Block editor

The block editor lets you change a block definition using the ordinary drawing and modify tools. Every reference in the drawing follows once you save. For the basics, see Blocks.

Open the editor

Type BEDIT (BE).

If you have exactly one block reference selected, its definition opens straight away.
Otherwise the Edit block definition dialog lists the drawing's editable blocks. Pick one and press OK, or double-click the name.

If the drawing has no editable blocks, you see a message instead. You can edit only one block at a time.

Note

The editor works on a copy of the definition. The drawing itself does not change until you save.

While the editor is open, a bar above the drawing shows Block editor: name with three buttons, Save block, Set base point and Close. The Model and layout tabs are hidden, and the view fits the block. Draw, modify and undo work as usual, on the copy.

Save, base point and close

BSAVE writes the copy back to the drawing as one undo step and keeps the editor open. References that carry attributes are updated to match.
BASE sets the block's base point. Click the new point; a marker shows the current one.
BCLOSE leaves the editor. With no unsaved changes it closes at once. Otherwise the Block editor dialog asks "Save changes to name?" with Save, Discard and Cancel. Save writes the copy then closes; Discard throws the changes away; Cancel keeps you in the editor.

The same question appears if you save the drawing, close the tab or quit while edits are pending.

Tip

Save as you go with BSAVE; you can still discard later edits with BCLOSE.

Blocked commands

Some commands change other blocks or the whole drawing, so they are refused while the editor is open, with the message "Close the block editor first (BCLOSE)". They are BLOCK, BEDIT, ATTSYNC, PURGE, UNITS, LAYOUT and PAGESETUP.

Outside the editor, BSAVE, BCLOSE and BASE only show a hint to use BEDIT first.

See also Attributes and Command reference.