Lost In Space: August 2004



About Block Library

Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Block Library I post this Monday was written about 2 or 3 years ago. I was planning to create my version of Block Library for all the general propose. I never get a chance/time to work on it. So I think why not make it public so every one can get something from it. I will add more information I got in the past 2 years.
P.S. I should change its name to Block Library in AutoCAD.
I plan to publish more article about my current/previous work online, something about AutoCAD, Database, Access, Oracle, Facilities Management, Pline, GIS, Project Management, Space Management, BOMA, IFMA, CAFM, AutoCAD Map, MapGuide, DWF, SDF, Polygon, VB(A), .NET, ADO, Supplier Rotation, Supplier Management, Supply Chain (who know what exactly it means?), and more

Block Library in AutoCAD

Monday, August 23, 2004
a. block library, symbol library, content library
b. Block, Attribute, Insert, Design Center, i-Drop, Standard, Xref, Dialog Box, Category, Slide, Slide Library, Tool Palette, Mutilple Insert
c. general consideration
c1. Insert
c2. manipulate:
c2.1 add
c2.2 delete
c2.3 update
c2.4 import to library, batch
c2.5 export, batch
c2.6 print out contents of your libraries: name, preview image (picture)
c3. Parameters: scaling (or use DIMSCALE), elevation, thickness, rotation, explode, mirror, layer & color properties.
c3.1 Scale
c3.1.1 fixed scale
c3.1.2 scale in current drawing, DIMSCALE
c3.1.3 scale in some setting (LDT.Perference)
c3.1.4 viewport (PaperSpace/Layout)
c4. attribute
c5. with LISP/VBA
c6. Standards
c7. Preview
c7.1 zoom/pan
c8. Description
c9. Group(Category)
c10. Multiple Insertion
c11. Working platform (ADT, MDT, LDT, and LT)
c11.1 version
c12. Find and Replace
c13. Standlone version, Network (Server) Version
d. how to insert:
d1. from Insert button of Dialog box
d2. toolbar
d3. Drag_n_Drop from Design Center
d4. Drag-n_Drop from Web page with i-Drop
d5. Drag-n_Drop from Windows Explorer
d6. pull down menu
d7. Image Tile Menu
d8. Tool Palettes
d9. tablet menu (old time)
e. add new block to library
e1. for Dialog Box+Slide, create slide and add to slide library
e2. Design Center
e3. i-Drop
e4. from entities (selection set)
e5. from block in current drawing
e6. from dwg on the hard disk
e7. batch import block
f. Standard
f1. Standard in a block
f1.1 Block Name
f1.2 Block Layer
Layer Name, Color, LineType, LineWeight, PlotStyle,
f1.3 Block Color
f1.4 Block LineType
f1.5 Block Entity Type
f1.6 Block in Block
f1.7 Block Attribute
f1.8 Block Text
f1.7/8.1 Text Style
f2. Standard when a block insert into a drawing
f2.1 Insert Layer
f2.2 Insert Color
g. Design Center, DC
g.1 thumbnails
g.2 BLOCKICON command
g.3 ADCNAVIGATE
g.4 ADCENTER
g.5 Adcenter without AEC module loading?
From: Bill Glennie [Autodesk] (bill.glennie@autodesk.com)
Subject: Re: Adcenter without AEC module loading?
Newsgroups: autodesk.aec.arch-desktop3
Date: 2001-10-31 15:09:49 PST

Doug - you can delete this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R15.0\ACAD-12:409\AutodeskApps\AcadDC\History\DesignCenter\Last State

This will force the Design Center to open in the default state, in the Open Drawings view, and the key will be recreated.

g.6 from menu: ^C^Cadcenter;adcnavigate;C:/Test/test.dwg/xrefs;
g.7 Design Center Online (AutoCAD 2004)
g.7.1 custom Design Center Online to my web site ??
Cleanup the DC Online blocks
From: Patrick EMIN (myemail@club-internet.fr)
Subject: Cleanup the DC Online blocks
Newsgroups: alt.cad.autocad
Date: 2003-05-21 12:54:27 PST

This LISP program erases the hyperlink tooltip attached to blocks definitions inserted from the Design Center Online in AutoCAD 2004 and renames the blocks keeping only the "significant" part of the name. For example, the block "http...webservices.autodesk.com.jsp.dco.search.preview.symbolXmlGen.jsp.key.21758.40X60_BATHTUB_PV" would be renamed "40X60_BATHTUB_PV"

Download the demo version:
http://www.CADxp.com/download/effacer_hyperliens_demo.zip (10Ko)

The demo version has the following limitations:

1/ the suffix "renamed by www.CADxp.com" is appended to renamed blocks
2/ after the program terminates, you are sent to http://www.CADxp.com/goodies, where you can purchase the full version

--
/////
(o)-(o)
---ooO---(_)---Ooo--------------------------
Patrick EMIN http://www.CADxp.com/goodies
The french CAD portal

g.8 Manipulating AutoCAD Design Center
From: Ben Rand (Ben_Rand@email.msn.com)
Subject: Re: Manipulating AutoCAD Design Center
Newsgroups: autodesk.autocad.customization.vba
Date: 2001-07-16 10:12:04 PST

Hi Monica,

I've been hammering away at this for awhile. Here's what I've learned so far.

