Synchronize Multiple Blocks Per Drawing

By default, the Meridian Enterprise AutoCAD link assumes that each drawing contains one or more title blocks in one layout that is plotted. That is the typical configuration when each drawing file represents one drawing sheet, such as a typical 2D drawing. In that case, the AutoCAD link will synchronize the title blocks as described in Configure Standard Title Block Synchronization. All attributes with the same name will have the same value within the same layout.

AutoCAD drawings that contain multiple title blocks with different attribute values in more than one layout require special configuration. That is the typical configuration when one drawing file can represent multiple drawing sheets. Examples of such files are a 3D model from which multiple sheets of 2D views are plotted or a 2D energy distribution line drawing of a large geographical area from which multiple sheets of smaller-scale line segments are plotted. The layouts all communicate information about the same general object but each layout is also distinct and the title block in each layout specifies the differences.

The AutoCAD link can accommodate this configuration in one of the following ways:

  • Two user-defined VBScript functions, one to read the attribute values of specified title blocks and one to write the attribute values of specified title blocks.

    These functions use the DocCADLink_AfterReadMTBProperties and DocCADLink_BeforeWriteMTBProperties events.

  • Configuration settings that specify what value to assign to each attribute of each title block in each layout.

Each title block can use one of these methods but not both methods. Implementing each of these methods is described in the following topics.

Note:

Meridian Enterprise does not have a method to set order of title block updates. In AutoCAD, this is defined in the drawing title block table AcDbBlockTable. Meridian Enterprise uses this information.

2023