AutoCAD Block Grid LISP: Place Light Fixtures in Rows

Places a block in evenly spaced rows and columns inside a rectangular area.

AREAGRID is an AutoCAD block grid LISP that fills a room or zone with light fixtures, smoke detectors, speakers or any other symbol in a regular grid. Click two opposite corners of the area, give the block name and the number of rows and columns, and the blocks are spread evenly.

Placement follows the usual lighting layout rule: the area is split into equal cells and each block goes in the center of its cell. For a room 24 ft wide with 4 fixtures across, spacing is 6 ft with 3 ft left at each wall. You also set the block scale and rotation, and the blocks go on the current layer.

The last block name, row and column counts and scale are remembered for the session, so you can fill similar rooms one after another quickly.

How to use it

1. Load areagrid.lsp with APPLOAD and run AREAGRID.
2. Click one corner of the area, then the opposite corner.
3. Type the block name, or type P and pick a sample block in the drawing.
4. Enter the number of columns and rows.
5. Enter the block scale and rotation, or press Enter to accept the defaults.

Notes and tips

• The area is an axis-aligned rectangle in the current UCS; split L-shaped or angled rooms into rectangles.
• The block must already be defined in the drawing. Attribute values are not prompted and keep their defaults.
• The whole placement is one undo step, so U removes it in one go.

Frequently asked questions