Documentation
Installation
Run the installer. Installation path is %ProgramData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTBW-CADAutomationTools.bundle for AutoCAD and %ProgramData%\JTBW-CADAutomationTools for BricsCAD.
Loading
The application will automatically load and also add the Automation Tools panel to the Ribbon tab Plug-ins/Add-ins. Sometimes 'JTB CAD Automation Tools.VLX' needs to be located, it is found in any of the folders of "%ProgramData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTBW-CADAutomationTools.bundle\Contents\Windows" depending on AutoCAD version.
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License Activation
See activation instructions here: JTB World Apps Licensing.
Control file creation
The copy button can be used to copy sample files that are in (%ProgramData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTBW-CADAutomationTools.bundle\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for AutoCAD or %ProgramData%\JTBW-CADAutomationTools\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for BricsCAD) to the C:\JTB CAD Automation Tools folder.
This shows an example how to use AutoGen and the steps are similar for the other commands.
Open AutoGenTemplate.xls
Specify path and name for the drawing to be created as well as the path and name for the template to be used.
Use a button to select and populate the template sheet with the path and name for the drawings.
Use a button that automatically save the Excel template to the correct format.
The Control file should be in TXT tab delimited format.
Start with AutoGenTemplate.xls and when ready save as Text (Tab delimited) (*.txt).
Excel 2007 and newer versions supports more than 256 columns. Make sure to save the Excel file to the XLSM format that allows macros.
Usage
Recommendation is to close all drawings and start a new empty drawing.
Start with the commands AutoGen, AutoIns or AutoUpd.
The first time you may be asked for the location of program file.
When asked for control file browse for and select the control file to be used.
AutoGen
Creation of control file
The Control file should be in TXT tab delimited format.
Start with AutoGenTemplate.xlsm and when ready save as Text (Tab delimited) (*.txt).
For an example of the usage take a look at AutoGenSample.xlsm.
The rows 5 and higher are used to define the new drawings to be created.
Column A (row 5 and higher) holds the path to the drawing that will be created.
Column B (row 5 and higher) holds the name of the drawing.
Column C (row 5 and higher) holds the path for the type drawings.
Column D (row 5 and higher) holds the type drawing name that is an existing drawing.
Column E (row 5 and higher) holds the full path to an AutoLISP application that should be loaded. *.lsp;*.vlx;*.fas are supported. This is optional.
Column G and higher are used to define what should be changed in the template before it is saved to a new drawing. Do not leave empty columns in between. For cell G5 and higher add the value that should be updated or added alternatively “**IGNORE**” without the double quotes and it will not be considered.
When only row 1 and 2 has values it is a Block attribute and all instances of that block with that attribute should get the value.
When only row 2 has a value it is an Attribute definition. This is not a good solution but sometimes users explode blocks and edit the attribute definition thinking it is plain text. What is to be done here is that the Attribute definition should be converted into a Text object with the same properties and the new value.
When row 1,2 and 3 has values it all matches should get the value listed. The value will be searched for and replaced. For example: 1111 will search for all occurrences of the text 111 and replace it with the value listed.
When only row 3 has values it is either Text, Mtext, Multileader or Table objects that should be searched and replaced.
Sample
Here is what the template file AutoGen template 1.dwg look like.
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After running the command it would look like this. TEST1.dwg
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Usage
Recommendation is to close all drawings and open a new empty drawing.
Start with the command AutoGen.
When asked for control file (.TXT) browse for and select the control file to be used.
Test drive
The copy button can be used to copy sample files that are in (%ProgramData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTBW-CADAutomationTools.bundle\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for AutoCAD or %ProgramData%\JTBW-CADAutomationTools\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for BricsCAD) to the C:\JTB CAD Automation Tools folder.
Follow the instructions described under the subheading Usage. Run the AutoGen command and browse for the file AutoGenSample.txt and the resulting new drawings will be created in the NEW folder.
AutoIns
Creation of control file
The Control file should be in TXT tab delimited format.
Start with AutoInsTemplate.xlsm and when ready save as Text (Tab delimited) (*.txt) or use the button Export.
For an example of the usage take a look at AutoInsSample.xlsm.
The rows 23 and higher are used to define the drawings to be updated. To add files the Add files button can be used.
Column A (row 23 and higher) holds the path to the drawing.
Column B (row 23 and higher) holds the name of the drawing.
Column C (row 23 and higher) holds the full path to an AutoLISP application that should be loaded. *.lsp;*.vlx;*.fas are supported. This is optional.
Column E and higher are used to define what should be inserted to the drawing. Do not leave empty columns in between. Row 1 must be any of these values: TEXT, BLOCK or XREF. For blocks and xrefs to be inserted/attached an X should be added in the column in row 23 or higher. For cell E23 and higher add the value “**IGNORE**” without the double quotes and it will not be considered.
See the sample files for how Text, Blocks and Xrefs can be added to existing drawing.
Usage
Recommendation is to close all drawings and start a new empty drawing.
Start with the command AutoIns.
When asked for control file (.TXT) browse for and select the control file to be used.
Test drive
The copy button can be used to copy sample files that are in (%ProgramData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTBW-CADAutomationTools.bundle\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for AutoCAD or %ProgramData%\JTBW-CADAutomationTools\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for BricsCAD) to the C:\JTB CAD Automation Tools folder.
