Replace Selected Blocks in AutoCAD LT

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Anyone know of a good way to replace selected blocks (certain block instances) in AutoCAD LT? I thought I had figured out a way but now I'm at a loss. The -insert command doesn't seem to work, and I'm unclear if that would allow me to replace some, but not all, instances of a particular block.

Thanks a million,

Cindy

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

There is no magic button and it will depend on your situation, it requires the insert point (and scales) to be the same in new and old blocks. A method I use is to have a second drawing open, in the new drawing insert the new block that you want to use but rename it to the EXACT same name as the old block you want to replace. You can then delete this block as the definition is now stored in the drawing. Select the old blocks in the original drawing and copy with base point use 0,0 as the base, paste the blocks into the new drawing again use 0,0. And they will be transformed into the new block. Now use rename and give the blocks a new name. Back in the original drawing reselect and delete the old blocks.

Then all you have to do is again copy with basepoint 0,0 the new named blocks back into the original drawing. So now you have 2 different types of block.

[ryan.bales · Accepted solution]

There isn't any easy way to do this in LT, the best way i can think of would be manual isolating the blocks and replacing them using quick select. 

[h_s_walker]

How do you mean specific blocks?

Do you mean

1. You have ten blocks called banana and you want to change five of them to a block called apple?

2. You have ten blocks called banana and you want to change all of them to a block called apple?

[Anonymous]

Thanks hwalker. I mean I have ten blocks called banana and I want to change five of them to a block called apple.

[pendean]

In LT, you either swap all 10 banana-blocks using this method or none like this http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/replace-one-block-with-another/

Or you use INSERT command to place 5 apple-blocks over the 5 banana-blocks manually and work out the angles if any, leaving the other 5 banana-blocks intact.

[h_s_walker]

You could do as @pendean suggested.

You could also edit your block. Give a visibility state. Make one state banana, make the other state apple, put your apple block in the apple visibility state and explode it.

Make sure you save the block changes.

Then all you need to do is select the five relevant blocks and change their visibility state from banana to apple

[Mouse_Clicker]

Another possible solution to change only selected blocks is to;

1.  "CopyBlockDefAndAssign" select the "5 Bannana's" you want to change to apples, assign them a new name so they're essentially a new block.  (right click, its like the third option up from the top, once you've got the blocks selected)

2. Then you can use replace block on the "new" block you've created.

I found the best way to select the blocks to change was to select similar, get them all, then shift click out the ones you don't want.

[cadffm]

Sorry, but thats not a  possible solution (for that thread).

This command is not available in Autocad LT (or Autocad).

If you know how to make it available in LT, please write about it.
There a dll and crx with data to that function, but you (or only I) can't use it

[Anonymous]

---

@h_s_walker wrote:

How do you mean specific blocks?

Do you mean

1. You have ten blocks called banana and you want to change five of them to a block called apple?

2. You have ten blocks called banana and you want to change all of them to a block called apple?

---

My situation is the situation 1. I want to change only one group them. Do you have any idea, bro?

[h_s_walker]

See my suggestion of creating a visibility state. One called banana and one called apple

[ARCH-SADEQ]

I got the same problem .. if there is any way it would be great just like in Revit you select the block and replace it with one of imported blocks.

[steven-g]

There are a number of suggested methods shown above in this post, but this is LT it doesn't have many of the more advanced techniques available to other more expensive programs. LT can often perform the tasks we need, just not with a 'magic button' it requires more time and more effort.

[Anonymous]

Hi Steven,
Thanks for your help. I successfully explained my company that it was
really hard to work with Cad LT so they updated to the full version for me.

[steven-g]

That's good news 👍. To be honest I don't see it as hard work I actually enjoy the challenge of getting things done in LT, and it is great to see how many different 'work arounds' people can think of.

[dwardKNHZ5]

I have been is a few different companies during the past 20 years or so, some are not able to buy full versions of autocad and stay afloat (profitable).  LT opens the door into this world.  So for those that find yourself in the situation of not being able to get a full version here is on of the simplest ways to Block replace.   With a qualifier that your blocks are pretty much the same block (same attributes if any)with some tweaks that were made to improve upon the original (dynamic block elements add, etc).  this may have happened in a more current project and now needs to be applied to an in progress project using the old definition or maybe both versions of the block are used.  Simply select the blocks you want to replace by methods of your own choosing, then WBLOCK them to a new file, using 0,0,0 as the origin.  choose to delete from drawing.  Open the new file, rename the block to the block that has the correct definition (exact naming required).  Copy those blocks to the clipboard using the 0,0,0 basepoint and past them into your drawing.  They will come in with all the attributes still in place.  only thing left to do is flip in visibility on or off.  Obviously this intended for replacing similarly built blocks that were placed and the new block is complex enough that you wouldn't want to have to replicate the work to improve the block AGAIN. Hope this helps lessen to burden. 

[cadffm]

Hi,

this general way (export,rename,import) is already explained multiple times above,

BUT Since Version 2024, AutoCAD LT incl. a LISP interface!

Now, you use use or write "all" functions&commands you need

and 10000 of Tools, written in the past for fullversion, works too (not all, but a lot)

LT 2024 - Whats new: LISP