Copy & Increment tool for DWG files

The underlying problem with the copy/increment tool is that it only works on text elements; MText from DWG files inherently converts to text nodes nowadays, hence the problem. DText should generally convert to text elements. If you want us to verify this, please provide a file that works in 8.9.4 and not 8.11. At the end of the day, the DWG import is not at fault here (even if it changed), it's just an ancient tool.

As far as a timetable, the tool is unchanged in V8i SS2, and we are currently evaluating when to re-write it.

Lincoln,

I'm just going off what's been said; is the only problem that copy/increment text doesn't work on textnode's? Because if so then there could be alternatives:

If your text is single line text (that is now a textnode) why don't you drop the element first?

Otherwise it could be something a VBA or other custom app could do. Can you run dll's?

steve

Sounds like a bit of challenge so I'll try write a copy/increment for textnodes when I find some time.

Just to simplify the program, would it be ok to assume if it is multi-line text that the user wants the last number on the lowest line to be incremented?

Well here's version 1. Once loaded Key-In is TNCI.

Let me know if you find any bugs and please comment if you use it.

Tested ok on V8i on both text and text nodes.

steve

Edit: Code updated to V2 to fix continuous increment problem.

Steve,

Pardon my ignorance but apart from copying your DLL file to C:\Program Files\Bentley\Program\MicroStation\mdlsys\required what else do I need to do?

Regards,

Lincoln

Sorry Lincoln, that's my mistake, I forgot to mention: The Key-In is TNCI.

So once you've extracted the dll to a usable path (I put all my dll's in the MicroStation\mdlapps folder) then go to file menu Utilities -> MDL Application, and browse for the file. Alternatively the key-in mdl load "TextNode Copy-Inc" might work.

In the status bar it should say it's loaded so then you're right to type in the Key-In.

Let me know,

Edit - New users to MDL loading sometimes get an error "not an authorized digital signature" - this is because the program is custom. If you get that message in the status bar, then in the file menu Workspace->Configuration-> Security Category, you might see your Security level is set to HIGH. Lower it there to allow any MDL or other applications to be loaded. This solution doesn't always work but it's one thing to try.

Steve,

I got it to load. I then dropped the numbers I wanted to increment then used the Copy and Increment tool, but it didn't work. Am I missing a step?

Regards,

Lincoln

Steve,

I got it to load. I then dropped the numbers I wanted to increment then used the Copy and Increment tool, but it didn't work. Am I missing a step?

Regards,

Lincoln

Lincoln,

Great, you got it to load.

Ok, so when you typed in the Key-In TNCI did you see the increment window asking you to "Enter a number to Increment"? You have to "accept" that window first (this is different to the standard copy/inc command), then simply select a text or text-node element with a number in it and it should increment the next copy. Does it do anything like that?

You shouldn't need to drop the numbers unless they are in a cell, the program should find the last numbers within any string

Thanks for persisting with it,

steve

Edit: I've just updated the dll in the previous thread to fix a problem preventing the user from continuing to increment. Lincoln, I don't think this problem is where you were at anyway but it is worth updating.

Steve,

It worked! You are very clever. Thanks for your efforts. I wonder why it is so hard for Bentley to add a similar dll? They must have bigger fish to fry.

Regards,

Lincoln

Excellent, glad it works  Let me know if there's any other problems. I hope it saves you some time.

steve

Edit: Not sure if already know this, but if you use an MDL Application offen enough, you can load it automatically at startup - just add this line into your UCF file.

MS_DGNAPPS > TextNode Copy-Inc

Thanks for that tip. Have you worked at Bentley before? Maybe you should apply for a job with them.

Best regards,

Lincoln