MERGEBLOCKS

MERGEBLOCKS merges block definitions based on an attribute value, Short_Name by default. Blocks with the same value go to one shared definition, keeping their position, rotation and filled-in attribute values. Use it to clean up a drawing where the same fixture or part exists in dozens of variants (for example through repeated importing) and to make the file smaller.

Starting

Type MERGEBLOCKS on the command line, or use the button in the ribbon on the SCAD Core tab, Blocks panel.

How it works

1. The command asks Attribute name to group by. The default is Short_Name; press Enter to use it or type another attribute name.
2. The command asks Also explode 'group-' blocks and remove all attributes? [Yes/No] <Yes>. Choose Yes or No.
3. The command asks Use block name as a guard (only merge same-named blocks)? [Yes/No] <Yes>. Choose Yes or No.
4. The command merges the blocks and then cleans up. The command line shows a summary, for example Merged N blocks across N groups (by 'Short_Name').

Only blocks with a filled-in value for that attribute take part. Blocks with an empty value are left alone, and groups of a single block are not changed.

Options

Question	Answer	What it does
Explode ‘group-’ blocks and remove all attributes	Yes (default)	Blocks whose name starts with group- are exploded. If a block definition contains exactly one nested block, that nested block is exploded inside the definition. On top of that, all attributes are removed from all blocks in the drawing.
	No	Only merges; attributes and group- blocks stay.
Use block name as a guard	Yes (default)	Only blocks with the same name are merged. Names with a copy suffix such as _2 or (2) count as the same name. Blocks with the same attribute value but a different name stay separate; the message Left N blocks alone - same '...' but a different block name. tells you how many. The definition is not renamed in this case.
	No	All blocks with the same attribute value are merged, even if the block names differ. The remaining definition is renamed to the attribute value, if that name is still free.