Renaming a block using LISP

[mikelf]

I have a block I would like to rename, but the old name isn't consistant.

I was thinking of using (entget (car (entsel))) to dump the data to command line and then picking out what I need and somehow renaming the block from there.

This is what I get when I dump data:

Command: (entget (car (entsel)))

Select object: ((-1 . <Entity name: -401d0390>) (0 . "INSERT") (330 . <Entity 
name: -401d03f0>) (5 . "E") (100 . "AcDbEntity") (67 . 0) (410 . "Model") (8 . 
"Border1") (100 . "AcDbBlockReference") (66 . 1) (2 . "A1-TITLEBLOCK") (10 
-10.0 -10.0 0.0) (41 . 1.0) (42 . 1.0) (43 . 1.0) (50 . 0.0) (70 . 0) (71 . 0) 
(44 . 0.0) (45 . 0.0) (210 0.0 0.0 1.0))

The relevant information I need is (0 . "INSERT") and (2 . "A1-TITLEBLOCK).

I need to rename whatever (2 . " " ) happens to be, to something else.

Ideas?

[rkmcswain]

You can't rename an INSERT.
You'll have to operate on the block definition.

Sample:

(vla-put-Name
  (vla-item
    (vla-get-Blocks
      (vla-get-ActiveDocument
        (vlax-get-acad-object)
      )
    )
  "333") ;;;<-- old block name
"NewName") ;;;< -- new block name

[mikelf]

Thanks! Works great!

The only problem is that I don't know that name of the block because it may be different in each drawing, but the block that needs to be renamed will be in a selection set (because they user has to manually select the block). Is there a way to take the block name out of the selection set (it's show in my first post as (2 . "A1-TITLEBLOCK") and then run it in the code you showed me?

[rkmcswain]

Thanks! Works great!

The only problem is that I don't know that name of the block because it may be different in each drawing, but the block that needs to be renamed will be in a selection set (because they user has to manually select the block). Is there a way to take the block name out of the selection set (it's show in my first post as (2 . "A1-TITLEBLOCK") and then run it in the code you showed me?

Sure, add these three lines at the top, and then change the "333" to name.

(setq blki (entsel))
(setq obj (vlax-ename->vla-object (car blki)))
(setq name (vla-get-EffectiveName obj))

[clovis]

...
(setq obj (vlax-ename->vla-object (car blki)))
...

and add
(vlax-release-object obj)

[BlackBox]

and add
(vlax-release-object obj)

Isn't this only needed for objects outside of AutoCAD...?

Copied from 2009 Help: Developer Documentation

vlax-release-object

Releases a drawing object

(vlax-release-object obj)

When an AutoLISP routine no longer uses an object outside AutoCAD, such as a Microsoft Excel object, call the (vlax-release-object) function to make sure that the associated application closes properly. Objects released with (vlax-release-object...) may not be released immediately. The actual release may not happen until the next automatic garbage collection occurs. You can call (gc) directly to force the garbage collection to occur at a specific location within your code. However, calling (gc) may degrade performance, and it is recommended that you avoid placing calls to (gc) in locations where it is likely to be called many times in a row, such as within loops.

If an object-associated application does not close after calling the (gc) function, the (vlax-release-object) function was not called for all objects outside AutoCAD.

Arguments

obj

A VLA-object.

After release, the drawing object is no longer accessible through obj.

Return Values

Unspecified.

[RobertB]

Isn't this only needed for objects outside of AutoCAD...?

Yes, I agree with that statement. There is no need to release AutoCAD's own objects. In fact, you can geta few interesting fatal errors when going a bit too far.

[BlackBox]

... good to hear it from someone such as you Robert.

I'm feeling the love RK... feeling the looove.

[rkmcswain]

I'm feeling the love RK... feeling the looove.

Sorry - did not mean it that way.
Message removed.

[BlackBox]

Sorry - did not mean it that way.
Message removed.

That saddens me, RK.

You've not offended me, nor do I feel disrespected in any way. Not that you care, but I'm former US Army AIRBORNE, I don't think you could offend me if you tried. Ha, ha!

Contrary to what you may have thought, I enjoyed your comment. It keeps me grounded - despite my being correct, and that I beat RobertB to the punch, I still got looked over in your statement!
(You're still the man, RobertB, I just beat the man on that one! LOL)

Your post actually made my day, in a dark humor kind of way.

If possible, I'd encourage you to put your post back in, I really don't mind.

ALL IN FAVOR OF RK REMOVING POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, SAY AYE...!???