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Yes, you could prompt the user (using either nentsel or nentselp - I explain the difference between these functions here) to select an object nested within an XRef in the active drawing, and to specify both a base point and displacement.
You would then use the transformation matrix & translation vector returned by nentsel/nentselp to transform the base point and displacement vector as specified by the user to be relative to the XRef reference geometry (i.e. accounting for the position, scale, rotation & orientation of the XRef).
You could then use ObjectDBX to interface with the XRef source drawing and perform the necessary modifications to the selected nested object (perhaps using the entity handle to reference the object to be modified).
My Copy to XRef program demonstrates how to perform modifications to an XRef source drawing using ObjectDBX.
@mdhutchinson wrote:I had to edit the following:
(if (< (setq vrs (atoi (getvar 'acadver))) 20) ; this was 16
"objectdbx.axdbdocument" (strcat "objectdbx.axdbdocument." (itoa vrs))
)
But then I got an error: Unable to interface with ObjectDBX...
You shouldn't need to change the ObjectDBX ProgID in any way; I have used that conditional statement successfully for several years without any problems.
Are you sure that the ObjectDBX DLL is registered on your system?
@mdhutchinson wrote:
I don't think copyobjects is a valid method.
It is.
That's odd - what error message do you receive?
What object are you attempting to copy?
@mdhutchinson wrote:
The msg passed to your error routine is...
Unable to interface with ObjectDBX
Are you sure that the above message is being passed as an argument to the *error* function?
The reason I ask is that this is a message that I have set to be printed to the command-line if the program cannot create an ObjectDBX Document. Though, if that is indeed the message that is printed to the command-line, the program should not be continuing beyond that point.
Are you using my original program, or a modified version?
@mdhutchinson wrote:
The object is#<VLA-OBJECT IAecMVBlockRef 0000000036507c90>
I don't recognise the object name from that VLA-Object pointer - are you selecting an object native to a vertical application? Perhaps this is causing the issue, as I can only test the program using vanilla AutoCAD.
@mdhutchinson wrote:I looked at the CopyObjects method... the objects to be copied should be an array of objects. I looks like it is in a simple list... is this the case?
No, since I am using the vlax-invoke function to call the method which accepts arguments in native AutoLISP data types.
@mdhutchinson wrote:
One dumb question... your command copies the objects selected from, and native to, the current document (drawing)... and places a copy of that object in the Xref. Isn't this correct?
Correct - the set of selected objects (along with any dependent objects, such as layers etc) are deep-cloned to the source drawing of the selected xref via an ObjectDBX interface, and the xref source drawing is then saved and reloaded in the active drawing before the selected objects are erased.
@mdhutchinson wrote:The mVBlock has a reference to another MEP object that is in the XRef... I think this is what is hosing it up...
I did try an ordinary circle... your lisp worked fine on this.
Unfortunately I don't have experience working with objects native to vertical products, but I would hazard a guess that this is the source of the problem.
@mdhutchinson wrote:Might you agree to assist with a modification that would allow me to move the object that is in the Xref?
Your request inspired me to create a new Nested Move program - let me know what you think! 
@hmsilva wrote:Lee,
nice thinking, a very useful code!
Cheers
Henrique
Thank you Henrique!
@hmsilva wrote:
The act of copying objects to an xref source drawing involvesShould not be
The act of moving objects in an xref source drawing involves
Well spotted! - this paragraph was taken from another program description on my site involving ObjectDBX 
The typo should now be corrected!
Thanks again Henrique
holy cow 
one of the best lisp from a long time. a lot of crazy matrix stuff.
i made some tesst. my comments:
- static block works fine. it would be great to move the whole object like: dimensions, block.
- select few objects at one time will be helpfull
- changes to dynamic block are only reflected to the main state of block (reset state). but in my opinion we should exclude dynamic block because chanages are not visible in bedit.
- xref work fine.
- any chance to make preview like ni express ncopy ?
anyway i'm "buy it" right now
waiting for rotate and removing (remove not delete) tools 
kruuger
@kruuger wrote:holy cow
Cheers kruuger - that's very kind of you to say!
You know me... I love matrix maths
@kruuger wrote:- static block works fine. it would be great to move the whole object like: dimensions, block.
Good point - the current program is manipulating the innermost nested object which would cause problems where dimensions are concerned as the dimension would be 'dismantled'.
Perhaps the program should be modified to manipulate the outermost parent entity nested within the block/xref, so that the program would be manipulating dimensions/nested blocks rather than their individual components.
@kruuger wrote:- select few objects at one time will be helpfull
This one would be difficult - as you know, there is no inherent AutoLISP function which permits selection of multiple nested objects. The ssget ":N" mode string is available, however, in my experience, this mode string is temperamental at best.
So a custom nested selection function would likely need to be created using a grread loop with the selection window transformed via an appropriate transformation matrix to test whether any objects within the block definition reside within the window - I believe Tim Willey attempted something similar a while back.
@kruuger wrote:- changes to dynamic block are only reflected to the main state of block (reset state). but in my opinion we should exclude dynamic block because chanages are not visible in bedit.
Well spotted kruuger - indeed, after some testing, the changes are not reflected in the Block Editor, and the modifications appear to be reset upon closing the Block Editor and accepting the prompt to save any changes to the definition.
I will likely remove the compatibility with dynamic blocks from the next release of the program.
@kruuger wrote:- xref work fine.
Good stuff.
@kruuger wrote:- any chance to make preview like in express ncopy ?
A dynamic preview would unfortunately not be possible to achieve without sacrificing all standard drawing aids (as you may be aware), since a grread loop would be required.
However, a selection preview would be possible by duplicating the selected nested object in modelspace (again, transformed using an appropriate matrix) and highlighting the duplicated entity.
This method might actually facilitate a multiple selection, since the user would receive visual feedback of the selected objects - of course, substantial error trapping would be required to account for xref-dependent items, duplicate selections, and also to ensure that all selected objects reside within the same parent entity.
@kruuger wrote:
waiting for rotate and removing (remove not delete) tools
I'm not sure whether it would be worth investing too much time developing a range of such programs (e.g. rotate / mirror / stretch etc.), since I would be essentially recreating functionality which already exists in AutoCAD (through either the Block Editor or XOpen for xrefs).Furthermore, as stated above, I could not reproduce the visual preview of the objects being modified (as offered by the standard AutoCAD commands) without sacrificing all drawing aids, rendering the command inpractical.
If I'm honest, the current published program was more of an academic venture to demonstrate the various matrix transformations required to transform the displacement vector, and also how to modify an xref source drawing through an ObjectDBX interface, so I'm pleased the program is also useful as a bonus.
Thank you mdhutchinson
The program is performing successfully in all my testing and all necessary variables have been declared local to the function - what objects are you attempt to use the program with?
Is anyone else experiencing the issues that mdhutchinson has described?
Lee
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