Mvblock library

[john_nordmark2]

Hi, What is the best way to manage a library with many mvblocks in a project?

We have received a dwg file with several hundred mvblocks from our customer. The blocks are coded with names according to the customer's system. We want to be able to search for a specific code to find the block and then put it into a drawing.

I've looked at Style Browser, but it doesn't seem to include mvblocks. Why is that? Otherwise, such a feature would be exactly what we are looking for.

Otherwise, anyone who havee a tip on how to manage several hundred multiview blocks in a project in a good way?

[dbroad]

Ask your customer to explain the naming scheme. At bare minimum, the excel sheet you pictured should have descriptions.  The customer should have their own system for adding the content, such as toolpalettes.  Ask them to export them.

[pendean]

Greetings @Anonymous
May I ask if you inquired with your customer about their files and file-management system, and if they are willing to export/share with you? I'm going to suggest you emulate them 100% (whatever that is) so you both can communicate together and find content together without anyone getting lost/throwing their hands up type situations.

[odin]

If the Styles Browser is close to what you need, try using the Style Manager (type "StyleManager").  Use the Open folder icon to point to any drawing file.  Then, expand the Multi-Purpose Objects folder to see the Multi-View Block Definitions.  In the right pane you should see a full list of all MvBlocks.  To view each MvBlock like you can in the Styles Browser, use the Floating Viewer icon in the lower left corner of the Style Manager Window.

Odin Cary

Principal, ARCHIdigm

[john_nordmark2]

Thanks for all the replies

@dbroad 

Naming is not a problem in itself. We have lists of codes and names of objects.

@pendean 

No, I haven't asked the customer about their file management system yet, but I will. But I don't have high hopes that they will have a good solution for it.

@odin 

Yes, I have a good understanding of the Style Browser and how it works. That's not the problem either.

I want to find a way to be able to search for, and add a large number of mv blocks to several different models. Putting everything on tool palettes is not an option unless there is a good way to add all mv blocks from a file to toll palettes in an automatic way.

Style browser would be perfect, if it could handle MV blocks. Just like that. Point to a file or folder and list all items of a certain type. Then drag-drop into the model.

Now you basically have to open the model with all the mv blocks, go into the Style browser, browse for the right mv block (search is not possible), then copy over to the right model. Quite a time consuming process.

It must be said that our standard tool is Revit. We want to find a similar approach now that we need to work in AutoCAD Architecture.

[David_W_Koch]

@john_nordmark2 

Perhaps not much of a time savings, but you do not have to open a file in AutoCAD to access its contents in Style Manager.  You can open the file within Style Manager (and leave it open there, if you will be coming back to it frequently) and the find the desired Multi-View Blocks and copy to the current file.

I agree that having access to Multi-View Blocks in Styles Browser would be useful to the workflow you describe.

[R_Tweed]

Is the content browser an option for you? You can export all mvblock styles of the drawing to a catalog which would be searchable. @dbroad had mentioned this as an option in another post.