Dynamic Title Block of Sorts

[Calc]

Some of the projects I work on contain 50+ sheets, its very time consuming to alter the title block on each separate layout when either a new amendment is made or a new sheet is added etc. Is it possible to link these certain areas of the title block together so I can alter it on all layouts in one go? I thought about maybe using a dynamic block or just placing it in model space and having viewports in the appropriate area on the layouts? Any ideas, tips or comments?

[BIGAL]

You can certainly change all layout title blocks in one go and can change as many attributes as you like also with retieving info from the layouts etc as you go I read the layout name.

 

Here is an example that changes two blocks in a layout. One I hacked at moment changes 19 different items a massive change was required like renumbering revisions etc.

 

; changes to issued for construction
: thanks to lee mac for original code
(vl-load-com)
; 1.  Get current date in mm/dd/yy format.
(defun ddmmyy (/ x today)
    (setvar "cmdecho" 0)
    (setq x (getvar "CDATE"))                 ; get current date
    (setq today ( rtos x 2 4))                    ; convert to a string
    (setq date (strcat (substr today 7 2) "."    (substr today 5 2) "." (substr today 3 2) ))
)

(setq oldtag1 "DRAWING_STATUS") ;attribute tag name
(setq newstr1 "ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION")
(setq oldtag2 "REV_NO")  ;attribute tag name
(setq newstr2 "0")
(setq ss1 (ssget "x"  '((0 . "INSERT") (2 . "DA1DRTXT"))))
(setq inc (sslength ss1))
(repeat inc      
(foreach att (vlax-invoke (vlax-ename->vla-object (ssname SS1 (setq inc (1- inc)) )) 'getattributes)
(if (= oldtag1 (strcase (vla-get-tagstring att)))
(vla-put-textstring att newstr1) 
) ; end if
(if (= oldtag2 (strcase (vla-get-tagstring att)))
(vla-put-textstring att newstr2) 
) ; end if
) ; end for
) ;end repeat
(setq oldtag1 "REV-NO")
(setq newstr1 "0")
(ddmmyy)
(setq oldtag2 "DATE")
(setq newstr2 date)
(setq oldtag3 "AMENDMENT")
(setq newstr3 "ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION")
(setq ss2 (ssget "x"  '((0 . "INSERT") (2 . "REVTABLE"))))
(setq inc (sslength ss2))
(repeat inc
(foreach att (vlax-invoke (vlax-ename->vla-object (ssname ss2 (setq inc (1- inc)))) 'getattributes)
(if (= oldtag1 (strcase (vla-get-tagstring att)))
(vla-put-textstring att newstr1) 
)
(if (= oldtag2 (strcase (vla-get-tagstring att)))
(vla-put-textstring att newstr2) 
)
(if (= oldtag3 (strcase (vla-get-tagstring att)))
(vla-put-textstring att newstr3) 
)
)
)
(setq ss1 nil)
(setq ss2 nil)
(princ)

[Calc]

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately I'm limited to Autocad LT.

[steven-g]

I use the viewports idea, each different sheet size has it's own title block, but they all have the same basic title block size, any drawing information that is specific to that sheet is on the sheet (things like sheet description) in it's own attributed block, but anything that is specific to the project (like job number, site adress, revision) is set up in model space and seen through a viewport lined up over the title block. Also things like Notes/Legends are in model space and are viewed through a viewport. I do actually need to redo it all and put the title block logo's etc. into model space as an X-ref.

[Calc]

That seems to be the go. It still means I have to change the sheet numbers manually if one is inserted into the mix but that's a rarity, as sheets are usually added to the end rather than the middle. Is it possible to freeze the layers in model space and thaw them in that specific view port?

[Dana W]

That seems to be the go. It still means I have to change the sheet numbers manually if one is inserted into the mix but that's a rarity, as sheets are usually added to the end rather than the middle. Is it possible to freeze the layers in model space and thaw them in that specific view port?

That is possible. I will let someone who uses that feature explain how, since I don't use it so often that I can be sure I can explain it correctly.

 

 

i am glad I do architectural drawings. One of the foremost standards of architectural drawings are that ALL sheets in a set are the same size. If someone wants a smaller set, say for redlining, they get "WIndow", shrink to fit but its still every page the same size.

 

I normally use xref-ed borderline/title blocks. That way, I can change or add revisions, and other things that will be the same for every page, in the xref dwg file for the borderline/title block. I simply make a copy of the previous layout tab when I need a new page. Everything including the xref copies over.

