List names of BlkRefs selected.

Anonymous · ‎12-06-2006

After typing all this i was begining to think it was long-winded so I'll trying to simplify here. I have an string array that contains block.names some of these substrings are the same. I want to filter this array so there's only one of each substring.

I think I found a function to help me:
Filter(sourcesrray, match[, include[, compare]])
but I'm unsure on how to implement it.

Long Version:
First I'll explain the "work-around" I have implemented so maybe you can see what i'm trying to do.

I have this tool that skips through blocks of the same name, zooming into each one individualy. The user can select which block he/she wants from a ComboBox that contains a list of blocks defined.

I get this list by iterating throught the Blocks collection, which shows blocks defined in the WHOLE drawing, and add Block.Names to a string array ONLY if there is a reference to it on the ActiveLayout. which means I have to make a SelectionSet of EVERY block defined in the drawing, filter that SelectionSet, and then if the SelSet.Count <> 0, I add that Block Name to the array. In a drawing with 150+ different blocks defined this is very inefficient and sloppy, but it's working.

Now I have the time and want to spruce this thing up a bit and I've come to a roadblock.

Instead of using the Blocks Collection i'm letting the user select the block refs to list. So the user makes this SelSet containing mutiple copies of, say, ten different block defintions. So I have this potential list but some blocks are listed many times. I need to widdle this down to one Block.Name string for each block in this array and then I can add it to the ComboBox.

Anonymous · ‎12-06-2006

Well, don't use an array.

If you use a scripting dictionary, you can On Error Resume Next on the error
when attempting to add an item that already exists, and then use the Keys
method to feed the ComboBox. Obviously create a function to attempt the Add,
due to the On Error.

--
R. Robert Bell

wrote in message news:5417239@discussion.autodesk.com...
After typing all this i was begining to think it was long-winded so I'll
trying to simplify here. I have an string array that contains block.names
some of these substrings are the same. I want to filter this array so
there's only one of each substring.

I think I found a function to help me:
Filter(sourcesrray, match[, include[, compare]])
but I'm unsure on how to implement it.

Long Version:
First I'll explain the "work-around" I have implemented so maybe you can see
what i'm trying to do.

I have this tool that skips through blocks of the same name, zooming into
each one individualy. The user can select which block he/she wants from a
ComboBox that contains a list of blocks defined.

I get this list by iterating throught the Blocks collection, which shows
blocks defined in the WHOLE drawing, and add Block.Names to a string array
ONLY if there is a reference to it on the ActiveLayout. which means I have
to make a SelectionSet of EVERY block defined in the drawing, filter that
SelectionSet, and then if the SelSet.Count <> 0, I add that Block Name to
the array. In a drawing with 150+ different blocks defined this is very
inefficient and sloppy, but it's working.

Now I have the time and want to spruce this thing up a bit and I've come to
a roadblock.

Instead of using the Blocks Collection i'm letting the user select the block
refs to list. So the user makes this SelSet containing mutiple copies of,
say, ten different block defintions. So I have this potential list but some
blocks are listed many times. I need to widdle this down to one Block.Name
string for each block in this array and then I can add it to the ComboBox.

Anonymous · ‎12-06-2006

I was afraid this might happen. I don't know what a scripting dictionary is. I wouldn't say I'm absolute beginner when it comes to VBA customization, but I not exactly a pro. Basically I've learned to get a round using Help. And according to Help, ComboBox doesn't have a Keys method.

Would you bother to tell me if I'm on the right track with the Filter function?

Anonymous · ‎12-06-2006

Sorry I missed the part about not using an array. Ok, what's a scripting dictionary?

Anonymous · ‎12-06-2006

It is the Dictionary object that is part of Microsoft's Scripting Runtime.

You add a reference to your project for the runtime, and then you can create
and use the Dictionary. It has the Keys method, which returns an array of
the keys (index) for the items stored in the dictionary.

See attached sample (assumes 2007).

--
R. Robert Bell

wrote in message news:5417325@discussion.autodesk.com...
Sorry I missed the part about not using an array. Ok, what's a scripting
dictionary?

Anonymous · ‎12-07-2006

I get an runtime error(see attached), I think this is because ComboBox.List is expecting a variant array.

Anonymous · ‎12-07-2006

No, that error is coming from an attempt to set the list index, i.e.
selecting the first item.

