How do I insert a block using AutoLISP

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

This question will consist of two parts:
1. How do I insert a block using AutoLISP and
2. How can I build "string" of characters to work as browse search path if it constantly changes.


Part One:
To insert this block I want to use the browse feature linking to the origin because this way if the block has changed it will update upon insertion.

Part Two"
When I use the browse feature to find a block I would like to input manually the sections of an address the address path that I am looking at has a variable that always is different from job to job.
ex. V:\\XXX\\XXXX - First Job\\Datum.dwg vs. V:\\XXX\XXXX - Second Job\\Datum.dwg vs. V:\\XXX\\XXXX - Third Job\\Datum.dwg

XXX\\... (stays the same)
....\\Datum.dwg (stays the same)
...XXXX - First Job (would always be different)

Is there a way to compile an address path by just specifying the 4 x's (XXXX) and ignoring the " - First Job\\" part?

Thank you

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Any suggestions???
Anyone???

[Opie]

How would you normally insert a block? Do you know how to do that from the command line?

You could look at the getfiled AutoLISP function to allow you to graphically browse for a file or a folder.

[rkmcswain]

Is there a way to compile an address path by just specifying the 4 x's (XXXX) and ignoring the " - First Job\\" part?
Thank you

Use (strcat) to build the desired string

(setq num "7734\\")
(setq begin "\\\\server\\path\\")
(setq inter "projects\\")
(setq name "myblock")
(setq full (strcat begin inter num name))
;;; full = "\\\\server\\path\\projects\\7734\\myblock"

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

How would you normally insert a block? Do you know how to do that from the command line?

Please correct me if I'm wrong...when I use the regular (command "insert" ) I am able to only insert the block that is in my drawing, I wouldn't be able to browse for a block.

You could look at the getfiled AutoLISP function to allow you to graphically browse for a file or a folder.

Please correct me if I'm wrong...if I use the getfiled function I would insert the block into the drawing which later I can insert using the (command "insert"), the drawback of this is (command "insert") would never insert the block from the origin, hence if I update my block I wouldn't see the changes.

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Use (strcat) to build the desired string

(setq num "7734\\")
(setq begin "\\\\server\\path\\")
(setq inter "projects\\")
(setq name "myblock")
(setq full (strcat begin inter num name))
;;; full = "\\\\server\\path\\projects\\7734\\myblock"

The "catch" is in the fact that using your example "NUM" variable constantly changes from being #### (4 digits) to ####-abcd (4 digits-text)
I would like to specify ONLY #### (4 digits) in the initial user input eliminating the "-abcd"

[Opie]

Please correct me if I'm wrong...when I use the regular (command "insert" ) I am able to only insert the block that is in my drawing, I wouldn't be able to browse for a block.

Okay, you are wrong. The (command "insert") will insert a block either from the drawing or will search in your Support Files Search Path for a drawing containing the same name of the block. You can also specify a directory and filename combination when inserting a block.

Please correct me if I'm wrong...if I use the getfiled function I would insert the block into the drawing which later I can insert using the (command "insert"), the drawback of this is (command "insert") would never insert the block from the origin, hence if I update my block I wouldn't see the changes.

Again, you are wrong. The getfiled function provides a graphical interface allowing the user to navigate to a desired file. It returns that directory / filename combination to your AutoLISP routine. It does not insert any block from that function. You would need to handle that string value in your program to do what you want it to do.

I only suggested you write down your workflow on how you would manually do this task. Once you have this workflow written out, you can begin to start converting those steps into the program you are trying to create.

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Thank you for correcting me...

In my case the block that I would like to insert is not in just one file directory it is attached to every job folder.

What am I doing wrong in the following routine

(command "insert")
Enter block name or [?] J:\\123\\4567\\00\\Prod\\Xref\\Datum_Grid\\1234567_DATUM.dwg
Invalid block name

I tried entering "?" and then pasting the address...but no luck

[tedg]

Thank you for correcting me...

In my case the block that I would like to insert is not in just one file directory it is attached to every job folder.

What am I doing wrong in the following routine

(command "insert")
Enter block name or [?] J:\\123\\4567\\00\\Prod\\Xref\\Datum_Grid\\1234567_DATUM.dwg
Invalid block name

I tried entering "?" and then pasting the address...but no luck

Are you doing this on the command line or in a lisp?
Is the block named "1234567_DATUM"?

Try on the command line: (note the single slashes, no "dwg" suffix)

-insert
J:\123\4567\00\Prod\Xref\Datum_Grid\1234567_DATUM

Or in a lisp:

(command "-insert" "J:\\123\\4567\\00\\Prod\\Xref\\Datum_Grid\\1234567_DATUM" ...

[fixo]

Ted, I'm not sure but perhaps like this would not work?

(command "-insert" "blockname=J:/123/4567/00/Prod//Xref/Datum_Grid/1234567_DATUM.dwg" ...)