Block Manager

Block Manager

gizmowiebe
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Message 1 of 9

Block Manager

gizmowiebe
Contributor
Contributor
Hi There,
I'm trying to create a block manager using VBA. I'ts all working fine. But the thing is I would like to create a block manager witch users can fill in for themselves. So they can create different groups with different blocks in them.

I all must look something like this.

[Mounting Brackets] <=== Group name
F12-108-0 <=== Block name
F12-205-1

[Assembly Parts]
F11-202-0
F11-506-2

Is there a way that I can create this, the Group names and block names. And to do this so that I can be edited all the time.

Regards Wiebe
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559 Views
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Message 2 of 9

Anonymous
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"gizmowiebe" wrote in message news:9319539.1102949277828.JavaMail.jive@jiveforum2.autodesk.com... > Hi There, > I'm trying to create a block manager using VBA. I'ts all working fine. But the thing is I would like to create a block manager witch users can fill in for themselves. So they can create different groups with different blocks in them. > > I all must look something like this. > > [Mounting Brackets] <=== Group name > F12-108-0 <=== Block name > F12-205-1 > > [Assembly Parts] > F11-202-0 > F11-506-2 > > Is there a way that I can create this, the Group names and block names. And to do this so that I can be edited all the time. Of course, this depends on how, exactly, you have your libray configured. If it is database driven, you can have a field for "Group Name", then with SQL you can easily do a SELECT DISTINCT [Group Name] query, which would give you all of your groups. Then, for each group, you can display the matching blocks. I've done this with an intranet web links page, as well. It does provide plenty of flexibility, though it does leave more data control up to the users. HTH
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Message 3 of 9

gizmowiebe
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I Havend driven the database yet. I'm looking for the best option. What do you think?
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Message 4 of 9

Anonymous
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"gizmowiebe" wrote in message news:7122617.1102953692253.JavaMail.jive@jiveforum2.autodesk.com... > I Havend driven the database yet. I'm looking for the best option. What do you think? Well, using a database gives you alot more control and more options, as far as the interface is concerned. The data is all centralized and tends to be much easier to control, since you are determining the users level of involvement. If you want something 'simpler', maybe a "blocks" folder, with a subfolder for each group, then your manager could use FileSystemObject to iterate through them, collecting the available symbols. The downside to this method is that maintaining a description would be a little harder to control. Please repost with your solution, when you're satisfied. I'm planning on doing one here, soon, with the plan (at least right now) being to use the data structure of Land's symbol manager with a stand-alone interface so it can be used with Map, as well, not forcing the user to have Land running.
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Message 5 of 9

gizmowiebe
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Contributor
I like the folder Idea. I can create a Listbox witch will show different folders for each group. And than maybe a INSERT button to insert blocks innto the manager.
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Message 6 of 9

Anonymous
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It always amazes me that people don't realize that a dwg file is a database . . . with a multitiude of wonderful tools to access and manipulate it. Have you thought about saving all your blocks in one drawing, residing on a server, and then accessing the blocks via ObjectDBX? Grouping could be easily handled by naming: A_BNAME_001, B_BNAME_002, etc. Modifiying, updating and managing this "database" could be handle with tools you already understand: AutoCAD. just a thought. jb
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Message 7 of 9

Anonymous
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"j buzbee" wrote in message news:41d45f77$1_2@newsprd01... > It always amazes me that people don't realize that a dwg file is a > database . . . with a multitiude of wonderful tools to access and > manipulate it. Have you thought about saving all your blocks in one > drawing, residing on a server, and then accessing the blocks via > ObjectDBX? Grouping could be easily handled by naming: A_BNAME_001, > B_BNAME_002, etc. Modifiying, updating and managing this "database" could > be handle with tools you already understand: AutoCAD. I wouldn't prefer it, but I also wouldn't have a problem with what you suggest.
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Message 8 of 9

Anonymous
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Need to keep in mind that the dwg database is not multiuser. So if you plan on having more that one user updating and managing this dwg "database" then using the dwg is not a good idea. -- Saludos, Ing. Jorge Jimenez, SICAD S.A., Costa Rica "TomD" wrote in message news:41d94b2e$1_1@newsprd01... > "j buzbee" wrote in message > news:41d45f77$1_2@newsprd01... >> It always amazes me that people don't realize that a dwg file is a >> database . . . with a multitiude of wonderful tools to access and >> manipulate it. Have you thought about saving all your blocks in one >> drawing, residing on a server, and then accessing the blocks via >> ObjectDBX? Grouping could be easily handled by naming: A_BNAME_001, >> B_BNAME_002, etc. Modifiying, updating and managing this "database" >> could be handle with tools you already understand: AutoCAD. > > I wouldn't prefer it, but I also wouldn't have a problem with what you > suggest. >
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Message 9 of 9

Anonymous
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True, however in most AE firms, or anywhere that office "standards" are kept, the task of managing data falls on one (or a few) individual(s). I have two drawings: AECStandards.dwg that users access and AECStandards-edit.dwg. The latter being a mirror used for management purposes. When it comes to AutoCAD objects, i.e. Layers, Blocks, Textstyles, Dimstyles, AEC Styles, etc. you can't beat the resident modifing tools. IMHO. jb
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