modifying blocks with multiple instances

[james.126519]

I have dynamic blocks that may be inserted well over 100 times in a drawing. is there any good way to deal with modifying the base block without having to wait so long for the drawing to come back when i save and close block editor? sometimes it never comes back and i have to force Autocad to exit, re-open and start over..

[artisteroi]

I have dynamic blocks that may be inserted well over 100 times in a drawing. is there any good way to deal with modifying the base block without having to wait so long for the drawing to come back when i save and close block editor? sometimes it never comes back and i have to force Autocad to exit, re-open and start over..

first save as a new file
use the quick select to select all instances of the block, go to edit menu, copy with base point, 0,0 enter.

now delete the selction of blocks. they no longer exist in model space. There is still an instance in the database however.

open the block editor and browse the window to the block you want. make the changes you want in the editor and save the block and close the editor.

now go back to the edit menu and paste, insertion point 0,0. cad will get the new block definition from the database to re-insert the items. it will ask you "redefine the block" say yes. you should now have the new block modified for all instances.

this can tax the database, so make sure you save first. if the file is very large it can cause memory problems. you still have to wait for it to update but since you are already in model space there shouldn't be problems with the drawing coming back. good luck

[NEaton]

Since memory appears to be an issue I would take the extra step to PURGE the block definition after copy with basepoint then save the original file.

In a new drawing paste the blocks and make the needed change to the block in the block editor and update the block definition. Select all the blocks and copy with basepoint and insert into the original drawing. This way you are dealing with a smaller file size so memory isn't as much of an issue when updating the block definition.

Nancy

first save as a new file
use the quick select to select all instances of the block, go to edit menu, copy with base point, 0,0 enter.

now delete the selction of blocks. they no longer exist in model space. There is still an instance in the database however.

open the block editor and browse the window to the block you want. make the changes you want in the editor and save the block and close the editor.

now go back to the edit menu and paste, insertion point 0,0. cad will get the new block definition from the database to re-insert the items. it will ask you "redefine the block" say yes. you should now have the new block modified for all instances.

this can tax the database, so make sure you save first. if the file is very large it can cause memory problems. you still have to wait for it to update but since you are already in model space there shouldn't be problems with the drawing coming back. good luck

[artisteroi]

that won't work though, if you purge the block then theree will be no definition in the database, so nothing to alter in the block editor