block best practices-sample chapter

AuBCre

utoCBes

ate, Autom

CAst P

mate, and M

AD Brac

Manage Yo

By

Blocctice

ur AutoCA

y: Edwin P

ck esD Block

Prakoso

B

BAAftst

Imwd

Emsk

Block Best Practic

wC

Block is one oAutoCAD. By AutoCAD is notfast, but producthe drawings dshould provide to automate som

In this e‐book, manage your blwe are also talkdrawings with A

Each industry mmight focus on should be ablknowledge to yo

ce: Create, Autom

www.cad‐notes.CAD tutorials an

of the most imoptimizing yout just about dractivity is beyondduring the desinecessary informe process.

you will learn locks. We are nking about concAutoCAD and op

may need diffeAEC industry foe to get the our own industr

mate, and Manag

.com nd best practice

mportant produr blocks, youawing lines. Youd that. We shougn process. Thrmation. Furthe

how to createnot only discusscept. The commptimizing your b

rent blocks andor block sampleconcept and

ry.

ge Your AutoCAD

s

PREFAC

uctivity tools iu will find thau can draw lineuld easily modifhe drawings alsermore, we wan

e, automate, aning features, bumon problems iblocks can help.

d automation. es. However, yocan apply th

Block

E

in at es fy so nt

nd ut in

I ou is

PRER

This eAlthouveteraAutoC

THE T

We inca locatopen a

UNIT

This eprobleare foc

REQUISITE

e‐book is for ugh I believe, an AutoCAD useAD basic featur

TUTORIAL FIL

clude tutorial fition you can aca drawing file, y

USED IN THI

‐book is using mem. You will nocusing on produ

BEF

basic to interit can give soers. You have tores.

LES

les with this e‐bccess easily. Whyou can find it in

S BOOK

metric unit. Hoot draw many ouctivity concept

FORE YOU

mediate AutoCome fresh inforo, at least, be a

book. Extract thhen you find insn the tutorial file

owever, it shoulobjects in this et.

ChP

f

2

START

CAD users. rmation to able to use

e zip file to struction to es folder.

ld not be a e‐book. We

Chapter: Preface

2

B

P

B

T

T

Block Best Practic

wC

Preface ______

Before You Star

Prerequisite __

The Tutorial Fi

Unit Used in T

Table of Conten

The Block Basic

The Advantage

Creating BlockDefining the Defining the Defining the

Inserting BlockInserting BlocInserting FileInserting Bloc

Block Unit ____

Modifying BloDisassemble Using Block E

ce: Create, Autom


______________

rt ____________

______________

iles ___________

This Book ______

nt ____________

c _____________

es of Using Block

k _____________block name _____block base point _Block Objects ____

k _____________ck Definition _____ as a Block ______ck From Another F

______________

ck ____________and Redefine the BEditor __________

mate, and Manag


TABLE OF

_____________

_____________

_______________

_______________

_______________

_____________

_____________

ks _____________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________ile _____________

