How do I insert a block using AutoLISP

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Both Ted's and Fixo's example routine work!!!
Thank you guys!

Can I please get some help with the second part of my inquiry...

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

[rkmcswain]

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"

Yes, that is the point, you set NUM to whatever you want to at run time.

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Yes, that is the point, you set NUM to whatever you want to at run time.

Yes, I could specify "NUM" variable completely during user input however the problem is it's too much for the user to input...this is what I mean:

For example:
J:/123/4567/Datum_Grid/1234567_DATUM.dwg
Here it's easy the user just enters "1234567" and later breaks it up into two variables

But when there is text to follow the job number it's too much for the user to enter:
J:/123/4567 - Education and Support Center/Datum_Grid/1234567_DATUM.dwg
Here the user would have to enter "4567 - Education and Support Center"

Is there a function of some sort where I could retrieve the text that follows after the number by just specifying the drive "J:/123/4567"
Or any other ideas?

[devitg.89838]

Please check it


inserting-blocks-from-folder - Standard.zip

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Thank you for the assistance of block insertion into drawing.
I would like to get some assistance on the second part of the question quoted below...

Yes, I could specify "NUM" variable completely during user input however the problem is it's too much for the user to input...this is what I mean:

For example:
J:/123/4567/Datum_Grid/1234567_DATUM.dwg
Here it's easy the user just enters "1234567" and later breaks it up into two variables

But when there is text to follow the job number it's too much for the user to enter:
J:/123/4567 - Education and Support Center/Datum_Grid/1234567_DATUM.dwg
Here the user would have to enter "4567 - Education and Support Center"

Is there a function of some sort where I could retrieve the text that follows after the number by just specifying the drive "J:/123/4567"
Or any other ideas?

[tedg]

Thank you for the assistance of block insertion into drawing.
I would like to get some assistance on the second part of the question quoted below...

I think this would work for you, I tried it on a similar file structure and it seemed to work ok.
You may need to add another folder in the structure, I think you have a "Datum_Grid" folder??

From what I'm reading, you have a file structure where you want the user to type a first set of numbers for the first part of a project number and then type a second set of numbers which is another part of the project number, and you have a constant "project name" (suffix) and a block name that uses the first two typed numbers and a constant suffix.

Taken from RK's starter code..

(defun c:test (/ begin inter num projname blk)
(setq begin "J:\\") ;;your drive letter
(setq inter (getstring (prompt "First Numbers??"))) ;;your first project numbers XXX
(setq num (getstring (prompt "Second Numbers??"))) ;;your second project numbers XXXX
(setq projname " - Education and Support Center") ;;your constant project name (suffix)
(setq blk "_datum") ;;your constant block name (suffix)
(setq fullpath (strcat begin inter "\\" num projname "\\" inter num blk)) ;;sets the whole path from info given above
(command "-insert" fullpath "" "" "");;edit according to how you want to handle your insert options
)

Hope this helps.

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Ted,

Sorry for my confusing writing...unfortunately the "suffix" is not a constant

ex.1 123/4567-Education and Support Center
ex.2 222/3333-High Rise Construction Building
ex.3 333/4444-Childrens Hospital

Ex.1 "suffix" = Education and Support Center
Ex.2 "suffix" = High Rise Construction Building
Ex.3 "suffix" = Childrens Hospital

I am fine with asking the user to enter 123/4567 or 222/3333 or 333/4444 because I can combine this into a string (like Ted mentioned)
but when I have to ask the user to enter the "suffix" then this code loses it's value because of a lot of typing on the user side.

If anyone has any other suggestions on how I can achieve this task please share.

I think this would work for you, I tried it on a similar file structure and it seemed to work ok.
You may need to add another folder in the structure, I think you have a "Datum_Grid" folder??

From what I'm reading, you have a file structure where you want the user to type a first set of numbers for the first part of a project number and then type a second set of numbers which is another part of the project number, and you have a constant "project name" (suffix) and a block name that uses the first two typed numbers and a constant suffix.

Taken from RK's starter code..

(defun c:test (/ begin inter num projname blk)
(setq begin "J:\\") ;;your drive letter
(setq inter (getstring (prompt "First Numbers??"))) ;;your first project numbers XXX
(setq num (getstring (prompt "Second Numbers??"))) ;;your second project numbers XXXX
(setq projname " - Education and Support Center") ;;your constant project name (suffix)
(setq blk "_datum") ;;your constant block name (suffix)
(setq fullpath (strcat begin inter "\\" num projname "\\" inter num blk)) ;;sets the whole path from info given above
(command "-insert" fullpath "" "" "");;edit according to how you want to handle your insert options
)

Hope this helps.

[Opie]

Are the number prefixes part of a job or project number? Will there ever be more than one suffix for one set of prefixes?

Ex.1 123/4567-Education and Support Center
Ex.2 123/4567-High Rise Construction Building
Ex.3 123/4567-Childrens Hospital

If this will not happen, you could get a list of folders from a known location. You could then filter out that list by the secondary prefix. Being it would be a parent - child folder structure, it shouldn't be too difficult.

[vladimir.karatsupa982899]

Thank you, that is precisely what I would like to do.

That is correct there will only be one suffix for one set of prefixes...ex 123/4567 is only going to be Education and Support Center.

How do I access a directory to get a list of folders?
In the above example I would have to get into directory 123 then there would be a list of jobs where 4567-Education and Support Center would be one of them.

...you could get a list of folders from a known location. You could then filter out that list by the secondary prefix. Being it would be a parent - child folder structure, it shouldn't be too difficult.

[Opie]

How do you envision this routine to operate? Do you want to request a project number combination? Or have the user browse for the necessary folder?