How to create a block library

[Anonymous]

From: "Chris Ferris"
Subject: Re: (lack of) Consistency in layers
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 1:43 PM

.....................Wait, wait... don't tell me you've had
to deal with the "1" block too?
I had to beat that into my cad users for weeks before they
would listen.
It took an accidental redefinition of over one hundred
elect outlet
into return ducts (both had were an imbedded block named
"1") before
they got the point.........................


In the words of "OLD-CADaver" "This calls for a new
thread.

How do you create, name and manage your block library?

Layer 0? White? Linetype Bylayer? Specific linetypes?
Specific Colors? Layers within blocks? Imbeded Blocks?

Pete

[Anonymous]

Ah ha! No you're cooking with fire!

Any system you come up with for a block library is useless if it doesn't
pass the good ole "Bread Truck" test.

The most affective systems that I have seen only require minimal
documentation for access by newbies and have well documented steps for
modification. The system should be set up systematically so that the
directories should almost guide the user to what they are looking for.

Other than that it comes down to specific industry and office needs.

Cheers,
CMF

Pete Gaudette wrote:

> How about documentation. Most
> people arn't going to come to your company knowing directory
> structure and naming.

[Anonymous]

MODIFICATION!!!!! You let just anyone change your library?


"Chris Ferris" wrote in message
news:7F757A0DF83CA3572A16FA54CA7B4E2F@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
<<<>>for access by newbies and have well documented
steps for
> modification.
>

[Anonymous]

With, and *only* with approval.

I had it so that the person wishing to add a drawing, or change an
existing detail would submit the drawing to a specific directory. At a
certain day per month, we would all review the drawing and choose to
either further modify the drawing, remove it, or add it as is. With the
Director of Engineering having veto power (which he rarely used).

I've found that having everyone involved with the standards process
gives them a sense of pride and attachment to their production drawings,
which benifits all.

Cheers,
CMF

Pete Gaudette wrote:
> MODIFICATION!!!!! You let just anyone change your library?
>
>
> "Chris Ferris" wrote in message
> news:7F757A0DF83CA3572A16FA54CA7B4E2F@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> <<<>>for access by newbies and have well documented
> steps for
>
>>modification.
>>
>
>

[Anonymous]

Sorry I am coming in one the end of this discussion, but I couldn't resist
to put some input. I have been creating a .LSP for about 8 months or better
to deal with all of the common block problems. I am still working on it but
this is what the dialog looks like.

The only problem is tiring to convert an existing library to this new
program. It works with groups, then breaks them into blocks. It allows the
user to create new groups and but blocks in certain groups. When a group is
selected the blocks from that groups populate a list box and then a preview
is shown. When a block from a groups is selected the user has the options
of looking at the details which include drawing name and location and a
brief description of the block which was added by the person who created the
block.
The user can also add a block to that particular groups or modify the
selected block (I may try to make that user specific to keep unwanted
editing of blocks, maybe password protected editing?).
Lastly the user may view a larger slide of the block for better detail.

The preview box has arrows for quick scrolling though the blocks in that
group. Any block created is created on layer "0" but can be inserted on any
layer that exists and can be made any color (I may add a feature for
creating a new layer if it doesn't exist).

It still a work in progress but I'm working on it.

Timothy Spangler

"Pete Gaudette" wrote in message
news:D0AC67CF640CCB5AB5B6CA416F51B99B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> From: "Chris Ferris"
> Subject: Re: (lack of) Consistency in layers
> Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 1:43 PM
>
> .....................Wait, wait... don't tell me you've had
> to deal with the "1" block too?
> I had to beat that into my cad users for weeks before they
> would listen.
> It took an accidental redefinition of over one hundred
> elect outlet
> into return ducts (both had were an imbedded block named
> "1") before
> they got the point.........................
>
>
> In the words of "OLD-CADaver" "This calls for a new
> thread.
>
> How do you create, name and manage your block library?
>
> Layer 0? White? Linetype Bylayer? Specific linetypes?
> Specific Colors? Layers within blocks? Imbeded Blocks?
>
> Pete
>
>

[Anonymous]

Hate to disappoint you, but I must mention it before you go too far into
development.

AutoCAD 2004 has pretty much all that you made with your BMC command.
It allows you to set the default layer and everything.

Sorry to put a damper on your day.

