Blocks
Make a block from anything you have drawn, insert it as often as you need, and edit it once to change every copy. Save the ones you use to your library and they are there in every project.
Every property, and what it does
The block tools and the rows an inserted block has.
The tools
In CAD tools, Blocks.
| Field | What it does | Values |
|---|---|---|
| Create block | Makes a block of that name from the selection (BLOCK, B). | BLOCK name |
| Insert block | Places a block (INSERT, I). | INSERT name, then a click |
| Edit block | Opens a block to change it; every copy follows (BEDIT, BE). | BEDIT name |
| Save to library | Keeps a block in your library, for every project (WBLOCK, W). | WBLOCK name |
| Block palette | The Blocks tab: the drawing's blocks and your library (BLOCKS). | Document, Library |
An inserted block
Select a copy and these are its rows.
| Field | What it does | Values |
|---|---|---|
| Attributes | The values a block's attributes take in this copy, such as a tag or a number. | Per copy |
| Move, rotate, scale | A copy is moved, turned and scaled with the modify tools, like any other entity. | MOVE, ROTATE, SCALE |
| Explode | Breaks a copy back into its lines, which then stand alone (EXPLODE, X). | One command |
Drawing
What every drawn line, shape and hatch has.
| Field | What it does | Values |
|---|---|---|
| Layer | The drawing layer it is on, for showing, hiding and printing. | The project's layers |
| Colour | The colour it is drawn in. | By layer, or its own |
| Lineweight | The pen width it prints at. | By layer, or 0.05 to 2.11 mm |
| Linetype | Solid, dashed or chained. | By layer, Continuous, Dashed, Hidden, Center, Dot, Phantom |
How blocks work
Draw it once
Draw the symbol: a chair, a north arrow, a title.
Make it a block
Select it and type BLOCK and a name.
Insert it
INSERT and the name, or pick it in the Blocks tab, and click where it goes.
Keep it
WBLOCK saves it to your library, so it is there in your next project.
Block questions, answered.
If I edit a block, do the copies change?
Yes. BEDIT opens the block, and every copy of it follows the change.
Do blocks come in from DXF and DWG?
Yes. On import they are kept as blocks, or exploded into their lines if you choose.
Read on
- Import and Export: DXF, DWG, SVG and PDF.
- Modify Tools: Move, copy, arrays and explode.
- Drafting tools docs: Every drafting command and its alias.