_______________

_______________Block ___________________________

ge Your AutoCAD

s

F CONTENT

____________

____________

______________

______________

______________

____________

____________

______________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

_____________ 1

_____________ 1______________ 1______________ 1

Block

T

2

2

_ 2

_ 2

_ 2

3

5

_ 5

_ 5 6 7 7

_ 7 8 8 9

10

11 11 12

Rep

Attach

Crea

WorCInC

Man

UsinC

Manag

LayeLaBy

Usin

ExerCC

Mor

Annot

Und

Crea

Usin

lacing Block ___

hing Informatio

ating Attributes

rking With Block reating Block ____nserting Block ____hanging Attributes

naging Attributes

ng Attributes To Preating Room Tag

ging Your Objec

er 0 __________ayer Properties OvyBlock _________

ng Other Layers _

rcise __________hanging the Layerhanging The Objec

re Layers Practice

tative Block ___

derstanding Anno

ating Annotative

ng Annotative Blo

_______________

on to Blocks ___

______________

and Attributes _________________________________s Value _________

s _____________

Preserve Space f_______________

cts Layer _____

_______________erride __________________________

_______________

______________________________ct Properties _____

es ____________

_____________

otative Block ___

Block _________

ock ___________

______________

______________

______________

______________________________________________________________

______________

or Text _______________________

______________

______________________________________________

______________

______________________________________________

______________

______________

______________

______________

______________

ChTbl

fC

3

________ 14

______ 15

________ 15

________ 16 _________ 16 _________ 17 _________ 17

________ 18

________ 20 _________ 21

______ 23

________ 23 _________ 23 _________ 23

________ 23

________ 24 _________ 25 _________ 25

________ 26

______ 27

________ 27

________ 29

________ 30

Chapter: Table of C

ontent

3

B

A

E

Block Best Practic

wC

Adding Intellige

Using VisibilityChanging the

Using ParametAdding ParamRelating ActioTesting the BParameter PrUsing List to

Controlling BloUsing DimenUsing GeomeUsing Block T

More About D

Extracting Your

Information inAttribute ___Parameters _Using Fields i

Using Data ExtFirst Page: BeSecond PageThird Page: SFourth Page: Fifth Page: ReSixth Page: C

ce: Create, Autom


ence to Your Blo

y States _______e Parameter Name

ters and Actions meters __________on to Parameters _Block ___________roperties ________Allow User Select C

ocks with Constrasional Constraint _etric Constraint ___Table ___________

Dynamic Block __

r Data ________

n Your Blocks ___________________________________in Attributes _____

traction _______egin ____________: Define Data SourcSelect Objects ____Select Properties _efine Data _______hoose Output ____

mate, and Manag


ock __________

______________________________

______________________________________________________________________________Certain Type _____

aint ___________________________________________________________

_______________

_____________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________ce _____________________________________________________________________________

ge Your AutoCAD

s

___________ 3

_____________ 3______________ 3

_____________ 3______________ 3______________ 3______________ 4______________ 4______________ 4

_____________ 4______________ 4______________ 4______________ 5

_____________ 5

___________ 5

_____________ 5______________ 5______________ 5______________ 5

_____________ 5______________ 5______________ 5______________ 5______________ 5______________ 5______________ 5

Block

32

32 36

37 37 39 40 40 42

44 45 48 53

54

55

55 55 55 55

55 56 56 56 57 57 58

SeEi

More

ExamAW

ExamAA

Exam

Exam

Manag

ManSiM

CreaACC

Shar

What

Con

Send

eventh Page: Tableight Page: Finish _

Blocks Best Pra

mple 1: Valve __lignment Paramete

Wipeout ________

mple 2: Foundatidding Reference Pdding Fields in Attr

mple 3: Coordina

mple 4: Table An

ging and Sharin

naging Block Filesingle Block in SinglMultiple Blocks in Si

ating and Using Tdding Blocks to Yoreating Palette Usireating Palette Gro

ring Your Blocks

Now? ________

clusion _______

ding Your Inquiry

e Style __________________________

actices _______

_______________er _____________________________

ion Pile cap ____oints ___________ributes _________

ate Label _______

nd Chair ________

ng Blocks _____

s _____________e File __________ingle Files _______

Tool Palettes ___ur Palette _______ng Design Center _oup ____________

Across Network

_____________

_______________

y _____________

________________________________

______________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

______________

______________

______________

______________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

_____________

______________

______________

______________

ChTbl

fC

4

_________ 58 _________ 58

______ 59

________ 59 _________ 59 _________ 60

________ 61 _________ 61 _________ 61

________ 63

________ 64

______ 65

________ 65 _________ 65 _________ 65

________ 66 _________ 66 _________ 67 _________ 67

________ 68

______ 69

________ 69

________ 69

Chapter: Table of C

ontent

4

B

IAddoU

IbAyy

T

W

Block Best Practic

wC

I remember whAutoCAD coursedid not teach mdid not take adone of the AuUnbelievable, b

I assume this cobook from theAutoCAD class you already knyou can skip thi

THE ADVANT

Why are we usin

1. Block is selectingcircles ccan seleat once b

2. When wevery bl

ce: Create, Autom


hen I first start e, but apparentme how to use dvanced class. IutoCAD gurus ut it is true.

ould happen toe very beginnimight not teacow how to cres chapter.

TAGES OF USIN

ng blocks?

a single object. g an object wan be tricky. Byct it easier. Youby filtering themwe update a bloock with same

mate, and Manag


THE BL

to use AutoCAtly, it is not gooblocks. ProbablIt was ironic, camong my frie

o my readers, sng. Some Autch you about theate, insert, and

NG BLOCKS

If you have a cwith many liney defining themu can also selecm by name. ck definition, itdefinition. This

ge Your AutoCAD

s

OCK BASIC

AD. I did take aod enough. Thely the reason isonsidering I waends in college

o I will start thtoCAD books ohe block basic. d modify block

omplex drawings, hatches, an

m as a block, yot multiple block

t will also updats is very useful

Block

C

an ey s I as e.

is or If

ks,

g, nd ou ks

te if

3.

