topic Re: Modify object Handle in VBA Forum

Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:03:28 GMT

Is it possible in VBA to modify an object's handle?

everything I can find in Help or on the internet indicates that this is
a read-only property.

Is there a way?
--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architects & Planners, P.C.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:11:37 GMT

This is a value assigned by Autocad. The only way I'm aware of to change it
is to create a copy of it and delete the original. But, while this
technically cahnges the handle, you cannot change it to a value of your
choosing.

Jeff

"Brian Winterscheidt" wrote in message
news:5162497@discussion.autodesk.com...
Is it possible in VBA to modify an object's handle?

everything I can find in Help or on the internet indicates that this is
a read-only property.

Is there a way?
--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architects & Planners, P.C.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:19:12 GMT

Jeff Mishler wrote:
> you cannot change it to a value of your
> choosing.

*that's* what I was hoping to accomplish...

--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:35:57 GMT

Why do you want to modify the handle?
Could you assign xdata with your "handle"
"Brian Winterscheidt" wrote in message
news:5162497@discussion.autodesk.com...
Is it possible in VBA to modify an object's handle?

everything I can find in Help or on the internet indicates that this is
a read-only property.

Is there a way?
--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architects & Planners, P.C.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 16:58:01 GMT

joeparker wrote:
> Why do you want to modify the handle?

In a nutshell, because that's how ADT maintains links for tags.
(My office uses a lot of DWA assemblies with doors in them...)

1. We insert a dwa with a default door infill into a construct.
2. We tag the door in a separate view file--ADT maintains the link via
the Door's Handle.
3. We override the door infill (a month later, whatever) to change the
door type as design progresses. ADT creates a new object with a new handle.
4. Next time you open the view, the tag disappears because the Handle
it was linked to no longer exists.

If I could modify the object handle of the new door to be the same as
the old door, I *think* the tags would stay...

--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:05:07 GMT

Brian Winterscheidt wrote:
> If I could modify the object handle of the new door to be the same as
> the old door, I *think* the tags would stay...

why not just make the old door's properties,
identical to the (temporary) new door?

like Strangers on a Train: "criss-cross"

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:10:48 GMT

Corey A. Layton wrote:

> why not just make the old door's properties,
> identical to the (temporary) new door?

??? you left me at the station...

--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:22:03 GMT

Brian Winterscheidt wrote:
> ??? you left me at the station...

>3. We override the door infill (a month later, whatever) to change the
>door type as design progresses. ADT creates a new object with a new
>handle.

this has got me befuddled.
when you say 'override', you mean just changing the Infill's *Style*
correct?
Done by grip selecting the Infill Object (door) and selecting a new Style in
Object Properties?
If so, I don't understand why ADT would assign a new Handle?
It's technically the same Object, with changed properties...

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:43:01 GMT

Corey A. Layton wrote:

> Done by grip selecting the Infill Object (door) and selecting a new Style in
> Object Properties?

Nope--by changing the Infill Override. But we looked into that option:

If you ever change the dimension, style, or sometimes even location of
the frame, doors that have been changed via Properties Palette revert
back to the style that is defined in the dwa's Infill definition (hence
our preference to override the infill)...

OOTB, with either method, you can't keep both the object-based props
*AND* the style-based props through all combinations of changing door,
changing frame, changing size, etc. Somewhere you will *always* lose
something.

It's a lose-lose-lose situation. (the third "lose" being to create
unique styles for every possible combination.)

But now that I've got vba to copy the object data from old to new,
changing the Handle is the last obstacle in getting our preferred
workflow to "work"--Copy schedule data (and Handle!), Override Infill,
Paste schedule data (and Handle!).

But i'll entertain thoughts on how to make your suggested workflow
function--anything that will *function*.

--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 17:56:17 GMT

Brian Winterscheidt wrote:
> If you ever change the dimension, style, or sometimes even location of
> the frame, doors that have been changed via Properties Palette revert
> back to the style that is defined in the dwa's Infill definition
> (hence our preference to override the infill)...

yeah,

I've just dealt with that issue,
mostly because it's the only option that maintains schedule tag
anchors...

DWA's have a long way to go, IMO.
They (being the ADT development team) may as well combine:
Door/Window Assenblies
Curtain Walls
Curtain Wall Units
etc.

into a single 'Vertical Assembly' Object.
(similar to what they've done with Spaces/Areas/Area Groups)

I'd wadger that this eventually happens,
and I hope it doesn't require a file-format change;
'cause we/they just missed that boat!

But for now DWA's are fully of wonky limitations,
Infill editing being one
(manditory) Fixed-depth Frame/Mullions being another
there are more...

I use DWA's very sparingly - only for Storefont Entrances and Borrowed
Lites.
And just deal with the inadaquacies.
(And I typically make a new, project standard DWA style for each type that I
need on a Project. I've found that a Tool Palette full of pre-canned styles
is mostly useless, save for a few typical arrangements.)

