ssget filter out arrays?

[mid-awe]

Hi all,

I have an ssget that allows me to select several blocks including some dynamic blocks, but when I use it, it also selects arrays. I did a quick check and found arrays also have U names. So, can anyone help me change my ssget to filter out arrays? below is my ssget as it is now.

(ssget (LIST (cons 0 "INSERT") (CONS 2 "`*U*,PP,P3,PC,FIX,NOZZLE,vecNOZZLE")))

Thanks in advance.

[dbroad · Accepted solution]

I don't believe there is a way to use an ssget filter to filter out array objects.  These adhoc objects were designed after ssget was created.  That said, you could loop through a selection set and delete objects that have any of the array methods.  With legacy list, you could test for a dictionary entry for the  ACDBASSOCDEPENDENCY

(cdr(assoc 0(entget(cdr(assoc 330 <array entity>)))))

activex method

;;use the presence of a method to test whether an entity is an array.
(defun isarray (ename)
 (vlax-method-applicable-p
   (vlax-ename->vla-object ename)
   'ArrayPolar))

[mid-awe]

Thank you. I suspected that is how I would have to approach it, but I was hoping to simply improve my filter.

Again, thank you.

[mid-awe]

Well, unfortunately the first test failed. the result is that arrays are recognized as, "IAcadBlockReference: AutoCAD Block Reference Interface" so that approach failed.

FYI,

I have found a way to make my filter work by adding in the Layer. since all nozzles are on the Nozzle layer it works.

(SSGET (LIST (CONS 0 "INSERT") (CONS 2 "`*U*,PP,P3,PC,FIX,NOZZLE,vecNOZZLE") (cons 8 "NOZZLE")))

Unfortunately, the Array issue is likely to show up again and as long as Arrays are treated like Dynamic Blocks by AutoCAD it will be a problem.

Thank you again.

[hmsilva]

---

@mid-awe wrote:

...

Unfortunately, the Array issue is likely to show up again and as long as Arrays are treated like Dynamic Blocks by AutoCAD it will be a problem.

...

---

Hi mid-awe,

perhaps testing the 'effectivename property, arrays have an 'Anonymous' effectivename...

(not (wcmatch (vla-get-effectivename VlaObj) "`*U*"))

Hope this helps,
Henrique

[mid-awe]

Thank you Henrique, I'll give that a try too.

[dbroad]

Sorry,

The activeX method was a guess.  Apparently all blocks and probably all objects have the array methods so that doesn't filter anything out.  This might work (using legacy methods).  It doesn't really guarantee anything since there could be more than one dictionary and I am only testing the first 330 code.  Someone else could add to this method to find if any of the dictionaries references are members of an acdbassocdependency dictionary.

Probable partial solution that is not layer dependent.

(defun test ( / ss e ei)
  (if (setq
	ss (SSGET (LIST	(CONS 0 "INSERT")
			(CONS 2 "`*U*,PP,P3,PC,FIX,NOZZLE,vecNOZZLE")
		  )
	   )
      )
    (progn (setq sl (sslength ss))
	   (repeat sl
	     (setq sl (1- sl))		;reuse length as counter
	     (setq e  (ssname ss sl)
		   ei (entget e)
	     )
	     (if (= "ACDBASSOCDEPENDENCY"
		    (cdr (assoc 0 (entget (cdr (assoc 330 ei)))))
		 )
	       (ssdel e ss)
	     )
	   )
    )
  )
  ss
)