4.

5.

CREA

The mThere createyour o

This to

you often nedesign. Howevconsider whicusing XREF thaYou can save blibrary, and edrawing standdrawings. Thiswith your teamBlocks can prothe informatio(in manufactucoordinate, etAutodesk has can use blockproductivity.

ATING BLOCK

ost basic thing are several wa

e block is by usinobjects to a bloc

ool is on your rib

eed to change ver, if you workch part of youran using blocks.block in separateasily insert it.dard, as you ws also mean yom, to maintain yovide informatioon in a table. Thuring industry), t cetera. enhanced blockks to automate

in learning blocys to create blong create block ck.

bbon, block pan

your symbols k in team, you ar design should te file as reusab. This will maiwill always useou can share yyour company son. You can use he report can beschedule or BO

ks with many fee our design t

cks is creating aocks. The commtool. This tool w

nel.

ChTh

BlkB

i

5

or typical lso need to d be better

le contents ntain your the same your library standard. and report e hole table OM, points

eatures. We to increase

nd using it. mon way to will convert

Chapter: The

Block Basic

5

B

L

Ic

A

Block Best Practic

wC

Let us try using

In this file, youcontains a polyl

Activate create

ce: Create, Autom


this tool. Open

u can find a vaine and two line

block tool. You

mate, and Manag


valve.dwg.

alve symbol. Thes.

will see a dialog

ge Your AutoCAD

s

his valve symbo

g box opened.

Block

ol

There only thYou dhave t

DEFIN

We nethis blfield. Tname.

are many optihe basic option o not have to o do all three b

ING THE BLOCK

eed to give a ulock with the oThis is a gate‐fla

ons available innow. At least tfollow the stepefore clicking O

NAME unique name fothers. Type theanged valve, so

n this dialog. Wthree steps you ps consecutivelOK.

or our block to e block name ino let us use it as

ChTh

BlkB

i

6

We will use should do. ly, but you

distinguish n the name s this block

Chapter: The

Block Basic

6

B

DBpw

Tty

T

DTwo

Block Best Practic

wC

DEFINING THE B

Base point is yopoint for valve we draw p & id

The dialog will the base point. your mouse.

The ‘block defin

DEFINING THE BThe last thing wwe want to beobjects button.

ce: Create, Autom


BLOCK BASE POI

ur block insertiois at its center. drawings. Click

be closed temSnap to the cen

nition’ dialog bo

BLOCK OBJECTS

we need to do ise included insiThis will also clo

mate, and Manag


NT on point. The coWe will snap itthe pick point b

porarily, allowinter of this valv

x will be restore

S s telling AutoCAde the block. ose the dialog b

ge Your AutoCAD

s

ommon insertiot to a pipe whebutton.

ng you to selecve, and then clic

ed.

AD which objectClick the selec

box temporarily

Block

on en

ct ck

ts ct .

Select object

When editor’automblock e

Click O

INSER

After winsert ribbon

all objects that selection.

the dialog box’ option is

matically open yeditor later.

OK. Now we hav

RTING BLOCK

we defined ouryour block by

n> home tab> bl

at form the va

x restored, makdisabled. Enayour block in b

ve defined our b

block, surely wactivating inserlock panel.

alve. Press [ent

ke sure the ‘opeabling this oblock editor. W

block. Save this f

we want to use rt block tool. It

ChTh

BlkB

i

7

ter] to end

en in block ption will

We will use

file.

it. You can is on your

Chapter: The

Block Basic

7

B

IA

Yht

Tp1to

Block Best Practic

wC

INSERTING BLOActivate the too

You will see thehave several blothe list by clickin

There are threepoint, scale, and1, and the rotatthe other hand,option allows y

ce: Create, Autom


CK DEFINITION ol.

e block name iock definition inng the small arr

e most used od rotation. By dtion to 0 degree, is set to ‘speciyou to pick po

mate, and Manag


n name dropdon your drawing row.

