Lisp to rename selected block by a date and random string

[Caracolalbino]

Hello, I was wondering how could I get a LISP to select either one or various blocks (or even have the option to select all the blocks in the drawing), and then change their names to a date and an independent random string of text? For example: "YY/MM/DD/HHHH_QP8dFs2vL9JnhBr7"?

I've been having a lot of problems with CAD files coming to the office with blocks named the same but containing very different data, and it's a drag to rename each block manually. I'm only just starting on lisp language so i'm guessing something like this is way beyond my scope, but I'd really appreciate to know if this is a possibility. Thanks in advance!

[mhupp]

modified @ronjonp lisp to work on all blocks instead of selecting one at a time.

https://www.cadtutor.net/forum/topic/76007-make-block-reference-names-unqiue/?do=findComment&comment=600502

(defun C:UB-ALL (/ s)
  (if (setq s (ssget "_X" (list '(0 . "INSERT"))))
    (foreach e (vl-remove-if 'listp (mapcar 'cadr (ssnamex s)))
      (vla-converttoanonymousblock (vlax-ename->vla-object e))
    )
  )
  (princ)
)

 

As long as you don't purge the "old" block definitions are still there.

 

---EDIT

After you run above code use my code to add the date to the prefix to each block name.

;;----------------------------------------------------------------------------;;
;; Add Prefix/Suffix to Block Name
(defun C:BLKRENAME (/ blklst SS blk lst c a n)
  (vl-load-com)
  (setq blklst (vla-get-Blocks Drawing))
  (prompt "\nSelect Block(s) or Enter To Rename All")
  (if (or (setq ss (ssget '((0 . "INSERT")))) (setq ss (ssget "_X" '((0 . "INSERT")))))
    (foreach e (vl-remove-if 'listp (mapcar 'cadr (ssnamex ss)))
      (setq blk (cdr (assoc 2 (entget e))))  ;Get Block Name
      (if (not (vl-position blk lst))        ;If Block Name is not in List Add
        (setq lst (cons blk lst))
      )
    )
  )
  (setq c 0)        ;Count
  (initget "Prefix Suffix")
  (setq rep
    (cond
      ((getkword "\n Specify your aim [Prefix/Suffix] :")) ( "Suffix")
    )
  )
  (cond
    ((= rep "Prefix")
        (setq prfx (getstring "\nEnter Prefix: "))
      (foreach n lst
        (vla-put-Name (vla-item blklst n) (strcat prfx n))
        (setq c (1+ c))
      )
    )
    ((= rep "Suffix")
        (setq sufx (getstring "\nEnter Suffix: "))
      (foreach n lst
        (vla-put-Name (vla-item blklst n) (strcat n sufx))
        (setq c (1+ c))
      )
    )
  )
  (prompt (strcat "\n" (rtos c 2 0) " Block(s) Renamed"))
  (princ)
)

 

Edited September 26, 2022 by mhupp