Block Update
Plugin AVC_BUpdate for AutoCAD and BricsCAD
Replace selected blocks with blocks of the same name from another drawing.
The program will help you to work together with complex assemblies. You can quickly replace blocks in your drawing with newer ones, which are made by another engineer in another file.
Do not confuse this command with the standard BlockReplace command, which works within the same drawing, replacing blocks with different names. The Update Block command works with blocks of the same name from different files.
Read about downloading and installing the program here.
You can download and use the program for free. If the program really helps you, please donate a small amount.
The BUpdate command is included in the collections A>V>C> Kit and A>V>C> Pro.
If you are not satisfied with the behavior of the program, there are suggestions for optimization and tuning for your needs - feel free to write to me. Just don't forget to motivate me.
BUpdate command operating procedure
Select one or more obsolete blocks and run the BUpdate command.
The command will offer to select a file with updated blocks. The file can be any DWG-drawing in any folder. It can be a large block library or a drawing with one new block. It doesn't matter if this file is open or not in AutoCAD. The block being replaced may never be used (not inserted into model space) in this library file, it is only important that the block definition is contained in this file.
The command will find blocks in the specified file with the same names as the blocks in your active drawing and make a replacement. The names must match exactly. The program will warn you if there are no blocks with such names in the file. Watch for messages on the command line.
Note that the block definition (BlockTableRecord) will be overridden, so all occurrences of that block (BlockReference) will be updated, not just the ones you selected.
All the block reference will have an updated list of attributes. If the new block has new attributes, they will be added with a default value. If the new block does not have the same attributes as the old one, the attributes will be removed.
This modification of the program does not compare the dates of saving the current file and the library file, and in any case replace the blocks, even with older ones.
At your request, I can develop smarter block replacement algorithms. Suggest your price.