AutoCAD 2016 : Inserting Block Browser Frozen

[jwright]

Inserting an existing block that has been amended.  I have deleted old block and purged drawing. However, when pressing the 'Browse' button it freezes the window, only by Esc. can I unfreeze.  When going to block folder from desktop to insert amended block - it only inserts pre amended block.  This is happening to all my drawings.  Can anyone advise please.

[pendean]

Are you sure the block is no longer in the file?

RENAME command, while inside your DWG file, find he block's name and call it something else.
Now bring in your newly redefined block: it should work unless it has nested blocks you also need to rename in your DWG file first.

[doni49]

The downside to renaming the block is that if the block IS nested within another block, the parent block (the one containing the nested block) will still point to the renamed block.  When you insert the new version, it will not be nested in the parent.

When you run the insert command, are you browsing to the file you want to insert?  Or are you using the drag & drop method?

If you browse to it using the insert command, if the block is already defined you should see a prompt asking if you want to redefine it.

[jwright]

Unable to rename ‘browser’ button from insert command, as it is in the setup command tab.

Regards

Gillian

Gillian Dove | Technical Department | Smart Architectural Aluminium
Arnolds Way ▪ Yatton ▪ Bristol ▪ North Somerset ▪ BS49 4QN ▪ UK
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[jwright]

When pressing the ‘browse’ button to get into folder containing file, it freezes (the screen) – I have to press esc. to unfreeze screen. I have tried to drag and drop and although it is allowing me, it is the pre-amended block that I am only able to insert.

Regards

Gillian

Gillian Dove | Technical Department | Smart Architectural Aluminium
Arnolds Way ▪ Yatton ▪ Bristol ▪ North Somerset ▪ BS49 4QN ▪ UK
T +44 (0) 1934 876 100 ▪ F +44 (0) 1934 833 030

This email is private and confidential. If you have received this message in error please notify the sender immediately and remove the message from your system. The opinions expressed within are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Smart Systems Limited. All our network PCs operate virus-scanning but we make no guarantee that any attachment to this message is free from computer viruses. You are advised to check all attachments using your own virus scanning software before opening or executing them. Smart Systems Limited 1314601, Smart Aluminium Extrusions Limited 07285518 are registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Arnolds Way, Yatton, North Somerset BS49 4QN

[doni49]

I just re-read your first post and realized that you said you press the Browse button and it freezes.

Try this:

-insert (notice the hypen in front of the command)

blockname=c:\foldername\drawingname

The equals will tell acad to REDEFINE the block (if it is already defined or define it if not) based on the filename. 

[jwright]

Thank you doni49,

-insert - blockname hasn't worked, just inserts old (preamended) block., like drag and drop., and didn't ask if I wanted to redefine it.

Any other ideas ?

[pendean]

-INSERT
blockname=

The = tells AutoCAD to replace the block inside the file with a matching name block in your AutocAD search path.

Now are you sure your old block is not in your AutoCAD search path ahead of the new block definition?

[jwright]

-insert

blockname=

Asking to redefine entering YES -

*Invalid* Can't find search path

I think it must be from the inital problem of the 'browser' freezing the screen on insert tab.

Still working on a solution ......

[pendean]

That usually means your new block is not in AutoCAD's search path, not much else.

Is your modified block inside another drawing file? or is it out on it's own in a folder? Is that folder listed in the OPTIONS command FILES tab entry for search paths?
Can you use ADCENTER to go get this block and insert it into your file?

Any reason you cannot rename the block that's already in the file as I suggested earlier?

The last time you used "browse", was it to browse a drive that you are no longer connected to?

[doni49]

Try this including the Parentheses:
(findfile blockname.dwg)
And replace blockname with the name of your block file.

If it says nil then it can't find the file. If it gives you a file path
then it is able to find it and we need to look elsewhere.

In my tests with ADCENTER if I drag in a block that already exists, I don't
get anything asking me to redefine the block - - it just reuses what's
already in the drawing.

[doni49]

I forgot to say that you need to put the filename in quotes in the findfile
request.

(findfile "blockname.dwg")

[pendean]

ADCENTER will replace a block if you tell it: right-click on the block, select INSERT AS BLOCK, OK on the pop-up that appears, it should ask for permission to replace it.

[jwright]

The drive is the same from the last time I used 'browse' and it worked - but that was months ago - I have been looking for an answer to this for ages, there is nothing I can find.

I have inserted the amended block in other drawings for the first time (no previous block of the same name was in the drawing)., therefore did not need to redefine, but because the browse button has been frozen, was still only able to drag and drop.

When using ADCENTRE am only able to insert preamended block, and am unable to delete it, (within ADCENTRE).

Now with the 'Browse' button freezing, and

Unable to redefine blocks and

Only able to drag and drop

[pendean]

ADCENTER is not designed to delete content from a file: never has, probably never will do that.

Start RENAME command, while inside your DWG file with the old block, find the old block's name and call it something else.
Now bring in your newly redefined block with ADCENTER: it should work ust fine.

[jwright]

Have renamed block in ADCENTRE (thankyou), but it still will not insert revised block, only 'old' block.  2 of my collegues have tried to help (they know AutoCAD technically better than me), but they are totally flumuxed as well, they are pretty certain it is all to do with the 'browse' button tab freezing my screen.  All ideas will be tried - tested and reported back on this little conundrum.

[Martin_Langolf]

Hi Gdove,

In this particular case you could use the following workflow as a possible workaround.

- Amend the block and save it under a new name. - For instance: test_2
- Insert the amended block into the desired drawing.
- Use the command BLOCKREPLACE (from the Express Tools) and exchange the old block with the amended one.

This should allow to update all existing instances of the block.

Should this not help, please could you upload a sample file for testing.

Cheers,
Martin Langolf

[martti.halminen]

---

@Gdove wrote:

Inserting an existing block that has been amended.  I have deleted old block and purged drawing. However, when pressing the 'Browse' button it freezes the window, only by Esc. can I unfreeze.  When going to block folder from desktop to insert amended block - it only inserts pre amended block.  This is happening to all my drawings.  Can anyone advise please.

---

The reason for the display freezing is likely that you were hit by one of AutoCAD's more idiotic user interface usability tricks. When opening a dialog, AutoCAD opens it in the same location as it had last time it was opened.

Otherwise that would be quite nice, but it doesn't bother to check whether that location is currently visible. So, whenever your display configuration changes - adding or removing secondary displays, undocking a laptop etc. - you run the risk that some dialog runs out of the current display area. So, you likely have the Select Drawing File -dialog open, waiting for user input.

The easiest way to recover is using Windows keyboard commands, see for example 

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/77361-move-window-keyboard.html

- Or you could find the dialog in the windows registry and change its stored location...

-- 

[jwright]

I have renamed and inserted block - its not asking to redefine.  I am still not able to 'browse' my files for ANY block, within the drawing, as it still freezes my screen.  If this is a AutoCAD cliche - its extremely frustrating, thinking I might have to re-install AutoCAD.  Surely this has happened before to someone.  I don't think the problem is with the block, it is with the setup., but I don't know how to correct it.

[Martin_Langolf]

Hi Gdove,

Thank you for your feedback.

As for the freezing issue while browsing true blocks, you should be able to workaround it using the "-INSERT" command in AutoCAD.

That being said, at this point I would suggest we run a few tests offline and have a closer look at this behaviour as you see on your screen, to circle it in further.

You will receive a direct email from me during the day.

In advance, thank you for your cooperation.

Cheers,
Martin Langolf