Just remove, or comment out, the line that does that. I suspect you are
running the code on a layout with no blocks inserted.

--
R. Robert Bell

wrote in message news:5418427@discussion.autodesk.com...
I get an runtime error(see attached), I think this is because ComboBox.List
is expecting a variant array.

arcticad · ‎12-07-2006

The value of pBlock.EffectiveName is not valid. Something is a miss.

---------------------------

(defun botsbuildbots() (botsbuildbots))

Anonymous · ‎12-07-2006

Are you running the code in 2007? EffectiveName was part of an interface,
not the BlockReference object, before 2007.

--
R. Robert Bell

wrote in message news:5418877@discussion.autodesk.com...
The value of pBlock.EffectiveName is not valid. Something is a miss.

arcticad · ‎12-08-2006

I'm running in Autocad 2005

---------------------------

(defun botsbuildbots() (botsbuildbots))

Anonymous · ‎12-08-2006

Then change EffectiveName to just Name. There were no dynamic blocks in
2005, right?

--
R. Robert Bell

wrote in message news:5419449@discussion.autodesk.com...
I'm running in Autocad 2005

Anonymous · ‎12-08-2006

Same here. I'm also using 2005.

Anonymous · ‎12-09-2006

Again, just change EffectiveName to Name.

And the next time I state that a sample assumes 2007, it would be nice if
you said "there's an error, but I'm running 2005." There just might be a
reason I said the code assumes AutoCAD 2007.

--
R. Robert Bell

wrote in message news:5419723@discussion.autodesk.com...
Same here. I'm also using 2005.

Anonymous · ‎12-09-2006

R. Robert Bell wrote:
> Well, don't use an array.
>
> If you use a scripting dictionary, you can On Error Resume Next on the error
> when attempting to add an item that already exists, and then use the Keys
> method to feed the ComboBox. Obviously create a function to attempt the Add,
> due to the On Error.

Instead of using the "tripped up" method of On Error, why not use the
.Exist method that's built in.

If someone's gone to the trouble of programming it, it seems rude not to
use it:

If myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.name) = False Then 'block name not stored

Dave F.

Anonymous · ‎12-09-2006

Sounds good to me.

--
R. Robert Bell

"Dave F." wrote in message
news:5420602@discussion.autodesk.com...
R. Robert Bell wrote:

Instead of using the "tripped up" method of On Error, why not use the
.Exist method that's built in.

If someone's gone to the trouble of programming it, it seems rude not to
use it:

If myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.name) = False Then 'block name not stored

Anonymous · ‎12-12-2006

Like so...

If Not myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.Name) = False Then
AddBlock myBlocks, aBlock
End If

?

Anonymous · ‎12-12-2006

No.

If Not (myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.EffectiveName)) Then _
myBlocks.Add aBlock.EffectiveName, aBlock

or

If Not (myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.EffectiveName)) Then
myBlocks.Add aBlock.EffectiveName, aBlock
End If

--
R. Robert Bell

wrote in message news:5422866@discussion.autodesk.com...
Like so...

If Not myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.Name) = False Then
AddBlock myBlocks, aBlock
End If

?

Anonymous · ‎12-12-2006

Of course, change EffectiveName to just Name for AutoCAD 2005.

--
R. Robert Bell

"R. Robert Bell" wrote in message
news:5423098@discussion.autodesk.com...
No.

If Not (myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.EffectiveName)) Then _
myBlocks.Add aBlock.EffectiveName, aBlock

or

If Not (myBlocks.Exists(aBlock.EffectiveName)) Then
myBlocks.Add aBlock.EffectiveName, aBlock
End If

Anonymous · ‎12-12-2006

I tryed to incorporated the code into my application, and I get a compile error:
"user-defined type not defined"

with this part of code highlighted:
"myBlocks As New Scripting.Dictionary"

Anonymous · ‎12-12-2006

Check your references
you need the scripting runtime

wrote in message news:5423121@discussion.autodesk.com...
I tryed to incorporated the code into my application, and I get a compile
error:
"user-defined type not defined"

with this part of code highlighted:
"myBlocks As New Scripting.Dictionary"

Community

List names of BlkRefs selected.

List names of BlkRefs selected.

List names of BlkRefs selected.