Storing key/value-pairs in a drawing

[eengebruiker]

Hello,

 

I just read about Dictionaries and Xrecords. I think I understand how to work with them but I am missing something. I would like to work easily with key/value-pairs and it looks like that is not possible, unless I am overlooking something. let me explain.

 

When digging into Xrecords I can find values by using assoc. If I store my values using the proper DXF-codes for strings, layernames (also strings), integers, reals etc. I can easily find the values. But what if I want to store 2, 3, 4 or more strings. Each with a meaning to my application. It looks like I can only find them by using the order in which they are stored. I can not look them up using there names, e.g. "txtA", "txtB", "txtC", etc.

 

The only solution I can think of is to use a Xrecord per key/value pair, but it feels like it is not supposed to be used that way. Or . . .  am I wrong. Is this the way to do it?

 

In fact, what I would like to do in an easy way, is storing data in the form of key/value pairs in a drawing.
Something like (example):

 

("Name" . "Sample")

("Width" .  376.4)

("Height" . 123.1)

("Order" . 3)

Etc.

 

My code knows what type a value has, so I don't need a type value.

 

In fact I am using this sometimes in my own code when passing data from and to (sub)routines. I group parameters this way in one sigle entity (basically a list with key-value pairs). It works but I want to be able to simply store them in the drawing. It looks like I can only do that in more complicated ways, but not as simple as I explained.

 

I hope someone feels the same needs and exchange some lines about this or (better) has a good solution for me.

 

Regards,

 

André

 

 

[BIGAL]

Maybe, pretty easy to split using a ","

 

"name,sample"

"width,123.45"

"height,123.45"

Edited January 2, 2020 by BIGAL

[eengebruiker]

@BIGAL. Sure this could work, but all of my values will be strings then.

 

But . . . . wouldn't you be happy with good support for my simple idea? Couldn't you think of applications if the possibilities where there?

 

Regards,

 

André

[Roy_043]

You can look at Lee Mac's Xdata example and do something similar for Xrecords.

[tombu]

You could simply use Custom Drawing Properties.

The can be added with the PROPULATE (Express Tool) https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-BD03320F-3430-4C2F-80A3-AAC1167AF019-htm.html

Many of us add and modify them with lisp.

User access already familiar to most users and they're easily referenced even with fields.

[eengebruiker]

Thanks to all that replied. I will take time to evaluate your tips and I will use it if it works for me.