Can Fields be used to Count?

[daniel.191403]

So I'm wondering if Fields can be used to count with perhaps a Lisp routine?? If you look at the attached drawing you will see what I'm after. And if not fields then perhaps some other method???

Right now in order to save time I've creating a sequentially pre-numbered series of Door & Window & Room Tags all with a range of invisible attributes for data extraction into schedules accordingly for quick placement into drawings, and I keep them in a block library file. Pretty normal stuff.

The cherry on the pie would be to only need to create one Tag block definition for each kind of Tag and place them on a custom Tool Palette [as I'm showing in the drawing] and as you drop any of the Tags into the drawing it recognizes the presence of other same type of Tags already in the drawing and then automatically increase the number value to the next available number for that Tag type.

Sort of like the Table column 'count' fill process....i think.

Since i'm not going to migrate over to Revit or ACA I'm wondering if someone has been able to figure out this little handy diddy in AC???

[rkmcswain]

You don't need fields necessarily. You can do this with a lisp routine, just store the 'current number' as Xdata or something else that stays with the drawing.

[daniel.191403]

rk- thanks for the reply. I've never attempted to create a lisp routine so I'm wondering if this auto counting function is something you would consider worth the effort to learn to do? Maybe you can define for me what "current number as Xdata" means in connection to lisp writing and how they would create the function i've describe, if its not too much trouble.

thanks in advance. d.

EDIT POST: Okay, so i get what xdata is: "AutoCAD attaches XData to objects in drawings and this data allows information to be associated with specific objects."

SOOOoooo, now i need to understand how this xdata can be 'intelligent' so that a sequential numbering function can happen!?!

[dotson]

Daniel emailed requesting information on how ToolPac's Insert > Incrementing works so I'm posting the reply here.

ToolPac Block > Insert > Incrementing

1) You pick a block definition from a list.
2) If more than one tag exists in the block, you
pick the tag name from a list. Only one tag
is automatic, nothing to choose from.
3) You specify the increment value, default is 1.
4) You specify the starting value, default is 1.

You then rapidly pick points in the drawing, with each
pick a block is inserted and the attribute is filled with
the value at that point. The command prompt displays the
number about to be placed like ...

Pick location for [DOORTAG] with value of [100] (Esc to cancel):
Pick location for [DOORTAG] with value of [101] (Esc to cancel):
Pick location for [DOORTAG] with value of [102] (Esc to cancel):

So it places them and fills the attribute as quickly as you can
pick points. Pressing ESC completes the process.