Create, manage, and edit block definitions

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Blocks are used to simplify the drawing process and save time by

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allowing you to reuse the same set of objects in multiple locations.

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After completing this video,

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you will be able to reuse existing drawing content as blocks

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open. The first floor plan drawing provided in the data set.

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In this drawing,

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the previous user had drawn structural columns throughout the drawing.

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Unfortunately, each instance of them is a separate object.

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So any changes to the columns would have to be made to each individual one.

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A block would be much more efficient

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on the ribbons, view tab, click the named view,

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drop down list and select the column blocks view.

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In this view, I've simply isolated some layers to make the columns easier to see

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control one to display the properties pallet and select

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one of the columns in the properties pallet.

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The object is identified as a poly line

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for this exercise.

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We want to convert this poly line into a block and replace

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some of the columns with blocks to see how they work.

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A block is a collection of one or more objects that are combined

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and treated as a single entity when used or inserted throughout the drawing.

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Each instance of the block references the block's definition.

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If the block definition changes all of the blocks in the drawing, that reference,

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that definition

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will update accordingly.

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Let's create a column block to replace the poly lines with on the ribbons.

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Insert tab,

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click the create block tool on the block definition panel,

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name the block column for the base point.

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Click the pick point button

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zoom into the column

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and pick the intersection of the two grid lines in the middle of the column

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under the objects section. Click select objects

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and select the poly line and

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press enter

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after selecting the objects autohead

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wants to know what to do with the selected objects.

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After they have been used to create the new block,

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your options are to leave them unchanged.

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Convert the selected objects into the new block

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or simply delete the objects that were selected

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for this exercise.

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Choose convert to block,

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leave annotative unchecked check scale uniformly so that the blocks

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X Y and Z scales can't be changed independently.

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And uncheck allow exploding

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click, OK to continue and select the column again.

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Now we see that the column is no longer a poly line

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but actually a block reference named column

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soon previous

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erase the two columns on the right on the ribbons insert, tab, click,

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insert on the blocks panel, select the column block

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and place it at the intersection of the column. Grid lines

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repeat the process for the other column.

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This process could be repeated for the other columns in the drawing as well.

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Let's edit the column to add some more detail to edit existing blocks.

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Select one of the blocks,

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right click and choose either a

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block editor or edit block in place.

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The block editor function opens a separate environment for editing blocks

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in the editor block properties such as annotative explode scale uniformly,

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et cetera can be changed.

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Additionally, dynamic and parametric properties can be added.

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The edit block in place option is helpful if the changes needed to

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the block are more easily made in the context of the surrounding drawing.

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During an in place block edit only graphic changes can be made block

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properties such as annotative or scale uniformly

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can't be changed for this exercise.

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Choose block editor on the ribbons home tab, click the

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hatch icon on the draw panel,

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choose the N C 32 hatch pattern

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set a scale to 12 and select inside of the poly line.

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When working with blocks,

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it's helpful to keep in mind that any objects in the block that are on

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layer zero will assume the properties of the layer that the block is inserted on.

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Also when a property is set to buy block,

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that property's value will be determined by the property

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that's assigned to the block reference itself. Regardless of the layers involved

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hit close hatch creation and close block editor when prompted.

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Save the changes to the column block

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back in the drawing,

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we see that not only the block we changed has

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updated but also the other blocks that reference that block definition

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on the ribbons view tool change the view to

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department names.

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In this view,

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we see that the text used for the department name blocks

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is different than the text used for the room numbers.

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Let's update the department names block to match,

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select any of the department name blocks,

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right? Click.

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And in this case, we'll say edit block in place, press. OK?

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To confirm that's the block, we want to edit.

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Note that while editing the block, the surrounding drawing is still visible,

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allowing us to reference that geometry.

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If necessary, select the attribute definition

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and change its text style to roman

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and change the width factor to one.

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While editing this block,

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let's add a width factor to the poly line to make the department names stand out.

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Change the global width value

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to one

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click, save changes,

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click. OK?

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And we see that graphically the block is updated.

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The changes to the text do not appear to have taken effect

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when editing blocks,

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any changes associated with attributes require one extra step

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to update the existing block references on the ribbons.

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Insert tab,

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expand the block definition panel and choose synchronize or

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type the at sync command on the command line.

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When prompted, choose select block, pick one of the blocks to be synchronized.

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Click.

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Yes and note that the textile in the department name

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blocks now matches the textile used in the room number blocks

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when used properly, blocks can save significant time,

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achieve consistent drawing quality and reduce file sizes.