Block Utilities

Developer: RhinoScript
Summary: A couple of useful block utilities written in RhinoScript.

There are a few utilities that my CAD customers where missing. Can you help?

1. UpdateAllLinkedBlocks (Block Manager AND some clicks AND and extra OK is annoying)
2. InsertMultipleFilesAsBlocks (at once)
3. Externalize (Export selected objects, ask for file name, then insert the new file as a linked block)

The follow RhinoScript file should take care of these wishes.

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 ' BlockUtilities.rvb -- November 2009
 ' If this code works, it was written by Dale Fugier.
 ' If not, I don't know who wrote it.
 ' Works with Rhino 4.0.
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 Option Explicit
 
 ' Script to update all linked blocks
 Sub UpdateAllLinkedBlocks()
   Call Rhino.Command("_-BlockManager _Update _All _Enter _Enter _Enter", 0)
 End Sub
 
 ' Script to insert multiple files as linked blocks
 Sub InsertMultipleFilesAsBlocks()
   Dim arrFiles, strFiles
   arrFiles = Rhino.OpenFileNames("Insert", "Rhino 3D Models (*.3dm)|*.3dm|All Files (*.*)|*.*|")
   If IsArray(arrFiles) Then
     For Each strFile In arrFiles
       Call Rhino.Command("_-Insert _File=_Yes " & strFile & " _Block _Pause _Enter _Enter", 0)
     Next
   End If
 End Sub
 
 ' Script to export select and then insert as linked block
 Sub Externalize()
 
   Dim arrObjects, arrPoint, strFile
   Dim arrCopy, strPoint
 
   arrObjects = Rhino.GetObjects("Select objects to define block")
   If IsNull(arrObjects) Then Exit Sub
 
   arrPoint = Rhino.GetPoint("Block base point")
   If IsNull(arrPoint) Then Exit Sub
 
   strFile = Rhino.SaveFileName("Save", "Rhino 3D Model (*.3dm)|*.3dm|")
   If IsNull(strFile) Then Exit Sub
 
   Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(False)
 
   arrCopy = Rhino.CopyObjects(arrObjects, arrPoint, Array(0,0,0))
   Call Rhino.SelectObjects(arrCopy)
 
   Call Rhino.Command("_-Export " & Chr(34) & strFile & Chr(34), 0)
 
   strPoint = Rhino.Pt2Str(arrPoint)
   Call Rhino.Command("_-Insert _File=_Yes " & strFile & " _Block " & strPoint & " _Enter _Enter", 0)  
 
   Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrCopy)
   Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrObjects)
 
   Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(True)
 
 End Sub
 
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 Rhino.AddStartupScript Rhino.LastLoadedScriptFile
 Rhino.AddAlias "UpdateAllLinkedBlocks", "_NoEcho _-RunScript (UpdateAllLinkedBlocks)"
 Rhino.AddAlias "InsertMultipleFilesAsBlocks", "_NoEcho _-RunScript (InsertMultipleFilesAsBlocks)"
 Rhino.AddAlias "Externalize", "_NoEcho _-RunScript (Externalize)"