topic Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click in AutoCAD Forum

Change multiple block attribute values in one click

toolbox2 — Fri, 07 May 2021 10:44:21 GMT

I have a lot of drawings, each with one or more title blocks with attributes. I need to update the attribute values with some predefined values. The same values will be used in whichever title block I select within the drawing. The title blocks are dynamic blocks.

Since the attribute and values will always be the same I thought I could customise a button to make this a one-click job for each title block that I select. Initially, I thought this could be accomplished with Lisp but then thought there must surely be an AutoCAD command I could use for this. But...I haven't found it.

The Express Tools command ATTIN looked hopeful. Put the tags and values in a text file and run the command. But how to execute this in one click? Need to pass the text file location and select the block without dialogue boxes.

I'm just not sure which way to go with this. Standard AutoCAD commands or Lisp. I'm unable to use scripts since SCR files are prohibited on our locked down machines.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

vinodkl — Fri, 07 May 2021 11:25:32 GMT

Hi @toolbox2

Have you tried the command "GATTE" (Global ATTribute Editor)? Using this command you can set a new value of the attribute globally inside the drawing 🙂

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

toolbox2 — Fri, 07 May 2021 12:07:08 GMT

GATTE doesn't work with Dynamic Blocks, unfortunately.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

murray-clack — Fri, 07 May 2021 13:35:24 GMT

If you are looking for "one click" solutions to change global title-block info (i.e. project name, client name, project number, etc.) then using the Sheet Set Manager is your best bet.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

toolbox2 — Fri, 07 May 2021 14:07:09 GMT

It would, wouldn't it? But not for this task facing me now.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

JTBWorld — Sat, 08 May 2021 18:23:43 GMT

Maybe our attribute editor app JTB BatchAttEdit can help.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

RobDraw — Sat, 08 May 2021 22:48:18 GMT

I would use an XREF for identical information shared across multiple files.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

maratovich — Sun, 09 May 2021 07:03:11 GMT

Try using this - AutoReplaceCAD

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

toolbox2 — Mon, 10 May 2021 09:47:29 GMT

Thanks but the attribute values won't necessarily change for EVERY instance of a block, only the ones I select.

It's looking like an AutoCAD command solution isn't out there.

I found a modified GATTE command, GATTE2, on CadTutor.net. With some modification this looks hopeful.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

RobDraw — Mon, 10 May 2021 10:00:29 GMT

As much as some people think, AutoCAD cannot read minds. Any one click solution would require an amount of coding that might take much longer to write and troubleshoot than it would be to do the task manually.

Re: Change multiple block attribute values in one click

Bertrandick — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 06:12:22 GMT

Here is the my lisp for multiple attribute changer that ChatGPT made.

1. Save it to XXX.lsp in Notepad

;; ------------------------------------------------------------
;; ATTBATCH — Batch-edit Attribute values on selected INSERTs
;; ------------------------------------------------------------
;; What it does
;; Updates Attribute VALUE (DXF code 1) for the chosen TAG on
;; every selected block reference (entity type: INSERT).
;;
;; Command
;; ATTBATCH
;;
;; Usage
;; 1) Load with APPLOAD.
;; 2) Type ATTBATCH.
;; 3) Enter the Attribute TAG to change.
;; - Type "*" (just an asterisk) to update ALL tags.
;; - Otherwise only the matching TAG (case-insensitive) is changed.
;; 4) Enter the NEW value to apply.
;; 5) Select target block references (INSERT). Press Enter to finish.
;;
;; Notes
;; - Constant Attributes (from ATTDEF set to Constant) aren’t present
;; on instances; edit the block definition and then run ATTSYNC for those.
;; - If an Attribute had a Field, it will be replaced by plain text.
;; - Works with MINSERT: each instance is processed.
;; - Pure AutoLISP only: compatible with environments lacking VLA/ActiveX.
;;
;; Change log
;; - Only treats "*" as “all tags”. A real TAG string updates that TAG only.
;; ------------------------------------------------------------

(defun c:ATTBATCH (/ _equal-ci _collect-attribs
tag new ss i ent cnt
lst a dxf atag doAll)

;; Case-insensitive compare
(defun _equal-ci (s1 s2) (= (strcase s1) (strcase s2)))

;; Collect ATTRIB entities following an INSERT until SEQEND
(defun _collect-attribs (ins / e typ acc)
(setq e (entnext ins))
(while (and e
(setq typ (cdr (assoc 0 (entget e))))
(/= typ "SEQEND"))
(if (= typ "ATTRIB") (setq acc (cons e acc)))
(setq e (entnext e))
)
(reverse acc)
)

;; Inputs
(setq tag (getstring T "\nEnter Attribute TAG to change (* = all): "))
(if (null tag) (setq tag ""))
(setq new (getstring T "\nEnter new Attribute value: "))
(if (null new) (setq new ""))

;; ONLY treat as 'all' when the user typed "*" exactly
(setq doAll (= (strcase tag) "*"))

(prompt "\nSelect block references (INSERT): ")
(setq ss (ssget '((0 . "INSERT"))))

(if ss
(progn
;; optional: group into one undo step (pure command call)
(command "_.UNDO" "_Begin")

(setq cnt 0
i 0)
(while (< i (sslength ss))
(setq ent (ssname ss i))
(setq lst (_collect-attribs ent))

;; Process each ATTRIB
(while lst
(setq a (car lst)
dxf (entget a)
;; TAG = code 2, VALUE = code 1
atag (cdr (assoc 2 dxf)))
(if (or doAll
(_equal-ci atag tag))
(progn
;; Update value (code 1); add if missing
(if (assoc 1 dxf)
(setq dxf (subst (cons 1 new) (assoc 1 dxf) dxf))
(setq dxf (append dxf (list (cons 1 new))))
)
(entmod dxf)
(setq cnt (1+ cnt))
)
)
(setq lst (cdr lst))
)
;; Refresh display for the block reference
(entupd ent)
(setq i (1+ i))
)

(command "_.UNDO" "_End")
(princ (strcat "\nDone: updated " (itoa cnt) " Attribute(s)."))
)
(prompt "\nSelection canceled.")
)
(princ)
)