Advance Steel custom commands-share your ideas

[acbsdesign]

Hello,

It will be nice to learn more about custom commands / combination of Autocad and Advance Steel commands improving productivity. 

To colleagues willing to share-Thank you.

Here is a tiny example:

"Hide parts with identical numbers"-used when parts are detailed using drawings styles.

^C^C_AstM5equalpartsMarkSame \;AstM4CommSelectMarkedObjects ;_AstM4SwitchReprMode off

And another one:

"Hide Similar Advance Steel Objects":

^C^C_SelectSimilar \;_AstM4SwitchReprMode off

Regards, 

Ilko Dimitrov

ACBS

[Anonymous]

Hi @acbsdesign ,

I have been using a space bar since 1994 to interrupt, terminate or repeat the command 😉

It is a natural method, my thumb finds this key very quickly 😁

[acbsdesign]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Hi @acbsdesign ,

I have been using a space bar since 1994 to interrupt, terminate or repeat the command 😉

It is a natural method, my thumb finds this key very quickly 😁

---

@Anonymous 

Thank you for sharing 🙂

It is just F2 is close to ESC and this is making things easier on my end.

I did stick a thick pad on F2 to get used to it, it takes appr. 21 days to develop such a habit, scientists say.

Whatever we are used to, the most important is the result at 5 pm.

Keep posting.

[dave_conibear]

Hi Ilko

I'm having some trouble understanding this command.......

I'm sure I have the correct macro.....^C^C_rotate;\r;\\\;;

When I select the member, then the base point........I choose "R" for reference and hit return, then the command exits.

In my simple example, I want to move the beam and align to the line

[acbsdesign]

---

@dave_conibear wrote:

Hi Ilko

I'm having some trouble understanding this command.......

I'm sure I have the correct macro.....^C^C_rotate;\r;\\\;;

When I select the member, then the base point........I choose "R" for reference and hit return, then the command exits.

In my simple example, I want to move the beam and align to the line

---

Hi Dave,

This is the macro I  am using: ^C^C_rotate \r;\\\;;

Select the beam first.

This is a screencast how it works (it is showing two commands, but you can get the idea):

Screencast 

Basepoint wouldn't move, it is "nailed", after that choose 1st ref. point, choose 2nd reference point (this will define the orientation)

If I have to move something and rotate at the same time, best way to do it is probably by using the align command, second destination point to first destination point - distance has to be always greater than the distance between first and second points.

This is a short screencast me parking a barge along a pier 🙂 :

(2D should be on)

Move and Align 

Regards.

[dave_conibear]

Top man...........I have it...........thanks Ilko

[acbsdesign]

Multileader block / call-out, file attached. 

Right-click and slide in ACAD tool palettes.

Screencast 1 

Screencast 2 

Decided to put it here, hopefully, someone may find it useful.

[acbsdesign · Accepted solution]

So what I have found useful about this command-It works same as Advance Copy-it copies even the joint box.

I will give an example - Copy headers with connections at multiple door frames, same as advance copy, but by selecting random distances, or any member that can be used with 'copy with adjustments'  command - this command is actually shortening modeling time if we get used to it:

Mark and select shop attached objects and connection means 

Mark and select connected objects in shop, mark and select connection means-Ability to quick Advance Copy with joint boxes included

^C^C_AstM4SwitchReprMode MAINSTRUCTURE \;_AstM4CommSelectMarkedObjects;_AstM4CommMarkConnMeans;_AstM4CommSelectMarkedObjects;

I will add this as a solution, it is helpful.

Any other ideas are welcome.

It saved me at least 8-12 hours of work on another project doing a massive design change.

Regards,

[Jonathan3891]

I recently had a need for a fillet command so I created one myself. 

;Fillet Members
(defun c:AstFilletMember (/ Obj1 Obj2)
  (setq Obj1 (entsel "\nSelect first member")
	Obj2 (entsel "\nSelect second member")
	)
  (command "_AstM9CommTrimExtend" "" "S" Obj1 "" Obj2 "" "")
  (command "_AstM9CommTrimExtend" "" "S" Obj2 "" Obj1 "" "")
  (princ)
  )

[acbsdesign]

@Jonathan3891 

Hi,

Can you please make a short screencast when you get a minute?