Like you said, I still have to update the page numbers when adding, but that is usually at the end.

 

I throw red Swingline staplers at people who make me add pages in the middle.

[steven-g]

That seems to be the go. It still means I have to change the sheet numbers manually if one is inserted into the mix but that's a rarity, as sheets are usually added to the end rather than the middle. Is it possible to freeze the layers in model space and thaw them in that specific view port?

Unfortunately that works the other way round, you can freeze layers in a viewport. If this is to stop the titles showing in model space then no , I just have the block at a fixed point of in the negative quadrant of model space.

[Dana W]

Unfortunately that works the other way round, you can freeze layers in a viewport. If this is to stop the titles showing in model space then no , I just have the block at a fixed point of in the negative quadrant of model space.

Yes, it is that way round, of course. I just meant that it is possible to manipulate layers just for a particular viewport.

 

Personally, I can't get my head around having paperspace elements like title blocks in modelspace, so I don't have to deal with these sorts of work-arounds. If I want different title blocks on certain layouts within the same drawing, I use a different xref.

 

One of my clients who requires me to use his dwt templates has three different companies, one for drafting and two for fabrication. I have to change the drawing logo, among other things, depending on what and if he is fabricating.

 

He started out with three title block xref templates. I fixed him so he only has one template with several Logo and name/address blocks in the xref dwt.

[steven-g]

Having some elements in model space does make life a whole lot easier, you don't have to go through and update each sheet when a revision is changed. Apparently sheet sets are the way to go but I remember something about old dogs and new tricks, woef, besides most of my work never gets above 5 or 6 sheets.

[Dana W]

I'll use 5 or six sheets on one bathroom vanity cabinet. There are a LOT of full size details in custom furniture and cabinets.

[steven-g]

I used to do that, high end bespoke joinery a vanity unit could take months, numerous revisions, and dozens of drawings, that's where I learnt to keep things in model space. but where I am now it's mostly door schedules with the occasional kitchen or cabinet.

[Dana W]

I used to do that, high end bespoke joinery a vanity unit could take months, numerous revisions, and dozens of drawings, that's where I learnt to keep things in model space. but where I am now it's mostly door schedules with the occasional kitchen or cabinet.

Hoo boy. My last actual job (as an employee) back in 2009 was with one of those places. It was nothing to charge $10,000 for one double bowl vanity there. Often, the dovetails and tennons were hand cut. We used to do custom molding profiles too. I still have a catalog dwg with almost 1000 shaper knife profiles, the result of which were only used once or twice. Shape 400 feet of $30.00 LF crown with a $800.00 custom shaper knife set and then put 'em away. All those knives are in a cabinet back at that shop, and still so sharp one could fillet a goldfish on the fly (uh, swim).

[steven-g]

Yeah somewhere around those prices, starting point anyway. Nice to have on your CV (one hyde park) but I enjoy my present work more.

[SuperCAD]

In my titleblocks, I use fields for information that is applied to the job as a whole (i.e. customer name, address, job number, etc.). Any sheet specific information is set up as an attribute and I can change it by double clicking on the titleblock. The attributes will only change on one sheet and the rest of the sheets will keep their attribute settings. Also, I have my sheet number linked to the tab name so when I change the tab name it will automatically update the sheet number.

[cadsmarter]

Someone mentioned it earlier...but I would definitely look into sheet sets with fields. I use them all the time for big and small jobs. You can make changes to the title blocks without opening any drawings and then plot the entire set - without opening a drawing.

Even if you were to only use the plotting functionality - which allows you to plot the full set or whatever drawings you choose - it's a big time saver.

Regards

Paul Stafford

http://cadsmarter.com

[Dinochrome]

I've been searching around for what has changed with attribute editing for a few days now. I'm ahead of the curve for most of my local work group and running a combination of Vanilla 2013 and AcadE 2015. I'd like to insure for myself that I can always still work in 2013 till the rest of the group moves forward to 2015.

 

the gatte command seems to have gone away. [Express tool, right?]

 

-attedit works for my rev block, but not my title block. I'm running over 50 drawings through multibatch. It works great as long as I can write the script

 

Yesterday afternoon it was pointed out that the revblock is not dynamic and that the titleblock is dynamic. Is was put to me that -attedit won't run through the dynamic titleblock.

 

Right now I have just given up and gone back to just old cut-n-paste / edit attributes manually.

 

I don't have a red Swingline stapler to throw at anyone.... (I do have one of those big monstrous Aceliners from the early '70s though)

 

TIA,

Bill