topic Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together? in AutoCAD Forum

How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:17:16 GMT

Hi,

I have a drawing passed on from another company that is converted from a different CAD software which I don't know about. The drawing opens fine, however the blocks are all random. I need to know how I can move individual items from different blocks at the same time, without having to explode the blocks since I can only open the block editor of one block at the same time (as far as I know).

For example, let's say we have 9 rooms (squares) that are arranged in a grid of 3x3 and each room is numbered with a unique number, and each have different unique furniture layout. My issue is that instead of having each room room or item in its own block, they are all grouped together in single blocks. All of the rooms are in one block, all of the furniture are in one block, and all of the text are grouped in another. I tried to explode the blocks to work with the content, but then the content are not well drawn and are not even blocks, which means that I will have to select every single line carefully to be able to select one item (e.g. a chair), and I have hundreds of different shaped items in my drawing.

So to sum up, I have different blocks where I need to rearrange the layout of a few items from each block at the same time without having to explode the blocks. How do I do it?

Many thanks in advance.

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

imadHabash — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:26:31 GMT

Hi,

i suggest to use REFEDIT command that will help you a lot. type refclose to get out from editing mode. >> Click <<

>> I need to rearrange the layout of a few items from each block at the same time without having to explode the blocks. <<

as i know.... there is NO way for that.

Regards,

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:33:41 GMT

Hi Imad,

Thank you for your reply.

Is there a way I can edit two different blocks at the same time? because I need to move objects from multiple blocks at the same time, such as a room (which is in one block) and the furniture inside the room (which is in a different block that also has the furniture in all of the other rooms).

I tried to explode the furniture block to see if I can move them, however the drawing is poorly drawn and the furniture objects themselves are not blocks, they are just random lines.

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

imadHabash — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:41:27 GMT

>> Is there a way I can edit two different blocks at the same time? <<

NO.

>> however the drawing is poorly drawn and the furniture objects themselves are not blocks, <<

my advice for you is to keep those blocks as is and just edit them. i know ... maybe it will take a little time and repeatable works but this is the fact that we must follow.

Regards,

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 12:49:58 GMT

Alright. Thank you.

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

john.vellek — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:41:43 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I can feel your pain with this process. Can you share any of the files so I can take a look? Perhaps I can make further suggestions.

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 06:38:45 GMT

Hi @john.vellek,

Thank you for your reply.

The file itself is very large and heavy for no reason, so I've selected a small area that explains the situation perfectly.

If you see in the drawing how there are few rooms with numbers and attachments with a fence around them. So as an example, I need to change the layout of this area, but you'll see in the drawing how this might take a long time for no reason. I am trying to find a way to work around it without having to explode every single big block and remake blocks for each item.

Thanks

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

john.vellek — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 14:08:02 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I bit the bullet and used block editor to open the tent block. In it, I created new blocks of the different size tents. This only took a few minutes to do and allowed me to move things around much easier and also reduced the file size.

This would be my suggestion moving forward. Create blocks of the pieces and replace the individual pieces as time permits.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

john.vellek — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 22:19:50 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post helped you with your problem. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: How to edit/move multiple items from different blocks together?

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 22:34:03 GMT

Hi @john.vellek,

I've been removing the objects at the areas that I need to work on from their respective blocks, rearranging them, and then reattaching them back to their blocks as a temporary solution. I was hoping to find a way to work on different blocks contents at the same time as I have many different unique items in many different areas of the layout that I'm working on. The part that I attached earlier is about one of hundreds of different areas each with their own unique objects with various dimensions.

I was trying to find a faster way to achieve what I needed as I have a very short deadline to meet. However, I will eventually make the time to work on the entire drawing and fix all of the blocks.

Thank you for your help. I'll just accept the fact that it's something I have to deal with.