change to block attribute tag names

[james2che]

Using Acad 2021 I'm working on a P&ID drawing with numerous bubble symbols for the instruments. I've had a change of perspective regarding the bubble block attributes. Trouble is I want to change without losing information in the numerous block representation attributes.

There are two types of bubble blocks, FIELD and COMPUTER, symbolizing the field instrument source, i.e. level or flow, and another symbolizing the computer screen readout for that information. The P&ID drawing tells people what's outside and what you can see inside.

Now I want a neat table that collects all the attribute information. FIELD and COMPUTER blocks contain similar but different attributes, FIELD_TYPE (level or flow) and FIELD_TAG (100 or 120) as well as COMPUTER_TYPE and COMPUTER_TAG. The data extraction produces a table with four columns, minus the block name, and will not sort to bring rows of similar tag numbers together.

I need to adopt a new type of block with a third attribute that differentiates field and computer, PID. The PID bubble block with be used at both field and computer locations. Extration of PID will produce a table with only three columns, minus the block name.

previously two types of blocks, variety of four attributes (4 columns)
FIELD, FIELD_TYPE=flow, FIELD_TAG=120
COMPUTER, COMPUTER_TYPE=flow, COMPUTER_TAG=120

changing to only one new block, and then a variety of only three attributes (3 columns)
PID, PID=field, TYPE=flow, TAG=120
PID, PID=computer, TYPE=flow, TAG=120

I don't know of a way to redefine an attribute's tag. Is there a way for me to edit the attributes of existing block representations in order to change the FIELD_TYPE and FIELD_TAG attributes to a shared TYPE and TAG attributes, without losing the pre-existing attribute values?

If I can't redefine, is there an automated way of new block creation from old attribute values?

I appreciate your help problem solving. FYI, I'm not using dynamic blocks.

[Charlie_Magill · Accepted solution]

You can use the BATTMAN command to edit attribute tag names. So you could edit the tag names of your Computer and Field blocks to just TYPE and TAG as you specified so they share common column names. Could add a PID attribute as well to each block to specify computer vs field (although I don't know why you couldn't just include the block name in your table to achieve the same result).

Let me know if this helps or if I misunderstand the problem.

[james2che]

My bad, or should I say, my battman.  The BATTMAN command not only reorders and changes properties of attributes but will also change tag names.  And you can change the tag names in different blocks of different attributes to a single desired name.  I didn't go to a common block but I got the table that I wanted.  For the purpose of P&ID instrument table I will be adding a loop number attribute in order to sort related instruments together.

[ChicagoLooper]

What you have are block attributes and those attributes can be considered as DATA. The concept of Data Management is not easy. It's much easier in the AutoCad verticals (other specialized Acad versions with more horsepower), not Plain  Vanilla AutoCad. Still it's entirely possible with vanilla. You just need to organize your data, especially items you don't normally consider to be data in the first place.

Put the Field blocks and the Computer blocks on two separate layers, such as F-BLK AND C-BLK. Two distinct layers are sufficient but if you are ambitious, you can use 4 separate layers: F-BLK-1, F-BLK-2, C-BLK-1 AND C-BLK-2. Don't clutter these layers with other entities, they must be layers dedicated to your blocks. Give the layer short, abbreviated names, don't write a sentence, the shorter the better, and be sure to be descriptive when creating the name.

Once your blocks are on separate layers, run DATAEXTRACTION operation and extract the attributes like you've already done, but this time extract the LAYER too. The layer name will appear in your table along with the attributes. With a little editing, you and make your table look fancy-schmancy.