Script to change block layer and set to no plot

[tevansHMH]

I have written this script to change a block to another layer, freeze that layer and set it to noplot but it isnt working. can anyone tell me where it is broken?

;;SCRIPT TO SUBSTITUTE A BLOCK and CHANGES ITS LAYER, FREEZE AND SET TO NO PLOT
;;THE SOURCE BLOCK MAY EXIST IN MANY
;;PLACES IN THE DRAWING, ALL INSTANCES
;;WILL BE REPLACED.
;;BY TED EVANS 7-22-21
;;
ATTDIA 0
ATTREQ 0
_-Layer
_set 0

(command"_.chprop"(ssget"_X"'((2."soffit_vent")));"" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")
-INSERT
"sofit_vent=s:\cad\projects\autocad\configuration\blocks\arch\soffit_vent"
0,0,0
1
0
ERASE l
(SETQ en (ENTLAST))

-LAYER
p
n
*a-roof-vent
s 0 f "*a-roof-vent"

zoom
e
ATTDIA 1
ATTREQ 1
;END ------------------------

[ВeekeeCZ]

It would be nice of you if you post a test drawing and the command-line listing.

[tevansHMH]

here is a sample drawing attached and the command line listing

Command: _SCRIPT
Enter script file name <S:\CAD\Projects\Blackpoint\1266\Constructs\Roof.scr>: "S:\CAD\Projects\AutoCAD\Configuration\Common\Scripts\RoofVents.scr"

Command: ATTDIA
Enter new value for ATTDIA <0>: 0

Command: ATTREQ
Enter new value for ATTREQ <0>: 0

Command: _-Layer

Current layer: "BP-Footprint"
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]: _set
Enter layer name to make current or <select object>: 0
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]:

Command: (command"_.chprop"(ssget"_X"'((2."soffit_vent")));"" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")
(_> -INSERT
(_> "sofit_vent=s:\cad\projects\autocad\configuration\blocks\arch\soffit_vent"
(_> 0,0,0
(_> 1
(_> 0
(_> ERASE l
(_> (SETQ en (ENTLAST))
(_>
(_> -LAYER
(_> p
(_> n
(_> *a-roof-vent
(_> s 0 f "*a-roof-vent"
(_>
(_> zoom
(_> e
(_> ATTDIA 1
(_> ATTREQ 1

[Kent1Cooper]

---

@tevansHMH wrote:

....

(command"_.chprop"(ssget"_X"'((2."soffit_vent")));"" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")
....

---

A semicolon is Enter in a command macro, but in a Script it "comments out" the rest of the line.  Try:

(command "_.chprop" (ssget "_X" '((2."soffit_vent"))) "" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")

[tevansHMH]

got a little further then this

Command: _SCRIPT
Enter script file name <S:\CAD\Projects\Blackpoint\1266\Constructs\Roof.scr>: "S:\CAD\Projects\AutoCAD\Configuration\Common\Scripts\RoofVents.scr"

Command: ATTDIA
Enter new value for ATTDIA <0>: 0

Command: ATTREQ
Enter new value for ATTREQ <0>: 0

Command: _-Layer

Current layer: "BP-Footprint"
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]: _set
Enter layer name to make current or <select object>: 0
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]:

Command: (command"_.chprop"(ssget"_X"'((2."soffit_vent")))"" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")
_.chprop
Select objects: bad SSGET list
Select objects: -INSERT

*Invalid selection*
Expects a point or Window/Last/Crossing/BOX/ALL/Fence/WPolygon/CPolygon/Group/Add/Remove/Multiple/Previous/Undo/AUto/SIngle

[Kent1Cooper]

---

@tevansHMH wrote:

....

(command"_.chprop"(ssget"_X"'((2."soffit_vent")))"" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")

....

---

I didn't notice before, but an entity data entry with a dotted-pair list requires a space on either side of the period.  Try:

  (command"_.chprop"(ssget"_X"'((2 . "soffit_vent")))"" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")

[And just as a matter of visual clarity, I find it easier to "read" what's going on with spaces in other places where they may not be required:

  (command "_.chprop" (ssget "_X" '((2 . "soffit_vent"))) "" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")

especially where it's outright visually ambiguous as at the "' adjacency.  But some spaces are not optional.]

[tevansHMH]

that fixed it except the block is not being redefined when inserted to replace the existing block. what would cause that? I modified the block so the hatch is on a different layer hoping that when inserted it would redefine the block with the update.

[Kent1Cooper]

Now that what precedes that Insertion has been fixed, and it should actually be getting around to the Insert part, are you getting any message during that?

[tevansHMH]

No errors or message, seems to proceed to the end.

[Kent1Cooper]

When I set up a similar situation, it successfully redefined the Block, and I got the message:

Block "BlockName" redefined

[without being asked whether I want to redefine it], and before it asks for the insertion point.  I assume you are not getting that message.  What else appears at the command line in the range of the Insert operation?

[tevansHMH]

Command: _SCRIPT
Enter script file name <S:\CAD\Projects\Blackpoint\1266\Constructs\Roof.scr>: "S:\CAD\Projects\AutoCAD\Configuration\Common\Scripts\RoofVents.scr"

Command: ATTDIA
Enter new value for ATTDIA <0>: 0

Command: ATTREQ
Enter new value for ATTREQ <0>: 0

Command: _-Layer

Current layer: "BP-Footprint"
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]: _set
Enter layer name to make current or <select object>: 0
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]:

Command: (command"_.chprop"(ssget"_X"'((2 ."soffit_vent")))"" "_layer" "A-roof-vent" "")
misplaced dot on input
Command: -INSERT
Enter block name or [?]: "sofit_vent=s:\cad\projects\autocad\configuration\blocks\arch\soffit_vent"
Duplicate definition of block _ArchTick ignored.
Duplicate definition of block DimArrow ignored.

Unit-scaling inserted database...
Units: Inches Conversion: 0'-1"
Specify insertion point or [Basepoint/Scale/Rotate]: 0,0,0
Specify scale factor <1>: 1

Specify rotation angle <0.00>: 0

Command: ERASE
Select objects: l
1 found

Select objects: (SETQ en (ENTLAST))
<Entity name: 26ea625fd30>
1 found (1 duplicate), 1 total

Select objects:

Command: -LAYER

Current layer: "0"
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]: p

Enter a plotting preference [Plot/No plot] <Plot>: n

Enter layer name(s) for this plot preference <0>: *a-roof-vent
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]: s
Enter layer name to make current or <select object>: 0 Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]: f
Enter name list of layer(s) to freeze or <select objects>: "*a-roof-vent"
Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/TRansparency/MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile/Xref]:

Command: zoom

Specify corner of window, enter a scale factor (nX or nXP), or
[All/Center/Dynamic/Extents/Previous/Scale/Window/Object] <real time>: e

Command: ATTDIA
Enter new value for ATTDIA <0>: 1

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

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@tevansHMH wrote:

....

"sofit_vent=s:\cad\projects\autocad\configuration\blocks\arch\soffit_vent"
....

---

[Could it be about the difference between one f and two ff's?]

[tevansHMH]

that was it. I was close, just a few little errors. Im usually not this bad at overlooking things.

Thanks for the extra set of eyes.