can Edit blocknames outside the drawing environment ?

[hmarji]

I have a file that has about 500 blocknames, those blocks are not saved on my hard drive they only exist inside that one big drawing, my issue is that i need to edit names but outside autocad (without opening the mother drawing )...  anyone ? 

thanks in advanced, 

[dmfrazier]

You could DXFOut the drawing, edit the DXF file, and then DXFIn.  (But perhaps this doesn't qualify, since you would have to open the dwg.)

Otherwise, I think that would require custom programming.  You could try posting here:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Visual-LISP-AutoLISP-and-General/bd-p/130

Just curious - why do you need to do this without opening the drawing?

[Charles_Shade]

Any way to do so thru ADCENTER?

[dmfrazier]

Good thought, but I think the answer is "no".

As far as I can tell, you can edit blocks in an unopened dwg via ADC (which actually opens the file while you're in the Block Editor), but you cannot rename the blocks.

[Charles_Shade]

I did try and you are right but you can do a Save Block As while in the BE and change them up that way.

Unfortunatley now you have twice the Blocks

[dmfrazier]

And, even though it may not seem like it, doing this still involves opening the dwg.

[Charles_Shade]

Doh! Head Slap. I did have the Drawing open to do that. Thanks for seeing the obvious

Even if you navigate to a Drawing File in Adcenter and just choose the Block it opens the Drawing.

I too am interested in why the DWG is not to be opened.

[dgorsman]

Probably so somebody doesn't need an AutoCAD license to do the work.

[jggerth1]

license issue?  maybe --  the reality is that it's impossible to edit the content of a file without somehow opening the file for reading and writing. 

So if the question is how to rename blocks in drawing A without opening drawing A in Acad, then there are a couple of possible options -- ObjectDBX programming would be the most reliable, but still requires an Acad license.

An alternative would be to install the free Draftsight program, opent he dwg file with that application and rename the blocks there.  that would let a non-skilled person do the job without using up a valuable autoCAD license.

If running a script after hours or over lunch would suffice, then that's the simplest route to take.

[hmarji]

the thing is that I wanna change the name of so many blocks, the only way that I know is using REN command, but it's too unpractical because I have to scroll back to the new block name after everytime I hit "Rename to:" . I personally dont like the way REN behave and have had it dealing with it.

P.S. to all those who replied I really appriciate your enlightment, help and efforts that you had to offer. you guys ROCK !!! 🙂 

[hmarji]

JGerth,
Thank for the replay, but the license is not the issue here, I remember starting to read about ObjectDBX about a month ago, there is some training including in the Acad 2011-12 product help, do you have a better tutorials ? coz i think they are kind of brief ??
thanks again !! 🙂

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I know is using REN command, but it's too unpractical because I have to scroll back

Try to enter the command _-RENAME (including underline and dash)... So as long as you know the names of the blockdefinitions to rename you can write a simple script (e.g. using Excel). Starting then the script renames all blockdef's with one click 😉

- alfred -