topic Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes in AutoCAD Forum

Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:40:43 GMT

I have some detail callout blocks with multiline attributes and would like to use find/replace to chance the view number and sheet number at the same time. Does anyone know how to do this?

I've attached a .dwg with the blocks. For example, I'd like to use Find/Replace to change 5/4101 to 7/4102.

Thanks!

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

wispoxy — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:51:15 GMT

More find options

Click button to expand the find dialog box. You can refine your search further by using these options.

Yes, it can find text in blocks or xref too. But it can’t find value in fields. I think it will be great to find values in field to, because sometimes we need to review fields values.

For additional information, we also have spell checker in AutoCAD.

It works almost the same with find and replace text, only here, we compare it to AutoCAD dictionary.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

wispoxy — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:53:19 GMT

Make sure 'Block Attribute Value' is checked in the find and replace options.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:56:45 GMT

Yes, I'm aware of that option in the Find and Replace setting. I would like to do something more specific though which is involving multiline attributes. Please refer to cad file attached and the specific example I provided in the original post.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

ToanDN — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 17:36:45 GMT

I guess you already know the problem is that you use ENTER to push the sheet number to the second line. Without the ability to type in ENTER in the Find and Replace dialog, you would have to search using either by Detail Number or by Sheet Number. By Sheet Number is easy because the text string is longer. By Detail Number is more challenge because they only have 1 or 2 characters, so you would need to check the 'Find whole words only' option. From the result list you can Replace the one you want.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 17:56:02 GMT

Yeah that's the whole problem. Often times we change a detail's sheet and view number in the drawing set and there are sometimes 200 callouts in our elevation files. I just need a way to find all callout blocks with a certain view number and sheet number and then replace with whatever.

The way I currently do it is to do a search for the sheet number, create a selection set, move all of those up 1000', then do two more find/replaces with that selection set to change the sheet number then the view number. Quite arduous when the current project has (9) different elevation files. What I really want to do is use Lee Mac's Batch Find & Replace Text lisp to do this across all files at once.

Is there a way to maybe not hit a return on the text and do a space instead and then let the text wrap so the sheet number is below the view number?

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

ToanDN — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 18:56:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Is there a way to maybe not hit a return on the text and do a space instead and then let the text wrap so the sheet number is below the view number?

You can do it with a space between View number and Sheet number with text warp when you first enter the value in the callout. Now after the fact that they already there, it will be more difficult to fix. I will try my best based on the example you provided:

Edit the block and adjust the attribute width to allow text wrap. Attsync.
Find '5' with match whole words checked. You will get 5 callouts highlighted. Create a selection set.
Go back to drawing space with the selection. Mass edit the attribute content of the selection from the Properties Palette: delete the existing and enter '5 4101'.
There you have all the 5/4101 callout fixed. You have to repeat for others.

This maybe more efficient than manually select on screen when you have lots of them at different places.

Another possibility is use an another more powerful external program to find and replace the text string from the dwg without destrying the drawing integrity. But I do not know of any myself.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:07:35 GMT

It works! Now I can search for a specific detail callout and not just the sheet number or view number. No problem with the existing...I'm just trying to fix the actual block for future use. I will just edit the attribute in the block to not have a hard return and then when I insert it into a drawing, I will have to add a space and make the text width more narrow to have it wrap. Very nice, my boss will love this one!!

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

wispoxy — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:15:40 GMT

You're saying you know about my steps, yet when I search for ''5\P4101' It instantly goes toa 5 4101 block.

It's working fine for me.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

wispoxy — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:21:28 GMT

Just search exactly for '5\P4101 works for me

----------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the longway.--------->

Edit the block and adjust the attribute width to allow text wrap. Attsync.
Find '5' with match whole words checked. You will get 5 callouts highlighted. Create a selection set.
Go back to drawing space with the selection. Mass edit the attribute content of the selection from the Properties Palette: delete the existing and enter '5 4101'.
There you have all the 5/4101 callout fixed. You have to repeat for others.

This maybe more efficient than manually select on screen when you have lots of them at different places.

Another possibility is use an another more powerful external program to find and replace the text string from the dwg without destrying the drawing integrity. But I do not know of any myself.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:28:27 GMT

Hmmm, when I search using the Find and Replace command and use the exact settings in your screenshot above I am yielding zero search results. Which version of AutoCAD are you using? I'm on AutoCAD Architecture 2014 and have read that "\P" is not supported in Find and Replace. That was actually the first thing I tried when I noticed that there is a "\P" when you look at the attribute in the block's properties.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:30:43 GMT

And really I'm just trying to create a new block to use in the future that gives me this functionality. All of our existing projects use the default AutoCAD Architecture block that has two separate attributes for sheetnumber and sheetview.

Re: Using Find/Replace with Multiline Attributes

wispoxy — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:49:32 GMT

Using AutoCAD 2016 and finds the block with 2 piece text. Not sure about other versions.