Query on attribute.

[yellowplanet]

Hi there,

 

I have several blocks which have an attribute called BlkNo. This attribute is used simply to give the block a number as the user inserts it. In the corner of each drawing is a piece of text that the user has to update to show the last used block number.

 

Is there a quick way I can do a check on the drawing to find the highest number used in the BlkNo attribute?

 

I've just done a data extraction which worked and gave me the answer I wanted but it's a bit of a long winded way of getting it.

 

Is there some sort of query I can run within autocad that gives an answer on the command line?

 

Cheers guys,

 

YP

[Dipali]

If The No Is The Amount Of Blocks Inserted. Than In That Case You Can Select All The Specific Block With Filter Or Qselect Option & Get The Totla No Of Blocks Insrted In The Drawing.

[yellowplanet]

Dipali,

 

No, I want to check what the highest number is that's been used in the BLKNO attribute.

 

Cheers,

 

YP

[dbroada]

AFAIK, plain AutoCAD doesn't offer this facility. It is a relatively trivial thing to do in VBA (I have considered it several times) and probably LISP. Despite its usefullness to me I don't currently have time to investigate but somebody else may be along in a while with help. (providing you are not using LT)

[yellowplanet]

It's OK, I think I've come up with a solution.

 

I've used data extraction but instead of sending it out to an xls file I've added a table to the drawing.

 

I've made the table really small and placed it near the text that needs to be kept up to date. I've also changed it's layer to defpoints so that it doesn't print.

 

Once the table is on, any time the drawing has been updated the user just has to select Tools/Data Links/Update Data Links and click on the table.

 

It's a good enough solution for me at the moment.

 

Cheers,

 

YP

[dbroada]

we used the symbol table to give the "next available" number, then when you add a symbol to the drawing you can alter the chart and it is clear for everyone.

 

If only people would follow the rules is would have been a very workable solution....

[MaxwellEdison]

The problem is, no matter how 'idiot proof' you make a design, nature invariably produces a "better" idiot. To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park: "Stupidity finds a way". Or lazyness, both are applicable.

[yellowplanet]

Actually, I've just been testing this table I've added and it down't work. Problem is I'd have to create a table for every single drawing. I thought it was going to be something I could simply insert and it would check for the appropriate attributes. If you do that it still looks at the drawing you first created the table in.

 

I think I'm going round in circles here and have probably waisted a whole day on it.