CompuServe Thread

I've been pondering a lot of options I would like to see in AutoCAD, but not being privy to the long-range goals I'll go ahead and ask them here.<g> One feature which would be extremely helpful, and lead into some intelligent interaction between AutoCAD and architects (for instance) is a method of linking objects (entities) intelligently. Perhaps there is already a way to do this — I haven't delved too deeply yet into extended entity groups. But maybe an example would clarify what I was thinking of: In inserting a door, it would be helpful to link an attribute of the door tag with the door block. The door size could be listed in the attribute automatically, and visa-versa a change in the attribute table could alter the door block. Deleting one would delete the other, although they could be moved and manipulated individually. The question I think is one of linking them dynamically in a similar fashion to spreadsheets: there would be a variable that would determine when the actual updating would take place, on command, immediately, or at the next regen. This is different, I think, than the way in which Windows DLL and OLE is handled. Several other elements could use this linking feature, such as a room tag, which could be linked to a polyline perimeter of the room. An Expert Shell could then use this link to make certain code-related decisions, prompting an architect that the occupancy rating for the space exceeds the square footage currently shown; or exiting requirements could be calculated from the information in the Room Tag's attribute table, cross-referenced by the actual polyline indicating the room, then prompting the architect with how many exit units or exit stairs would be needed. With a Yes or No, the architect can direct the drawing of an exit stair (all that is really needed is the exit width requirements, floor-to-floor heights, and type of configuration). Sure, I could probably write a lisp routine or ADS routine to do this, but there are certain linking groups that would make such a system very fast, and also easier to implement. [More]