CMF

Timothy Spangler wrote:
> Sorry I am coming in one the end of this discussion, but I couldn't resist
> to put some input. I have been creating a .LSP for about 8 months or better
> to deal with all of the common block problems. I am still working on it but
> this is what the dialog looks like.
>
> The only problem is tiring to convert an existing library to this new
> program. It works with groups, then breaks them into blocks. It allows the
> user to create new groups and but blocks in certain groups. When a group is
> selected the blocks from that groups populate a list box and then a preview
> is shown. When a block from a groups is selected the user has the options
> of looking at the details which include drawing name and location and a
> brief description of the block which was added by the person who created the
> block.
> The user can also add a block to that particular groups or modify the
> selected block (I may try to make that user specific to keep unwanted
> editing of blocks, maybe password protected editing?).
> Lastly the user may view a larger slide of the block for better detail.
>
> The preview box has arrows for quick scrolling though the blocks in that
> group. Any block created is created on layer "0" but can be inserted on any
> layer that exists and can be made any color (I may add a feature for
> creating a new layer if it doesn't exist).
>
> It still a work in progress but I'm working on it.
>
> Timothy Spangler
>
> "Pete Gaudette" wrote in message
> news:D0AC67CF640CCB5AB5B6CA416F51B99B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>
>>From: "Chris Ferris"
>>Subject: Re: (lack of) Consistency in layers
>>Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 1:43 PM
>>
>>.....................Wait, wait... don't tell me you've had
>>to deal with the "1" block too?
>>I had to beat that into my cad users for weeks before they
>>would listen.
>> It took an accidental redefinition of over one hundred
>>elect outlet
>>into return ducts (both had were an imbedded block named
>>"1") before
>>they got the point.........................
>>
>>
>>In the words of "OLD-CADaver" "This calls for a new
>>thread.
>>
>>How do you create, name and manage your block library?
>>
>>Layer 0? White? Linetype Bylayer? Specific linetypes?
>>Specific Colors? Layers within blocks? Imbeded Blocks?
>>
>>Pete
>>
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

[Anonymous]

OK- how deeply customizable is that?
Layer/ Scale/ default rotation...

So much of inserting a block is dependent upon what's nearby in the drawing
...
I'd like to see such dialogs offer 2 opening Lisp statements...default block
insertion, plus 2 exiting Lisp statements... anything less is dreary-dialog
and not 'semi-automatic'...

IOW: What does 2004 offer in terms of getting info from nearby objects, and
user interaction to 'approve' the insertion conditions?

[Anonymous]

Last time I checked it did scale, default layer, rotation and possibly
color (by layer, or one of the others). You can ask some of the gurus
at the A2K4 newsgroup for more info.

I'm not sure what you mean by "getting info from near by objects".
Maybe you can give me a "for instance"?

And it's not a "dialog box" in the traditional sense of the word. It's
a Tools Pallet. You click on the icon (which is a preview of the block)
and it gives you a typical prompt for an insertion point.

Really, how much do you need before the dialog box/lisp prompt starts
getting in the way?

CMF

PF wrote:
> OK- how deeply customizable is that?
> Layer/ Scale/ default rotation...
>
> So much of inserting a block is dependent upon what's nearby in the drawing
> ...
> I'd like to see such dialogs offer 2 opening Lisp statements...default block
> insertion, plus 2 exiting Lisp statements... anything less is dreary-dialog
> and not 'semi-automatic'...
>
> IOW: What does 2004 offer in terms of getting info from nearby objects, and
> user interaction to 'approve' the insertion conditions?
>
>
>

[Anonymous]

get info from... example:

Get layer of Pipe... Insert symbol on same layer... to scale-factor...
align, break... get user to confirm alignment
(i.e., for asymmetric valve)

How much can it do without stopping for user input? Ideally, it will do all
with one selection.

[Anonymous]

What you are looking for is not available in any product that I know of
that is offered by Autodesk. And even if it was, I can think of so many
ways that it could be "broken".

If you wanted something to deal with water management and plumbing
systems, look into WaterCAD. It rides on top of AutoCAD like Softdesk
used to.

Cheers,
CMF

PF wrote:
> get info from... example:
>
> Get layer of Pipe... Insert symbol on same layer... to scale-factor...
> align, break... get user to confirm alignment
> (i.e., for asymmetric valve)
>
> How much can it do without stopping for user input? Ideally, it will do all
> with one selection.
>
>
>

[Anonymous]

thanks- no-
I've been doing what I describe for about 4 years... wanted to know how
close the competiton is!

[Anonymous]

> And it's not a "dialog box" in the traditional sense of the word. It's
> a Tools Pallet. You click on the icon (which is a preview of the block)
> and it gives you a typical prompt for an insertion point.

The toolPallets in A2004 will use the DROPGEOM ability, and yes you can
easily predefined the properties for the dropping.

And if you need to add the ability to insert from a toolpalette then
download insToolPalettes command (free):

http://www.draftteam.com/freeones/insToolPalettes.zip

[Anonymous]

ah-- but that method "assumes" you wnat to repeat things from block "A" to
block "B"... while the 2 may be VERY different.
try a sequence;
Insert "A"
Insert "B" (reset numerous presets...)
Insert "A" (again... reset numerous presets to match line 1)

Why so much dialog?