Expert: Scott Cook - 7/27/2009

Question
Hello,

We have recently made a door block with attributes in it (such as door number, frame material, door type etc), so we can use data link in a table to make our door schedules.

We have another block that has room numbers. We would like to somehow link the door number attribute from the door block, to the room number block, so if the room number changes, it will automatically change the door number.

Some concerns we have with this is, if we have two doors in one room, and name them 101a and 101b, if the blocks were linked, is there a way we can make the doors in the room automatically change to a and b, or would they both say 101.

Another issue is if the two blocks are linked, how would the door in room 101 know its in room 101 and not room 105 (if there was another room number block named 105)

We realise there is probably no solution to this without lisp routines, and would like to know how you would handle this situation.

thanks

Answer
I can think of a few possible solutions, none of them are great:
1. You could link them to a common row in an external database. You'd have to change the room numbers there, but watch for situations where you have an A or B and edit those rows when needed.
2. You could 'attach' one to the other with a lisp-only solution, then attach an 'event' to the room number block that updates the other door block if the room number block changes. That would mean that when you insert the door, you'd have to pick the room number block too. The routine would have to be smart enough to handle multiple attached door blocks and do the a/b thing for you. I'm not aware of anything written that does this for you, it would be a custom routine.
3. Consider making them one block containing 2 attributes, one for the room number and another for the door. You can control the position and rotation of attributes separately from the block. When you insert the room number, you also position and rotate the door number attribute (but not attached to the door itself). This really would only work well for one door. This you could do entirely with menu macros. If you later edit the room number, you'd want to use the dialog-based attribute editor and remember to change both lines.