Thank you.

Have a great afternoon.

[Jonathan3891 · Accepted solution]

Its similar to AutoCAD's fillet command, but works with Advance Steel members.

https://autode.sk/3fc8xfD

[Jonathan3891 · Accepted solution]

I had some time to rewrite it and include some filters.

It still works the same as the screen cast I posted above.

(defun c:AstFilletMember (/ ent1 ent2)
  (setq ent1 (entsel "\nSelect first member: "))
  (if (or (null ent1)
	  (/= (cdr (assoc 0 (entget (car ent1)))) "ASTBEAM")
      )
    (while (or (null ent1)
	       (/= (cdr (assoc 0 (entget (car ent1)))) "ASTBEAM")
	   )
      (princ "\nSelect first member: ")
      (setq ent1 (entsel "\nSelect first member: "))
    );while
  );if
  (setq ent2 (entsel "\nSelect second member: "))
  (if (or (null ent2)
	  (/= (cdr (assoc 0 (entget (car ent2)))) "ASTBEAM")
      )
    (while (or (null ent2)
	       (/= (cdr (assoc 0 (entget (car ent2)))) "ASTBEAM")
	   )
      (princ "\nSelect second member: ")
      (setq ent2 (entsel "\nSelect second member: "))
    );while
  );if
  (command "_AstM9CommTrimExtend" "" "S" ent1 "" ent2 "" "")
  (command "_AstM9CommTrimExtend" "" "S" ent2 "" ent1 "" "")
  (princ)
)     

[acbsdesign]

Thank you for sharing, 

This is a great command.

Keep posting.

[acbsdesign]

Hi everyone,

Something that may be useful when we have design calculations for connections done by others, 

and if we need to reference a shear plate or angle where is this connection located within the calc's package.

Then if we enter connection ID in Joint Name, shear plate label can display the joint name, if no joint name, it will display normal label.

Script if a joint has a name, then display joint name:

%%script(JointName= "%JointName": NoJointName = "None": Compare = StrComp(JointName, NoJointName, 1): If Compare <> 0 then appendstring ""&JointName&"")

Happy Holidays.

[HenrykKuźma8230]

Can you reupload iconpack?

[acbsdesign]

Hi,

Not a custom command, but may be it is worth sharing:

Custom Connections Girts to HSS columns 

There are two connections (file attached, left and right) for HSS12x12 and two for HSS10x10.

Regards.

[SanjoyNath]

Dear Experts,

We need a process to get the log of all change logs (Geometry , features, roles or rules responsible for) prenumber change and post number change for every single part and also for assemblies in the whole life cycle of the project.

Is there any way to get these?

   Currently we are storing these data in external databases through numbering scripts in AstorKernel.This hangs several times when used for big projects or for multi users over network.

[SanjoyNath]

Dear Experts,

Previously AstorAutomations with VBA helped us in 32 bit systems. That stopped working in 64 bit versions since tlb file for numbering scripts and DPM scripts are still 32 bit

That tlb helped us to do these with vba. implementing c# , compiling and closing Advance steel every time in every systems and then putting addins is tedious and users get annoyed.

Atleast if vba is not working (in 64 bit then give facilities of lisp for Advance steel or on the fly macro facility of c# AS IN REVIT ) such that we can run c# macros without closing Advance steel everytimes

[SanjoyNath]

Dear Experts,

I think these are available shortcuts hidden inside ribbons or in DIESEL objects

In the Attached file you will get all the existing commands upto version 2019 of Advance Steel

I have attached the list

(Message Cannot Exceed 100000 characters)

[acbsdesign]

Hi,

Does anyone know how to create a custom command:

"Delete all MP, SP, and Preliminary Numbers"

Thank you.

[Sebastian_Eiche · Accepted solution]

should be something like this:
^C^C_AstM5EqualPartsSwitchSingle;_AstM5equalpartsReset;_AstM5EqualPartsSwitchMain;select;p; ;_AstM5equalpartsReset;_AstM5EqualPartsSwitchPreliminary;select;p; ;_AstM5equalpartsReset;

but then it's about selected elements, maybe a select "all" would be better?