You can open and control what DesignCenter opens to using:

Sub GetDC(strPath As String)
ThisDrawing.SendCommand "adcnavigate" & vbcr & strPath & vbcr
End Sub

If you send in a string including just the path it takes you to that folder,
i.e.
GetDC "c:\my projects

Send in a string including the path and a drawing name (don't forget the .DWG) it takes you to that drawing, i.e.
GetDC "c:\my projects\my drawing.dwg"

Send in a string including the path, drawing name and "content level" to drill to that content in the drawing, i.e.
GetDC "c:\my projects\my drawing.dwg\blocks"

I know SendCommand isn't a preferred way of doing things but this is quick and easy and it works. Hope this helps,

Ben Rand
LeadenSky Consulting
Salt Lake Community College

g.9 Remember of DesignCenter state
Topic: Remember of DesignCenter state Message: 2 of 5
From: Udo Hübner
Date: Oct/04/03 - 19:36 (GMT)
Systemvariable ADCSTATE (undocumented) 0 = not visible, 1 = visible

Topic: Remember of DesignCenter state Message: 4 of 5
From: Jürgen Palme
Date: Oct/05/03 - 08:20 (GMT)
That's not what I'm looking for. ADCSTATE (I know this variable and it IS documented in the online help) shows me the *current* DesignCenter state in my current AutoCAD session. What I need is the place where is stored whether the DesignCenter *was* (in my last AutoCAD session) opened or closed. I other words: Assuming my DesignCenter is visible and I close AutoCAD. The next time I launch AutoCAD the DesignCenter will be visible. On the other hand if the DesignCenter is closed before leaving AutoCAD, in the next session the DC will be deactivated. Whereform does AutoCAD know (while starting) whether the DC *was* ON of OFF?
Thanks anyway
Juergen

Topic: Remember of DesignCenter state Message: 5 of 5
From: Autodesk\
Date: Oct/05/03 - 14:11 (GMT)
It is now saved in the file FixedProfile.aws found in your Support\Profiles folder. C:\documents and Settings\\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2004\R16.0\enu\Support\Profiles. Check for Visibility flag in DesignerCenter node:

Name="DesignCenter" Style="46" Opacity="100" Visible="0"/>

Note: be very careful. This is not a customizable file and no support is provided if you mess it up.

Thanks,
Misha

h. i-Drop
h.1 Publish to Web command
i. Dialog Box, Slide, Slide Library
i1. Slide Creation
i2. Slide Library
l. Tool Palette (TP)
m. Xref
n. make block unexplodable
a.) training
b.) reactor
c.) include a couple of constant attributes in the block. One has a tag named "DO_NOT_EXPLODE" and the other is "UNDO_NOW". the value of each is left blank.
d.) MINSERT 1 1
e.) training REFEDIT
f.) UNDEFINE
g.) how about LT
o. Links:
o1. SymblMan 6.0 from DotSoft
o2. BlockWerx
o3. Block Libraries in AutoCAD
o4. BlockMan
BlockViewer
MLIB Light 3.2
o5. Block Controller
p. 3D Block Library,
p1. multiple preview pictures
q. Difference Fields: Mechanical, Landscape, Civil, Kitchen, Interior, People, Tree, Pipe,


WEBSENSE

Tuesday, August 17, 2004
The company I am working use WEBSENSE to block some website, which is fine for me. I do not like to download movie, play game at company's machine, but it really bother me by the screen of "blocked by websense" when I need the google group. recently I find some blogs usefully which got blocked as well. This is not a good idea for working envirorment. Google group search is much helpfull than the web search. Now I have to send my search question back home, and do it at home, send the result back to office which means I do some work free for the company.
for blog, I can check the blog on Blogger, but I can not post. I have problem to surf blog on typepad and some others.
I like to see some suggestion or workaround.
Update at Jun 23, 2005: Blogger got block as well.

Oracle Help Site

Sunday, August 15, 2004
I use this site as practise Ask Tom Home from Oracle.

I am starting post

Saturday, August 14, 2004
Today is my first day. Please bear with my english. I am a CAFM analyst, Living in the world of AutoCAD, Polyline (pline), Database, Oracle, Access, Facility Management, Visual Basic, VB, VB.NET will be my next toy. hope it is enough for today.