Blocks

A block is a group of objects stored once in the drawing and placed as many times as you need. Each placed copy is a block reference (an INSERT). Change the definition and every reference follows. For ready-made symbols, see Symbols; to total references, see Symbol count.

Create a block

Choose Create block In the app: Help ▸ Show me or type BLOCK (B). The Block definition dialog has these fields:

• Name - must be unique in the drawing; invalid or duplicate names are refused with a message.
• Base point (X, Y) - the point the block is placed by. Type it, or choose Pick point to click it on the drawing.
• Objects - uses the current selection (the dialog shows the count). Choose Select objects to change it, then decide what happens to the originals: Retain, Convert to block (the default, which replaces them with one reference) or Delete.

Press OK to define the block.

Insert a block

Choose Insert In the app: Help ▸ Show me or type INSERT (I). If the drawing has no blocks, you are told to define one first. The Insert dialog offers:

• a list of blocks with a small preview;
• Scale X and Scale Y, linked while Uniform scale is ticked;
• Rotation, in degrees;
• Explode, which places loose objects instead of a reference.

Click OK, then click the insertion point; a dashed preview follows the cursor. If the block has attributes, you are asked for their values. The dialog remembers your last settings.

Explode, clip and purge

• EXPLODE (X) breaks a reference into its objects, one level at a time. Nested blocks stay as references. See Modify objects.
• XCLIP (XC) hides the part of a reference outside (or inside) a boundary, which can be rectangular, polygonal or a closed polyline. Options turn the clip on or off, delete it or draw a new one. Each change is one undo step.
• PURGE (PU) lists unused blocks, with layers and styles, and removes the ones you tick. See Quick select and purge.

Edit a definition

Use BEDIT (BE); see Block editor.

Other topics: Attributes, Command reference.