Command: BAM (Block Attribute Module)

BAM (Block Attribute Module) Command

Overview

• BAM stands for Block Attribute Module.
• To run: you may type BAM as a command, or find the button highlighted in yellow above.
• The BAM command prompts the user to select a block with attributes, then opens a window that lets you inspect all blocks in the drawing with that name.
• Each block reference in the drawing is given a Block ID number for the duration of BAM.
• BAM allows for systematic changes to the blocks’ attributes.
• Optional Tools include: Update, Change Similar, Auto Renumber, Export Excel, and Cancel.

Buttons

Update Blocks

This button takes any changes you make in the pop-up window and applies them to that block.

Change Similar

This button looks at changes made in the pop-up window.  All blocks that share the initial attribute settings with that block are considered similar.  All similar blocks take the change(s) with one click.

Auto Renumber

This tool exits the BAM popup, and gives a battery of prompts through the command line:

• An attribute to auto-number
• a start number
• an interval

The command will then make sure that for that attribute, each block has a unique number using the criteria provided.  It has a few tie-breaking rules:

• For blocks with already distinct attribute values, they will maintain their low-to-high order
• For blocks that have the same attribute value, if the block was selected for BAM, it will be assigned a new number first
• For blocks with the same att. value, lower block ID numbers get assigned new att. values first

Export Excel

This tool allows the user to export the list of block IDs and attribute values to an excel worksheet.