Attribute Edit

[john.uhden]

I got sick of dealing with the attribute editor.  You can't just hit Enter to complete the edit. You have to hit the OK button (or Tab + Enter).

So, here's a little way to edit an attribute just like editing text (not mtext)...

(defun c:AE ( / e ent old new dummy)
  (defun *error* (err)
    (and dummy (entget dummy)(entdel dummy))
    (princ)
  )
  (while (setq e (car (nentsel "\nSelect attribute to modify: ")))
    (setq ent (entget e))
    (setq old (assoc 1 ent))
    (setq dummy
      (entmakex (list '(0 . "TEXT")'(10 0.0 0.0 0.0)'(11 0.0 0.0 0.0)
      '(7 . "STANDARD")'(40 . 1.0) old '(60 . 1)) ;; invisible
      )
    )
    (command "_.ddedit" dummy "")
    (setq new (assoc 1 (entget dummy)))
    (entmod (subst new old ent))
    (entupd e)
    (entdel dummy)
  )
  (*error* nil)
)

Yes, you might want to add cmdecho and undo control and embellish the *error* function, but I'll leave that to you and your style.

[Jonathan3891]

I've tried your lisp on several attributes blocks and I keep getting this error

Select attribute to modify: Unknown command "DDEDIT".  Press F1 for help.
<Entity name: DFB79EA0>

[SeeMSixty7]

DDEDIT was discontinued at some point.

Swap out the DDEDIT with TEXTEDIT and it will work fine for you.

@john.uhden uses an older AutoCAD version and it works like a champ for him.

Nice work John!

[SeeMSixty7]

@john.uhden I downloaded and ran this a few times using the TEXTEDIT command. It behaves a bit differently. There is TEXTEDITMODE Variable that you can set to single then eliminate the extra "" in the command line.

(setq tedmode (getvar "TEXTEDITMODE"))
(setvar "texteditmode" 1) ;Flag to disable multi edit (0 = multi; 1=single)
(command "_.textedit" dummy)

I was also thinking it might be nice to set the text insert to the center of the screen for what ever space is current. Don't you just love it when someone just says "Hey, you could do this or that?" GRIN!

Thanks,

[john.uhden]

I try to use a version that befits my age, but they don't run R9 and MS-DOS
here anymore. But I am considering getting a new calculator with Nixie
tube display and one memory. I still remember the DMS to radian
conversion...
0.0174532925 * degrees
+ 0.0002908882 * minutes
+ 0.0000048481 * seconds

[SeeMSixty7]

I think I have a copy of R10 for OS/2 still handy. LOL

You will need a 5.25 floppy drive though!

[ronjonp]

Does CNTRL+DoubleLeftClick not work for you?

[SeeMSixty7]

@ronjonp I don't think that works on R9 or R10. LOL!

Kidding aside, That is a new one for me. What release did that come out in? Thanks for sharing!

[ronjonp]

I'm not exactly sure what release it was introduced in but I've been using it for at least 10 of my 20 years of CAD  🙂

Then again .. I don't remember what happened yesterday 😂

[john.uhden]

LOL! I think its best use would be for pistol practice.

[SeeMSixty7]

I'm saving it  to donate to the AutoCAD Museum some day. GRIN. 

[ronjonp]

Here's a portion of my collection for the museum 🙂

[john.uhden]

I wonder if I still have a SoftEngine disk or CD.
I think I still have my light blue "Auto Manager now has a mouse" T shirt
from Chicago 1988. Those were the days when I got paid to go to shows. :[

What I would love to find is the barb I had with Tony T way back in the
day. He called me a pea brain for some solution I proposed claiming that
no one could possibly figure out how to use it (or something like that).
To which I replied "well, if a pea brain like me can figure it out then
certainly anybody can."

[Sea-Haven]

Yeah had a demo in AUS say 20 years ago by a Autodesk  re-spouting land desktop, showed grading tool asked does it do cut=fill balance 20 years later CIV3d still no. The 20+ years old other software still does it.

[john.uhden]

AUS?
Do you know Laurie Comerford?

[Sea-Haven]

Yes,  met him a couple of times.

Not sure where he is now can find out though.

[john.uhden]

Laurie actually paid me a visit in 2001.

We still hang the same plants every year from Barlow Flower Farm (just down the street).

My wife just makes everything grow big and beautiful.

[Sea-Haven]

Type Rpncalc found this the other day.

HP 33 35 45 etc.

[john.uhden]

That's too many keys to find, especially in the dark )mu ;ohjy just went ouy+