Author Topic: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation  (Read 17652 times)

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It's Alive!

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #30 on: October 15, 2008, 05:51:11 PM »
You guys are fast, I’m still working on mine

CAB

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #31 on: October 15, 2008, 07:25:43 PM »
Wow, that looks good. :-o
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T.Willey

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #32 on: October 15, 2008, 07:26:44 PM »
Dan is cheating though.  That isn't plan dcl.
Tim

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #33 on: October 15, 2008, 08:10:04 PM »
Dan is cheating though.  That isn't plan dcl.

 :evil:

fixo

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #34 on: October 16, 2008, 05:44:13 AM »
Try this version.
It was finding the file but there was a bug in the DCL syntax.


Thanks, Alan
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Oleg

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Arthur Gan

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #35 on: October 16, 2008, 05:53:54 AM »
I tried with this edited version, the .dcl works but then the program terminates with the attached error.
Is there any prior settings needed before running the program?

T.Willey

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #36 on: October 16, 2008, 12:32:34 PM »
Can you show a picture of the finished table you desire?  Maybe we can help better with that information.
Tim

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Arthur Gan

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #37 on: October 16, 2008, 09:06:02 PM »
Hi pietari,
The DCL works now but after it prompts to insert the table, it bumps out with the error message.
No table was inserted. Can you help?

Try this version.
It was finding the file but there was a bug in the DCL syntax.


Thanks, Alan
Regards,

Oleg

~'J'~

Arthur Gan

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #38 on: October 16, 2008, 09:21:27 PM »
Here's a brief output format I made from Ms-Excel.
The Item Description is the Block Name and the Area, Model Name, Cost... are the attributes extracted from the blocks.
The totals and quantities are important as it'll serve this program objective.
For AutoCAD's EATTEXT, it does not provide the total and quantities so I'm sure AutoCAD users also find this version useful too.
Can you show a picture of the finished table you desire?  Maybe we can help better with that information.

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #39 on: October 16, 2008, 10:09:50 PM »
So from every block you would only need to extract the attribute tags
Area, Model Name, and Cost?

Arthur Gan

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #40 on: October 17, 2008, 02:11:12 AM »
the blocks and attribute tags are variables, one may select certain blocks and certain of the attributes tags to extract only.
the program will be too rigid and limited to use with specific block names and specific attribute tags only.
you see, in a building plan there are room names, furniture, electrical, mechanical, plumbing block symbols...floor tiles.. so the BOM utility should be flexible to allow for selective Blocks and Attribute Tags to be extracted with a quantity and total summary.
the AutoCAD's EATTEXT is what we need in this BOM utility but unfortunately it does not calculate the quantities and totals.
the quantities and totals should also allow an option to break-on Block's category, if possible. ie. Windows/Casement Windows, Windows/Sliding Windows.. etc. the group is Windows and the categories are Casement and Sliding..

fixo

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #41 on: October 17, 2008, 11:33:20 AM »
You guys are fast, I’m still working on mine
The same with me :)

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #42 on: October 17, 2008, 11:49:43 AM »
So this is where it gets tricky..
BTY Eattext will calculate the total number of equal blocks…. Since the output of EatText can be a table entity, the end user can add columns, rows and cells that can contain formulas to do their calculations. See the attached Drawing and picture.

Unfortunately Bricscad does not yet support table entities or the field entities needed to contain the formulas. This would mean that if totals (calculations) are needed,  the code would have to look for a specific attribute tags, I.e. “Cost” and know that the attribute text is a floating point number with a currency precision.  IMHO something this complex is not worth pursuing until those needed entities are implemented, given the dynamic nature of blocks ( it would be nearly impossible to cover everyone’s needs)

The good news is that Table entities and fields seem to be implemented in the ODA libraries. So if a specific company had a library of blocks that conformed to a standard and where specific attributes needed to be calculated the code could be written to look for those specific attributes and perform the calculations needed.



It's Alive!

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #43 on: October 17, 2008, 11:50:59 AM »
You guys are fast, I’m still working on mine
The same with me :)

~'J'~

Copy Cat  :-D

Arthur Gan

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Re: BOM Utility to extract selective attributes from blocks with tabulation
« Reply #44 on: October 17, 2008, 12:59:58 PM »
good to learn of AutoCAD's Table entity and feature to add formulas.
since Bricscad does not have it, i'm not aware of it since most AutoCAD customers do not highlight it to me, this goes to tell how many customers here are aware or knows how to use blocks with attributes!
anyway, i look forward to your finished code..

So this is where it gets tricky..
BTY Eattext will calculate the total number of equal blocks…. Since the output of EatText can be a table entity, the end user can add columns, rows and cells that can contain formulas to do their calculations. See the attached Drawing and picture.

Unfortunately Bricscad does not yet support table entities or the field entities needed to contain the formulas. This would mean that if totals (calculations) are needed,  the code would have to look for a specific attribute tags, I.e. “Cost” and know that the attribute text is a floating point number with a currency precision.  IMHO something this complex is not worth pursuing until those needed entities are implemented, given the dynamic nature of blocks ( it would be nearly impossible to cover everyone’s needs)

The good news is that Table entities and fields seem to be implemented in the ODA libraries. So if a specific company had a library of blocks that conformed to a standard and where specific attributes needed to be calculated the code could be written to look for those specific attributes and perform the calculations needed.