderBlockMaster on my system that contains the Border block as well as a couple other blocks. The drawing, BorderBlockMaster, was recently updated. I need to have the updates made to the blocks on that drawing, trickle threw all the drawings that contain thoes blocks.

The blocks, that I need to update, are in the drawing within my project.

The drawing that contains the updated blocks is on my system. All the blocks are in one drawing, not indevidual drawings.

[dbroada]

ah, that makes a difference. I don't know a way to extract individual blocks from within a drawing using the command line.

 

the two options I would suggest would be

1 - WBLOCK out the required blocks then use -insert

2 - use design centre

 

I would use the former as I could then run a script to automate the process. If you can't do that then use design centre with the re-define block option (again, I don't use design centre)

[Lee Mac]

I would definitely agree with Dave.

 

WBLOCK the required block from the master blocks drawing - and, either save it as a different name (if you want to use BLOCKREPLACE), or the same name if using the method suggested by Dave.

 

My CAD knowledge is limited but am I on the right track Dave?

[dbroada]

but am I on the right track Dave?

as it sounds like you are agreeing with me, what do you expect me to say.

 

out of interest, can you extract a block definition from one drawing and insert it in another using LISP?

[AQucsaiJr]

Hay... Ok...

1) I opened the BorderBlockMaster drawing that contains the blocks that need to be updated.

2) I used -WBLOCK to create an individual file for each of the blocks.

3) I then used -INSERT Border=Border

Worked perfect... Thanks Dave... I belive I can use this in a script to do all the rest of the drawings in my project... Well the -INSERT, Border=Border, esc, feature anyways.

I do have a question for you Lee... How would I write the esc comand into a script? I know how to get the Enter function to work but not an esc function.

[dbroada]

I'm still here (for 2 more minutes) and I don't esc the script. I place one copy of the new block and then erase last. Much easier than trying to force an ESC!

[AQucsaiJr]

Oh ya... good idea....

Thanks Dave... You solved it for me.

[Lee Mac]

out of interest, can you extract a block definition from one drawing and insert it in another using LISP?

 

I would normally just perform a "dummy" insert to create the block definition in the drawing. But I have never dealt with blocks that need to be extracted from another drawing without the use of WBLOCK..