Change all objects to layer 0, delete unused layers and change color to BYBLOCK.

[arron.craig]

I am trying to batch clean up a few thousand 3D .dwg files and would like some help coming up with a .lisp file that will do most of the work for me. 

Here are the steps I am wanting to carry out:

1. Move everything in the .dwg to the default layer "0"
2. Delete all remaining unused layers
3. Change the color of everything to BYBLOCK
4. Create a block, name = filename (excluding extension), base point = 0,0,0
5. Change view style to 2D wireframe
6. Change view to "Front View"
7. Save
8. Close

Hopefully this is possible, would appreciate any available help.

[EnM4st3r · Accepted solution]

not sure if thats exactly how you want it, but i tried something

(defun c:Cleanthisdwg (/ doc)
  (setq doc (vla-get-activedocument(vlax-get-acad-object)))
  (vlax-for obj (vla-get-modelspace doc)
    (ultimatelayerchange obj "0")
    (vla-put-color obj 0)
  )
  (command "_-purge" "_LAYER" "" "_no")
  (vla-add (vla-get-blocks doc) (vlax-3d-point 0 0 0) (vl-filename-base (getvar 'DWGNAME)))
  (command "_vscurrent" "_2d" "_-view" "_front" "_qsave" "_close")
)

(defun ultimatelayerchange (obj str / makelayer doc oldlayer oldlock)
  (defun makelayer (str / layers)
    (setq layers (vla-get-layers doc))
    (if (not (vl-catch-all-error-p (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-item (list layers str))))
      t
      (vla-add layers str)
    )
  )
  (setq doc (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object)))
  (if (makelayer str)
    (progn 
      (setq oldlayer (vla-item (vla-get-layers doc)(vla-get-layer obj)))       
      (setq oldlock (vla-get-lock oldlayer))
      (vla-put-lock oldlayer :vlax-false)    
      (vla-put-layer obj str)    
      (vla-put-lock oldlayer oldlock)
    )
  )
)

[ronjonp]

@arron.craig 

Step #4 will create a circular reference.

[Kent1Cooper]

---

@arron.craig wrote:

....

    4, Create a block, name = filename (excluding extension), base point = 0,0,0

....

I also wondered about step 4.  Does that mean you want to make the whole drawing into a Block, i.e. define everything in the drawing into a single Block, whose name is the same as the drawing's?  That would create a circular reference if that drawing were ever to be INSERTed [not XREF'd] into another drawing, becoming a Block as any Inserted drawing does.

If that would never happen, it's possible to have a Block in a drawing with the same name as the drawing, but if it contains everything, what would be the purpose?  It takes more memory to define the Block-of-everything and have it Inserted than to just have the pieces, without the Block definition.

But the "base point = 0,0,0" part implies to me that you would INSERT this drawing into some other drawing(s).  In that case, don't define everything into a Block.  Just set the INSBASE System Variable to 0,0,0 [that's the default anyway, if you haven't changed it].  That will be used as the insertion base point when INSERTing into another drawing, and it will be a Block there, with no need for a nested Block definition within it [whether or not with a different name to prevent the circular reference].

[arron.craig]

Is it the block name = dwg name that creates the circular reference or just the whole drawing contents being in a block? I can certainly change it a bit to dwgname_"block" or something, as long as I can use the dwg name somewhere to identify it..

The use case is actually for a separate Autodesk utility "Spec Editor for Autodesk Plant3D". I need each of my 3D .dwg valve models to be in a block, with nothing else in the drawing for it to import the block correctly into the spec/catalogue. 

[ronjonp]

---

@arron.craig wrote:

 I need each of my 3D .dwg valve models to be in a block, with nothing else in the drawing for it to import the block correctly into the spec/catalogue. 

---

If you create a block within that drawing then insert it into another drawing you will have a block within a block.

Here's an example of circular reference .. try to insert it in a drawing.

[arron.craig]

I see. That situation is not applicable in this case because the blocks and drawings are never inserted into another drawing. The workflow I am trying to automate is the same as the manual method which is recommended by Plant 3D/Autodesk.