Expert: Bob - 1/15/2010

Question
Thanks for your quick reply! Sorry I didn't give you more information.

I use Acad Architect to design Homes and small commercial bldgs. and a few other things.  Quite often I run it in vanilla Acad mode when I don't need the aec objects or display configurations cause it performs much better on my machine in that mode.

I just finished writting a script file that creates all my standard text styles

It is really handy to put the text styles I need into an exsisting drawing in the blink of an eye. I have old dwgs and recieve dwgs from others that leave a lot to be desired in many areas like layers for example.

With an exsisting dwg it is too late to create them with a template (.dwt)

Also if the dwg has text styles with the same name, bringing them in with a block or copy & pasting them doesn't work since the styles you don't want that are in the dwg take precedence.

Some times it is difficult to get the old ones purged out.  Even though they are not used in the dwg or in a dimstyle Acad won't let me purge them. Apparently it thinks it is or else there is something about it that I don't understand. I think it is just a glitch. With a script, whether it is just a few or a whole bunch it takes care of all the typing with out any errors very quickly. I am using it to set system variables too which is worth it's weight in gold.

It was so easy and worked so well that I though it might work for dimstyles too but havent found any examples of how to get started.

I am just learning lisp, and by writting just a few routines have saved lots of hours of tedious work. Granted, it is not easy, but in some cases well worth it.

I try to find what ever I can that others have written, which has helped, but there are huge gaps in what is available.

If you have downloaded any lisp or scripts or know of any information on automating the process of creating dimstyles I would be grateful!

I am amazed at how powerful some of the old methods are like batch files  scripts and simple lisp. Unforntunately not many are using those things any more.  

Answer
OK -- I see why you love the magic of lisp.

However, those styles, layers, etc. can be dragged into a drawing pretty much instantly via Design Center, particularly if you have saved them all in one master drawing. Some releases have Style Manager, which would also work for this.

As for the styles with the same name -- I would suggest re-naming your present styles with a slight quirk, so that the old ones would not stop you.

What was confusing in your posts was that you refer to this as "creating styles", when "inserting or replicating my standard styles" might have possibly been more clear.

I appreciate your joy in creating the lisp, but I don't share your regret that it has become less common. Autodesk has spent millions to incorporate the functions which users wrote into their personal routines, back in the day.

Design Center is a jillion years old, but is still my first suggestion for what you are trying to do.

BOB