Topic: Block Replace - Simple question. Complex answer?

[slappy]

Looking for the method to replace an existing block with an another definition.

In active drawing, BlockB already exist, replace BlockA with BlockB.

doing this in VB.Net

I'm attempted to rename BlockA via it's BTR, but I get a "eDuplicateRecordName".  I understand why it's erroring just not how to work around it.

All comments appreciated.

Thanks
Chris

[David Hall]

I thik you are going to have to search for all instances of A and erase/Replace with B

[David Hall]

I guess it should be said that when you grab each instance of A, you get the insertion point and scale and rotation, then erase, insert B and apply captured values.

[mohnston]

BlockReference objects have a BlockTableRecord property that can be set.
I haven't tried that but it's worth a shot.

[David Hall]

mark, I thought there was something like that, but I couldn't find it.  Having said that, I think I was looking in the wrong spot

[Bryco]

db.WblockCloneObjects(new ObjectIdCollection(new ObjectId[] { bt[btr.Name] }),
                    db.BlockTableId, new IdMapping(), DuplicateRecordCloning.Replace, false);

Try this, I use it to updaye blocks in an xref from another drawing.

[LE3]

don't eat vbnet, just c#, but you can do something in the steps below:
1. make a selection of the blocks to change.
2. open for read the block source.
3. open forr write modelspace block table record.
4. then go over all the object ids in the selection set and open for write each BlockReference and just set the BlockTableRecord to the block source object id.
maybe?

[Jeff H]

Threw this together real quick but is a simple example to get you started

Create a new drawing and draw a circle then create new block named "C" then insert multiple references

Create a rectangle and create a block named "Rec"

Then run this code and all circles will turn into rectangle

Code: [Select]

  <CommandMethod("ReplaceBlocks")> _
    Public Sub ReplaceBlocks()
        Dim db As Database = HostApplicationServices.WorkingDatabase
        Using tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction
            Dim bt As BlockTable = db.BlockTableId.GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead)
            Dim btrCircle As BlockTableRecord = bt("C").GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead)
            Dim btrRectangle As BlockTableRecord = bt("Rec").GetObject(OpenMode.ForRead)
            Dim objIdColl As ObjectIdCollection = btrCircle.GetBlockReferenceIds(True, False)
            For Each objId As ObjectId In objIdColl
                Dim bref As BlockReference = objId.GetObject(OpenMode.ForWrite)
                bref.BlockTableRecord = btrRectangle.ObjectId
            Next
            tr.Commit()
        End Using
    End Sub

[Jeff H]

Also using the code above will use each individual references scale and rotation

[Glenn R]

Attributes anyone?

[Jeff H]

Also That simple example did not take in consideration of dynamic Blocks

[kaefer]

Attributes anyone?

What about them? Did you try ATTSYNC on a block reference when the definition contains none?

<alien> Der gewählte Block verfügt über keine Attribute.</alien>  The choosen block has no attributes. Such lies.

Cheers, Thorsten

[slappy]

Code: [Select]

                bref.BlockTableRecord = btrRectangle.ObjectId


This was the bit I was looking for.  I'll work my code around this idea and see what hatches.  Thanks fro.

To touch on some of the other comments.
No dynamics
No Attributes
Block is cloned from side database then used to replace in active file.  No selection needed.

don't eat vbnet, just c#

I like VB.Net, It stems from my early basic days.  c# is just odd.  I can understand it but it's more of a coders code, and I'm just a small time hacker.

Thanks all for your input.

Chris

[Bryco]

In that case you may want to use WblockCloneObjects (which was totally inappropriate before).
If you open the database,grab the entities from the block b,  WblockCloneObjects those enties to the new drawing database (neither need to be open) block a. Then rename the block if necessary.

[slappy]

In that case you may want to use WblockCloneObjects (which was totally inappropriate before).
If you open the database,grab the entities from the block b,  WblockCloneObjects those enties to the new drawing database (neither need to be open) block a. Then rename the block if necessary.

I am using WblockCloneObjects, however, I can only add the block to the database, Its the replacing part that is throwing me.

Chris