How do you make a custom Multileader Arrowhead come in to new Drawing?

[Anonymous]

I have defined a custom Multileader Ellipse Arrowhead tool on my tool pallet, however, when I execute the Multileader Ellipse Arrowhead tool, a closed arrowhead appears instead of the Ellipse Arrowhead! If I open the custom Ellipse Arrowhead drawing & copy/paste into the new drawing, then the custom Ellipse Arrowhead will come in off the tool pallet. It is a pain to have to copy/paste the custom Multileader Ellipse Arrowhead tool into each & every new drawing! Can anyone tell me how to make the custom Multileader Ellipse Arrowhead come in off the tool pallet without copy/paste the custom Multileader Ellipse Arrowhead tool into each & every new drawing?

I have attached the custom Multileader Ellipse Arrowhead drawing.

Frustrated CAD Jockey,

Corey M. Barge   

[SeeMSixty7]

Your custom leader is dependent on the COND-ELL2 block. You will most likely need to make sure this block definition exists in your drawing before trying to run your custom leader command.

To test insert just the block into your drawing then run your custom leader. If it works as expected then you know how to resolve the issue. Simply verify the block exists in your drawing before executing the custom leader command.

Good luck

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

As @SeeMSixty7 indicates, the block your arrow depends on must exist in the drawing prior to the Multileader being inserted from the palette.

Since I don't like "stuff" in my drawing before I need it, in the past I have just made a Macro that runs on startup that inserts the block into the drawing and then erases it. This makes the definition available still while the block doesn't have an inserted object present. In addition, I usually create a button to manually run the same script. This method lets you purge your drawing but still be able to use your multileader.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[GrantsPirate · Accepted solution]

Add this mleader style into your template.  Any new drawings based off the template will have that available.

I tried add the mleader to the tool palette and it worked fine for me in a new drawing that did not have the ellipse block.  How did you get it to the tool palette?

[Anonymous]

John,

Could you please share your Macro/Script with me you use to see if it resolves my problem?

Thanks,

Corey M. Barge

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I don't have that available currently but let me look tonight. My routine was put in the acaddoc.lsp so that it would run at startup. The routine would check the block table to see if it had been inserted already and if not it would insert it from a folder that was defined in my Support File Search Path.

My button, I believe, was something like this:

^c^c^p-insert;myblock;0,0,0;1;0;

You might also check the customization forum to see if there is something nicer than the way I was doing it in the past.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I will look for your Macro/Script when you post it!

[SeeMSixty7]

Try something like this to check and see if it exists and if it doesn't it launches the insert command for the block and then cancels the insert process
NOTE: The block has to be on the ACAD Path to use it this way, otherwise you will need to specify the path in front of the blockname.
(if (not (tblsearch "block" "COND-ELL2"))
(command "-insert" "COND-ELL2" nil)
)


Good Luck

[Anonymous]

I opened the Multileader definition drawing, then dragged the Multileader onto the pallet. After reading your post, I dragged the Multileader definition onto the Tool Pallet from Design Center, & it came into the new drawing with the COND-ELL2 arrowhead as a block. Had to burst it to turn it into a Multileader. I then went into the Tool Pallet Multileader Definition tool properties & told it to explode when executed. Then it comes into the drawing as a Multileader. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Can you please specify the ACAD Path in the program you’re talking about? Do you make the routine a .scr, .LSP & where do you place it in the program directory?

Please copy/paste the path you have for the routine & I will try to duplicate it in my AutoCAD program. FYI. I only have about 5 years relevant AutoCAD experience & I’m on a customization learning about curve) Thanks!

Corey M. Barge

[Anonymous]

John,
I copied your command line into a Command Tool Pallet .LSP , making "COND-ELL2" the block name. I copied the "COND-ELL2" block into this directory: C:\Documents and Settings\CBarge\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2008\R17.1\enu\Support. it loaded the block in to the new drawing, but when I execute the OND-ELL2 arrow Multileader, it still draws a closed arrow.

[SeeMSixty7]

The Acad Path environment variable can be updated or viewed in the OPTIONS command and is located on the first tab "Files" and is the first item in the list. "Support File Search Path". If you store the block in any location listed in that area, AutoCAD will find it when you try and insert it.

Next thing is do you have the COND-ELL2 as a block by itself written to a file?
If not from any drawing you have the block use the WBLOCK command, select the COND-ELL2 from the list of blocks, select a location(Filename) near the bottom of the dialog box and be sure to name the file YourPathHere\COND-ELL2.dwg
you can add the following LISP code in your acaddoc file if you like or add it to the .MNL file of your menu.
(defun definehoopblock()
(if (not (tblsearch "block" "COND-ELL2"))
(command "-insert" "COND-ELL2" nil)
)
)

Then when you are ready to call your leader in the menu system, prefix it with your definehoopblock function
^C^C(definhoopbloc) [your custom leader command here]

If you have your custom leader command defined in a lisp file elsewhere add the code there.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Now that the custom Multileader works, I found a quirk about it. When I pull the multileader page north or south, the multileader landing always is attached to either the right or left side of the Multileader content block. I would like it to attach to the top or bottom of the content block when I pulll it straight up or down. When I created the Multileader template dwg, I drew the leader straight, page east with the custom block content at the end. Why does it do this??? Is there a way to make the leader attach to either the top or bottom, depending on if I pull it straight up or down? I have attached the Custom Content Multileader template dwg.

Frustrated CAD Jockey