BLOCK: Creates a block definition from objects you select
WBLOCK: Writes objects or a block to a new drawing file
You can use several methods to create blocks:
A block can be composed of objects drawn on several layers with various colors, linetypes, and lineweight properties. Although a block is always inserted on the current layer, the block reference preserves information about the original layer, color, and linetype properties of the objects that are contained in the block. You can control whether objects in a block retain their original properties or inherit their properties from the current layer, color, linetype, or lineweight settings.
You can use PURGE to remove unused block definitions from a drawing.
How Blocks Are Stored and Referenced
To understand the operations, commands, and options that are available with blocks, it is important to understand how blocks are stored and referenced in a drawing. Central to working with blocks is understanding block definition tables.
Every drawing file has an invisible data area called the block definition table. The block definition table stores all block definitions, which consist of all information associated with the block. It is these block definitions that are referenced when you insert blocks in your drawing.
The following illustrations are conceptual representations of three drawing files. Each rectangle represents a separate drawing file and is divided into two parts: the smaller part represents the block definition table, and the larger part represents the objects in a drawing.
When you insert a block, you are inserting a block reference, AutoCAD does not simply copy the information from the block definition to the drawing area. Instead, a link is established between the block reference and the block definition. Therefore, if the block definition is changed, all references are updated automatically.
To reduce the size of a drawing, you can purge unused block definitions.
To define a block for the current drawing
- Create the objects you want to use in the block definition.
- From the Draw menu, choose Block > Make.
- In the Block Definition dialog box, enter a block name in the Name box.
- Under Objects, select Convert to Block.
If you want the original objects used to create the block definition to remain in your drawing, make sure the Delete option is not selected. If this option is selected, the original objects are erased from the drawing. If necessary, you can use OOPS to restore them.
- Choose Select Objects.
- Use your pointing device to select the objects to be included in the block definition. Press
ENTER
to complete object selection.
- In the Block Definition dialog box under Base Point, specify the block insertion point using one of these methods:
- In the Description box, enter a description for the block definition. This description is displayed in AutoCAD® DesignCenter™ (ADCENTER).
- Choose OK.
The block is defined in the current drawing and can be inserted at any time. |
Sketch-Plus.com © 2004 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
