how to find all available block reference
To me, it is still not very clear of what exactly your intention is: do you want to list all block references in the drawing (regardless which layout they are in); or you want to list block's name that has block reference being inserted into the drawing (say, the drawing contains 10 block definitions, thus 10 block names, but only 5 blocks have block references inserted. So, you want that 5 block names listed, not all 10 names).
Let's assume you want to latter. So, you can do this way:
1. loop through all layouts, including ModelSpace find all AcadBlockReference; or use AcadSelectionSet to select all block references with filter;
2. For each block reference, save the block's name into a collection/array, as long as the block name does not exists in that collection/array.
Following is the code (pseudo/not tested, I omitted the filter for selectionset, but you could refer to the first reply from @Anonymous for it):
'' This function would returns an array of name of blocks that have block references inserted into the drawing.
Public Function FindUsedBlocks() As Variant
Dim names() As String
Dim i As Integer
Dim j As Integer
Dim blk As AcadBlockRefernece
Dim ss As AcadSelectionSet
Set ss = FindAllBlockReferences
For i=0 to ss.Count-1
Set blk = ss(i)
If i=0 the
ReDim Preserve names(j)
names(j)=blk.EffectiveName
j=j+1
Else
If Not NameExists(names, blk.EffectivaName) Then
ReDim Preserve names(j)
names(j)=blk.EffectiveName
j=j+1
End If
End If
Next
FindUsedBlocks = names
End Function
Private Function SelectAllBlockRefernces() As AcadSelection
Dim ss As AcadSelection
On Error Resume Next
Set ss=ThsiDrawing.SelectionSets.Add("MySS")
If err.Numer<>0 Then
set ss=ThisDrawing.SelectionSet("MySS")
End If
'' define filter here....
ss.Select acSelectionSetAll, [filter]
Set SelectAllBlockReferences=ss
End Function
Private Function NameExists(names As Variant, name As String) As Boolean
Dim i As Integer
For i = 0 To Ubound(names)
If UCase(names(i) = UCase(name)
NameExists = True
Exit Function
End If
Next
NameExists=False
End Function
Hopefully I did not guess your intention wrong.
first of all thanks for the time Sir.
secondly, I am a bit confused now. I have to read about the difference between an acad block and acad block reference.
I have created a shape, and used the "BLOCK" command to set that shape as a block and say I named it BL_type1
then created a second shape and named it BL_type2 and so on.
now, when I filter my selectionsets using this:
Dim block_filterdata(1) As Integer
Dim block_filtertype(1) As Variant
block_filterdata(0) = 8
block_filterdata(1) = 0
block_filtertype(0) = selected_layer
block_filtertype(1) = "insert"
block_sset.Select acSelectionSetAll, , , block_filterdata, block_filtertype
.....
sub userform_activate()
dim bl as acadblockrefence
for each bl in block_sset
listbox.addItem .Name
next
Obviously the selectionset only selects the "insert" Items (which are acad block references) and are in the selected_layer (which i have defined it in another part). but the point is, If i didnt use (insert) BL_type1 or 2 in the drawing, it wont select it therefore I wont have BL_type1 in block_sset
also, if I use bl_type2 or 3 or what ever, xxx times, my list will show it xxx times.
I just want to see it once.
Ill do my reading regard block and bokcreferences. Ill ask again if I couldn't come up with some thing.
and Mr. Yuan, I dont know why, but its giving a syntax error on if i=0 then...
again, thanks for the time sir.
Well, that was why in my previous reply I had to assume what you want to do: you did not express your intention clearly enough. Now that you admit that you are still not very certain of the difference of AcadBlock and AcadBlockReference, that is understandable that mentioning "block reference" in the title of your post only made it more confusing as what exactly you need to do.
But now, it seems you want list the names of all BLOCK DEFINITIONS (AcadBlock). In this case, no block references are involved (thus, no need to selecting with filters, or loop through model/paperspace ...). Again, you still not make things clear enough.
How about explain what you need to do (IN DETAILS!), as CAD user, not a programmer: what the user want to see in the list box, and what the user expects after a block name is selected in the list box.
I repeat the process and create BL_2 and BL_3 , BL_4 and so on.
by the way, using the define attributes I assign attributes to them as well. some of three attributes some have two and some have one.
now when I click the triangle in insert menu I can see all the blocks created.
I insert one of them. when I click on the block and it shows it properties why does CAD consider it as a block reference. not AcadBlock?
for the program, my first intention is to see all those blocks in a listbox. regardless they are drawn in the modelspace or not.
second, when the user clicks on that item in the listbox, id like to show the modelspace, let the user pick the insertion point then draw that block in that point and let the user enter the attributes as well.
then there is another command button which when clicked on, lists all the blocks, its attributes and insertion point in an excel file.
Try this:
Sub ListBlocks()
Dim AcadObj As AcadObject, BlockRef As AcadBlockReference
For Each AcadObj In ThisDrawing.ModelSpace
If TypeOf AcadObj Is AcadBlockReference Then
Set BlockRef = AcadObj
UserForm1.ListBox1.AddItem BlockRef.EffectiveName
End If
Next AcadObj
End Sub
Sub ListBlocks2()
Dim Block As AcadBlock
For Each Block In ThisDrawing.Blocks
If Left(Block.Name, 1) <> "*" Then UserForm1.ListBox2.AddItem Block.Name
Next Block
End Sub
And u will have this two variations:
I don't know exataly wath u need, but i guess is something like that.
I hope can help u.