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 18:14:26 GMT

Corey A. Layton wrote:

> I've just dealt with that issue,
> mostly because it's the only option that maintains schedule tag
> anchors...

Well, you're no help! 😉

> into a single 'Vertical Assembly' Object.

I agree.

> (manditory) Fixed-depth Frame/Mullions being another
> there are more...

Yeah, but I've worked out some formula properties so they can *schedule*
as adjusting to the wall, even if they don't *display* that way. On an
1/8" plan, who can tell anyway?

> I use DWA's very sparingly - only for Storefont Entrances and Borrowed
> Lites.

Every door is in a DWA. But, 90% of our stuff has a borrowed lite, or
is in a storefront entrance, or is in masonry and HAS to be a DWA... So
why handle the 10% that actually COULD simply be a "Door" any differently?

> (And I typically make a new, project standard DWA style for each type that I
> need on a Project. I've found that a Tool Palette full of pre-canned styles
> is mostly useless, save for a few typical arrangements.)

Oh, sure, we have lots of custom stuff for each job, but we also have
tons of stuff that we reuse over and over again--If I created unique
styles just for the stuff we reuse, I think I figured up 75-100
styles... With the current set up, we've got all the options in less
than 25 styles.

--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 18:38:50 GMT

Brian Winterscheidt wrote:
> Yeah, but I've worked out some formula properties so they can
> *schedule* as adjusting to the wall, even if they don't *display*
> that way.

you needed '07 anchor properties to do that, right?
if not,
I'd be very curious in seeing your pre-'07 solution!

> Every door is in a DWA.

I started out that way, got frustrated, and reverted back to using the Frame
component of doors. I've even adjusted my DWA styles to have no
frame/mullion component where the infilled Door goes, so thsat I didn't need
two sets of Door Styles: one with Frames, one without...

> With the current set up, we've got all the options in less
> than 25 styles.

now I understand your motivation...

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 20:19:38 GMT

Corey A. Layton wrote:

> you needed '07 anchor properties to do that, right?

Bwa ha ha! 2006!

> if not,
> I'd be very curious in seeing your pre-'07 solution!

Here it is. This had been posted awhile back to the ADT 2006 group
while under development. I have made a few minor changes since actually
putting it into use, but grabbing this older file was quicker than
setting up a new sample. If you end up wanting to see the final
version, I can email it to you later.

> I started out that way, got frustrated, and reverted back to using the Frame
> component of doors. I've even adjusted my DWA styles to have no
> frame/mullion component where the infilled Door goes, so thsat I didn't need
> two sets of Door Styles: one with Frames, one without...

Yeah, *all* of our doors are frameless...

--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 20:40:37 GMT

Brian Winterscheidt wrote:
> Here it is.
Impressive piece of coding there.
It errors out in '07, however.
Probably because i'm too lazy to re-code for the correct library references?

One question:
Don't you want to add a constant to the determined Wall Width,
to get the overall frame depth (throat dimension)?
Typically, our HM frames detail @ and xtra 1/2" ea. side of wall finish.

Personally,
I'm hesitant to create a Shop Drawing out of my Construction Drawing.
This listing of throat dims is typically the responsibility of the
contractor/subcontractor.
As designers, our frame detail spells out the design intent: 1/2" ea. side.
It's the Contractor's responsibility to supply the correct frame siszes
based upon that info. I guess going the xtra mile to furnish these
meticulous sizes is part of BIM-thinking? I'm just not convinced of
this -yet. It's very chicken/egg this BIM thing, eh? Someone's gotta take
the first step...

> Yeah, *all* of our doors are frameless...
That's *gotta* hurt!...

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Wed, 03 May 2006 20:58:26 GMT

Corey A. Layton wrote:

> Impressive piece of coding there.

Thanks! Couldn't have made it happen without a lot of assistance from
the group, though!

> It errors out in '07, however.
> Probably because i'm too lazy to re-code for the correct library references?
>

That would be my guess, but I haven't upgraded anything to 07 yet...

> One question:
> Don't you want to add a constant to the determined Wall Width,
> to get the overall frame depth (throat dimension)?
> Typically, our HM frames detail @ and xtra 1/2" ea. side of wall finish.

That very thing is shown on our door schedule--a single frame profile
that has two dimension strings-- one overall dim that reads "Schedule
dimension at masonry and exterior walls", and a string that has 1/2" on
each side, with "Schedule dimension at stud walls" in the middle.

That's the way the bosses wanted it.

--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Re: Modify object Handle

Anonymous — Thu, 04 May 2006 16:43:05 GMT

Corey,

Do you mind if I email you my code? I think I am back to square one and
looking for another way to save the PSD data...

The way I have done it so far doesn't work once the original object is
deleted. Drat!

Thought you might have some other ideas! 😉
--
Brian Winterscheidt
LWPB Architecture
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma