Automatically drawing blocks

[Calon]

I'm trying to automate our work flow. I need to be able to place incrimental numbers for which I've found Lee Mac's numbering suite.http://www.lee-mac.com/numinc.htmlhttp://

 

I am placing numbered lamps for a lighting control network.Every lamp in the network has a unique number (from the numbering suite). I am trying to automate the creation of nodes.

 

Each control channel fed from a controller can manage around 50 lamps, so the control line is wired from the main controller to a number of network boxes each of which can accomodate a maximum of 8 lamps.

 

I am looking to create a tool which would group 8 lamps together automatically and insert a numbered network box in between them. If posible I would also like for the connecting wires to be drawn automatically so I can build a network by simply placing lamp numbers over drawn lamps on an architectural drawing.

 

Meanwhile all this information needs to skim off into an excel sheet or some other database so I can automate the creation of quotes and bill of materials based directly on the current design. However I'm pretending that isn't a problem yet and just trying to make the drawing part automatic.

 

Any help on this would be much appreciated. I will be able to design schemes in a couple of hours rather than a couple of days if this is posible......?

[BIGAL]

1st step post a image or dwg of what you want.

[Calon]

Here is an example of the kind of thing I'm working towards.

 

The Unique luminaire numbers can be of any format, those shown are for example.

 

The DALI address corresponds to our controls addressing which has to be done manually. Theres too many catches and alternatives and different protocols to attempt to include this yet.

 

I have found a way of placing incrimental luminaire numbers over a provided reflected ceiling plan. Up to now i have been manually drawing on the marshalling boxes and connecting appropriate luminaires to the marshalling boxes.

 

I am just trying to see if it is possible to have a situation whereby after a maximum of 8 luminaires are placed a marshalling box pops in automatically. If this is not possible with LISP, I have a plan for how to do this with visio but I'd like to avoid this if there is a possibility of extending the functionality within the CAD suite.