Thanks everyone for your input, it gets the mind racing. I really appreciate it. I think Kerry's idea will work better for my application, but let me explain more what I'm trying to accomplish.
I am creating a callout that is... multipurpose if you will. This is for calling out the size of a column, for calling out a dead load/snow load and for calling out deck elevations. It has three purposes so I need to keep it general but specific. Following me so far
So, the callout must have a line below it, roughly an eighth of an inch from the corner of the column, point of intersection on trusses for loads or corner of deck for elevations. The line must stretch to the end of the callout.
For the column callout, the line has to stretch to the end of; TS 4 x 4 x 1/4"
For the dead load/snow load; #DL750
For the deck elevation; DBE = 23'-4"
So, I need to setq the string length of whatever text is entered, then insert it into an .attdef block.
I then want to create the .attdef block and insert it at the insertion point (i.e. the corner of the column, intersection at trusses or corner of deck)
And then, insert a line from the insertion point to end of the text, keeping the line separate from the .attdef block so as to stretch it if needed. (redesigns, updating, etc.)
I think Sinc has the right idea of creating the .attdef block and grouping the line with the block.
My question then is, can I insert a getstring like the following;
(setq contt (getstring "\nEnter top line callout:"))
(setq contb (getstring "\nEnter bottom line callout or return for none:"))
(if (= contb nil)
(setq contb "")
);end if
into a .attdef command like;
(progn
(command ".attdef" "" "TS---x---x-1/4" "Column" "TS 4 x 4 x 1/4" (polar pt-04 (+ ang2 (* pi 0.5)) lng-4) angd)
(setq sset-1 (ssadd (entlast) sset-1))
(command ".attdef" "" "---" "Bottom-Note" "" "j" "tl" (polar pt-04 (+ ang2 (* pi 1.5)) lng-4) angd)
(setq sset-1 (ssadd (entlast) sset-1))
);;;end progn
Then, add a line the length of pt-01 (insert point) to contt (text string)
And then group them together
Is any of this making sense
I hope so, don't know how else to explain this.
And if so, how