Follow the instructions described under the subheading Usage. Run the AutoIns command and browse for the file AutoInsSample.txt and the resulting new drawings will be created in the NEW folder.
AutoUpd
Description
AutoUpd updates existing drawings based on using a specified control file.
In the process text and attribute values can be changed individually on each drawing.
Find and replace of text or attribute values throughout the whole drawing is supported.
Creation of control file
The Control file should be in TXT tab delimited format.
Start with AutoUpdTemplate.xlsm and when ready save as Text (Tab delimited) (*.txt) or use the button Export.
For an example of the usage take a look at AutoUpdSample.xlsm.
“Import from drawings” button will open “Import from Drawings” sheet that makes it possible to get existing block and attribute information from one or many drawings.
The rows 10 and higher are used to define the drawings to be updated. To add files the Add files button can be used.
Column A (row 10 and higher) holds the path to the drawing.
Column B (row 10 and higher) holds the name of the drawing.
Column C (row 10 and higher) holds the full path to an AutoLISP application that should be loaded. *.lsp;*.vlx;*.fas are supported. This is optional.
Column E and higher are used to define what should be changed in the drawing. Do not leave empty columns in between. For cell E10 and higher add the new value to be used or add the value “**IGNORE**” without the double quotes and it will not be considered.
When only row 1 and 3 has values it is a Block attribute and all instances of that block with that attribute should get the value as specified in row 10 and higher.
When row 2 (Block Handles) is used specific instances of blocks will be processed.
If that Block Handles cell is empty, then, in all drawings, at that layout tab, all blocks of specified “BLOCK ABC” name will have specified attribute “ATTXYZ” updated.
When your drawing model or layout has many “BLOCK ABC” with attributes “ATTXYZ”, and you want to change the attribute value per each block, you have to specify the block handle. Since there is a list of 10 drawings, so, it should be 10 block handles each column.
- If in a drawing, you don’t want any change in that column, you can just leave a space there, for example: Block Handles = 125, , , , 555
- A special block handle value = * can be used. So, if you want to update all blocks in just a chosen drawing, you can put Block Handles = 125, ,*, 555.
- To be compatible with old AutoUpd spreadsheet, Blocks Handles = “” (empty), all drawings and all found blocks in the layout will be updated.
When only row 3 has a value it is an Attribute definition. This is not a good solution but sometimes users explode blocks and edit the attribute definition thinking it is plain text. What is to be done here is that the Attribute definition should be converted into a Text object with the same properties and the new value.
When row 1, 3 and 4 has values it all matches should get the value listed. The value will be searched for and replaced. For example: 1111 will search for all occurrences of the text 111 and replace it with the value listed.
When row 5-8 contains values defining coordinates for a rectangle any Text, Mtext, Multileader or Table objects crossing or within will be searched and replaced. If the value in row 4 is empty existing value will be completely replaced.
When only row 4 has values it is either Text, Mtext, Multileader or Table objects that should be searched and replaced.
Row 9 is used to specify what layout will be updated.
For search and replace of attribute values in the whole drawing:
To have it working add * in Block name (row 1) and/or Attribute Tag (row 3). This way you can find and replace among all attributes for one specific block or all blocks.
You can also find and replace on a specific attribute tag or any attribute tag. Examples of combinations that work:
Block name: *
Attribute Tag: *
Block name: *
Attribute Tag: NAME
Block name: FRAME
Attribute Tag: *
Block name: FRAME
Attribute Tag: NAME
Usage
Recommendation is to close all drawings and start a new empty drawing.
Start with the command AutoUpd.
When asked for control file (.TXT) browse for and select the control file to be used.
Test drive
The copy button can be used to copy sample files that are in (%ProgramData%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\JTBW-CADAutomationTools.bundle\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for AutoCAD or %ProgramData%\JTBW-CADAutomationTools\Contents\JTB CAD Automation Tools for BricsCAD) to the C:\JTB CAD Automation Tools folder.
Follow the instructions described under the subheading Usage. Run the AutoUpd command and browse for the file AutoUpdSample.txt and the resulting new drawings will be created in the NEW folder.
This shows AutoUpd sample 1.dwg before updated.
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This shows AutoUpd sample 1.dwg after updated.
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Download
video showing usage of AutoUpd or see it on
YouTube.
Vault tips:
Check out a folder to Work Space.
Run the tools on the files.
Check folder back into vault.
Tips and tutorial from the blog:
**IGNORE** can be used as a value if you don't want JTB CAD Automation to affect the value for a specific combination of drawing and attribute/text.
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Trouble Shooting
If the program is not working as expected run "Reset JTB CAD Automation Tools.reg" found in the installation folder and merge it to the registry to reset the paths.
Check AutoCAD's or BricsCAD's command line when you start a new drawing and see if there are some errors. This can cause the program to halt. One indication on this problem is that AutoGen produces the new drawings but does not update them.
If you have old templates they might not be compatible with most recent template format. Check that they are matching.
Contact us for further support.
Known limitations
- Search and replace is case sensitive
- Wish: add support for handling dynamic blocks and their special properties
- Wish: add support for handling dynamic blocks for AutoUpd Excel sheet "Import from drawings" function