Insert Block with browser window pre-set path

[JCprog]

Hello Everyone

I've been searching for a lisp routine that can make browsing and inserting a block more easy. Using the toolpalette-route is great and "cute" but gruesome to update with thousands of blocks, so many categories and annual changing versions (....well u get the point).

I just need this to be fairly simple and T-squared-straight-forward.  Upon typing insert i want to have a windows browsing window instead of the insert dialogue box which ask Insertion point, scale & rotation----I need to go straight to "browse" with a pre-set path. after that choose and select the desired block double-click it and then insert. I found this code below at Lazy drafter I just have no idea how to go about inserting a block. Please help! Thanks in advance

(startapp "explorer" (strcat "/n,/e," "N:\\CAD\\BLOCKS")) 

[hmsilva]

The Getfiled function may be useful...

As a demo:

(Getfiled "Select Drawing File" "N:\\CAD\\BLOCKS\\" "Dwg" 8)

HTH

Henrique

[Shneuph]

What about drag and drop from explorer into the drawing window?  That inserts as a block.

Drag file from explorer to model space drawing window>Pick insertion point>hit space (or enter) 3 times.  That inserts for me fairly easily.

[JCprog]

Thanks for the reply Henrique. How can I use this function with inserting block?

[JCprog]

explorer drag & drop simple but most of our users will not conform to it. I need it to be at least user-friendly to say the least 😉

[hmsilva · Accepted solution]

Try

(defun c:demo (/ blk)
  (if (setq blk (getfiled "Select Drawing File" "N:\\CAD\\BLOCKS\\" "Dwg" 8))
    (command "_.insert" blk "_S" 1 pause 0)
  )
  (princ)
)

HTH

Henrique

[JCprog]

It worked!!!!

[JCprog]

oh wait.....I take it back! it does work perfectly! it's the blocks that are not created properly is the problem. Thanks Henrique!!!! Is there a way to make the browsing window a lil bigger? setting a its window size?

[hmsilva]

---

@JCprog wrote:
It worked on first shot but gives an error if I try to insert another block:
Command: DEMO
Block xxxx references itself
*Invalid*

---

It should not...

I can't reproduce that behavior...

Henrique

[JCprog]

It did work the way it should be. It was just the blocks that werent created properly is the problem. Thanks for code Henrique!!!! Can I make that window a lil bigger? Maybe set its size?

[hmsilva]

---

@JCprog wrote:
It did work the way it should be. It was just the blocks that werent created properly is the problem. Thanks for code Henrique!!!! Can I make that window a lil bigger? Maybe set its size?

---

You're welcome, JCprog!

I think it will not be possible to make the window bigger...

Henrique

[3wood]

You can use DesignCentre. Ctrl+2, browse to your folder, then right-click the block, select "Insert as block..." from the short-cut menu, or just drag it to the drawing.

[patilhdipak]

if we want  insert multiple blocks to use in the file and if we select only one block  can we find remaining blocks on that path without going to that path again and again which is get form getfiled function.

[dlanorh]

Use THIS

to get the file names returned as a list e.g.

(setq blk_lst (LM:getfiles "Select Blocks" "" "dwg")

the above will allow you to browse to a directory then choose drawings in the left panel and add them to the right panel

pressing OK returns a list of drawings complete with path from the right panel.

Then

(setq pt (getpoint "\nselect insertion point for blocks))
(foreach blk blk_lst
  (vl-cmdf "-insert" blk pt 1 0)
)

This should insert every selected drawing as a  block into the drawing at the selected point.

Just make sure that

1. if the drawing contains a block, that the drawing is not the same name as the block it contains

2. or if it is, that the block within the drawing is exploded.

In case 1 just explode all the inserted drawings to leave yourself with the blocks, then erase

In case 2 just erase