options in this default, the scalee. The insertion fy on‐screen’. Sints as referen

ge Your AutoCAD

s

own field. If yofile, you can se

dialog: insertioe option is set tpoint option, o

Specify on screece. Most of th

Block

ou ee

on to on en he

timesHowev

Let usrotatioValve’

The dipointe

INSERTWe cawill bewill be

Open objectcouple

Create

Click tFlange

See inwithou

we want to cliver, for scale an

s try to insert on to 0. Make and the insertio

ialog box is cloer. Click where y

TING FILE AS A an insert a file ie converted to e used as the blo

the Valve ‐ Gts as the previoe of lines. Witho

e a new file, and

the browse bute.dwg’. Click op

n the name fielut the file exten

ick a point to dnd rotation, mos

your block. Lesure the blocon point is spec

osed, and you wyou want it to b

BLOCK nto a drawing a single block ock name. Let u

ate Flange.dwgous file we useout making any

d then activate i

tton, and thenpen.

ld, now you cansion. Click OK.

define the blocstly we type the

eave the scale ck name is ‘Gacified on screen.

will see the bloe.

and the drawindefinition. The

us try it.

g. This file hasd. It has a polychanges, close t

nsert block too

select the ‘Va

an see the file

ChTh

BlkB

i

8

ck position. e value.

to 1, and te Flanged . Click OK.

ock at your

ng contents e file name

s the same yline and a this file.

l.

alve ‐ Gate

name in it

Chapter: The

Block Basic

8

B

Iidp

Sn

Wi

Ic

Block Best Practic

wC

If you want to insertion point drawn on the fipointer. Click to

Select the valvenot define it as

What will happin it? It will be a

I would not suggconfuse me whe

ce: Create, Autom


use this techniqis the file origle origin, so weo place it.

e. You can see ita block.

en if we insert a nested block. B

gest you to use en I still new to

mate, and Manag


que, one thing gin (0,0). The g see the valve is

t is now one obj

a file that has Block inside a bl

this technique.blocks.

ge Your AutoCAD

s

to consider: thgate valve is nos offset from ou

ject. Even we di

block definitionlock.

. I remember th

Block

he ot ur

id

ns

is

INSERTWhat AutoCrecogn

How cthat wdefinityou catechniusing access

If youpress [

Designthe filsee whlayers,

TING BLOCK FRwe did beforeAD file. If younize the block.

can we insert thwe can insert a tion, it will be aan explode it. I que. The betterdesign center. sing it from your

are a comman[ctrl]+2.

n center is just e name in windhat is in a dwg f, and so on.

OM ANOTHER Fe is creating au create a ne

he block to anotfile as a block. a nested block. mentioned thar way to insert You can open r ribbon>view ta

d line lovers, yo

like windows edows explorer, file. You can see

FILE a block definitew file, the fil

ther file? We haSince the file hTo get the origat we should nblocks from anodesign center ab>palettes pan

ou can type AD

explorer. You onin design cente blocks, dimen

ChTh

BlkB

i

9

tion within e will not

ave learned has a block ginal block, ot use this other file is palette by nel.

DCENTER or

nly can see er you can sion styles,

Chapter: The

Block Basic

9

B

TcF

Be

Ttb

Block Best Practic

wC

The design cencannot see thFiles\AutoCAD x

Browse and picexpand it. You w

The right pane that interest yoblock’ in the con

ce: Create, Autom


nter should ophe sample foxxxx\Sample\De

ck a file. Click twill see blocks c

will show the ou, right click onntext menu.

mate, and Manag


pen sample fileolder, browse esignCenter.

the plus sign neategory, click to

blocks previewn that block. Yo

ge Your AutoCAD

s

es folder. If yoto x:\Program

ext to the file to select it.

w. Find one blocou will see ‘inse

Block

ou m

to

ck rt

If you your d

This mnestedbook,

BLOC

Before

When

By defdo notaking

want to show odrawing.

method will dired block. We willusing tool palet

CK UNIT

e we continue fu

we create a blo

fault, it is takingot concern abo this seriously.

off a bit, you ca

ectly insert yourl discuss anothette.

urther, let us dis

ock, there is an o

g your file unit. ut units. Now

n simply drag a

r block and noter way to do it l

scuss about blo

option for block

Many AutoCADit is about tim

ChTh

BlkB

i

1

and drop to

t creating a later in this

ck unit.

k unit.

D users still me you are

Chapter: The

Block Basic

10

block best practices-sample chapter

Documents