topic Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks in Collaboration with other software

20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Anonymous — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:18:54 GMT

If I export a floor plan that has 20 identical windows, the resulting DWG file has 20 different blocks -- one for each window. Is there any way to get identical objects to output as identical blocks -- outside of an AutoCAD-based conversion program?

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Karl Ottenstein — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:38:59 GMT

Jay wrote:
Is there any way to get identical objects to output as identical blocks

Not that I know of. It would technically be feasible to generate a single block for identical windows, e.g. - but it could slow down the export tremendously, which is why I imagine GS did not do it.

(Consider what AC would have to do to determine that the windows [eg] are identical: compare every parameter of one window against every parameter of every other window of the same type in the project. A bit of comparison there - but what about when there are differences? Then, the next such window is compared against all other windows. Etc. Export now is proportional in time to the size of the model. Export with common blocks generated could at worst take time proportional to the square of the size.)

Karl

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

TomWaltz — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:13:58 GMT

I could live with it if it's not for every translation, but it would be really nice to have the option. We get killed on DWG deliverables where clients want DWGs created with very detailed requirement standards. We end up having to swap out hundreds of identical, differently-named blocks.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Shivang Rajvir — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:45:10 GMT

I think the issue is with the objects we need to change after export to *.dwg

The solution is there for change in layer, colour and line type into dwg.
When you are sure you want to export the file you can check off the Auto ID Increase check box from Miscellaneous settings from project preferences.

This would allow you to change one block and get effect in all similer/identicle blocks.

Path : - Options -> Project Preferences -> Miscellaneous -> Check Box Named Auto ID Increase (off it)

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Srinivas — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:15:00 GMT

Shivang wrote:
This would allow you to change one block and get effect in all similer/identicle blocks.

Path : - Options -> Project Preferences -> Miscellaneous -> Check Box Named Auto ID Increase (off it)

Even if you switch off the auto Id increase and then place doors and windows with the same ID number, archicad will export them as a block with unique name.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Anonymous — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:04:41 GMT

It looks like I'll have to write an AutoLisp program to clean things up on the AutoCAD side. I'll post it if I can ever find time to write it.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Srinivas — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:10:59 GMT

Jay wrote:
It looks like I'll have to write an AutoLisp program to clean things up on the AutoCAD side. I'll post it if I can ever find time to write it.

Jay,

I don't have autocad at home to check but I feel that there is an option in the Express tools menu with "Replace Block Name" that should be of some help. Let me know if it is working.

-srinivas.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Anonymous — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:17:07 GMT

Vizag,

That's not bad, but it only does one block at a time. However, I can easily steal the code and modify it to work on a selection set. Thanks for the tip!

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Srinivas — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:20:00 GMT

Jay wrote:
Vizag,

Vizag is the place where I live, a beautiful coastal city

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Anonymous — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:26:45 GMT

Oops! I just glanced up and saw "Vizag". I looked for the BLOCKREPLACE program in the Express Tools folder and it looks like they compiled it into one of the ARX files -- so I can't steal the code. But that's okay, I need to mental exercise anyway.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Shivang Rajvir — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:53:20 GMT

Srinivas wrote:
Even if you switch off the auto Id increase and then place doors and windows with the same ID number, archicad will export them as a block with unique name.

Agreed but if you place same parametric doors whithout changing its orientation and flip and export with the Translator : "as is output"; the block will carry same kind of the doors or windows.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Srinivas — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:18:40 GMT

Shivang wrote:
Agreed but if you place same parametric doors whithout changing its orientation and flip and export with the Translator : "as is output"; the block will carry same kind of the doors or windows.

Not Quite sure what you mean by "as is output" can you kindly let me know. am I missing some thing.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Srinivas — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:24:41 GMT

Srinivas wrote:
Shivang wrote:
Agreed but if you place same parametric doors whithout changing its orientation and flip and export with the Translator : "as is output"; the block will carry same kind of the doors or windows.
Not Quite sure what you mean by "as is output" can you kindly let me know. am I missing some thing.

By "As is output" you mean to say use the translator "For as is output" that's still not helping it still exports blocks with unique names, I just checked.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Srinivas — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:25:47 GMT

Jay,

You might want to try this program, that's a shareware for a 30 day trial period.

http://www.caddproductivity.com/blockreplace.htm

Tom did you look into this program already, this will definetly save time in replacing the blocks.

Re: 20 Identical AC11 Windows = 20 AutoCAD Blocks

Ralph Wessel — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:32:10 GMT

Karl wrote:
Jay wrote:
Is there any way to get identical objects to output as identical blocks
Not that I know of. It would technically be feasible to generate a single block for identical windows, e.g. - but it could slow down the export tremendously, which is why I imagine GS did not do it.

That kind of comparison is quick and easy, and might even prove faster in practice than creating a unique block for every window/object.