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Play with BLOCKS

"Play with BLOCKs...

Eric Bailey

BLOCKs are one of the most powerful features in AutoCAD^®. It is unfortunate that so little time is spent exploring their use in schools and offices. When I was in school it was mentioned in the same context as the COPY command – mainly as a way of drawing something once and then reusing it over and over. Specifically, it was mentioned in concert with the WBLOCK command as a way to create a block library. A very important feature. However, the real power inherent in BLOCKs is to use them as an editing tool. Having INSERTed a number of BLOCKs into a drawing, you are free to edit, redefine for example, the BLOCK as required. Of course, in AutoCAD^® 2000, you may do this very easily using the REFEDIT command! XREFs are a whole other subject (although almost identical to BLOCKs, XREFs are much more involved from a CAD-managers perspective).

Play with BLOCKS ~ Continued

Try this exercise: Create a BLOCK consisting of one vertical line. ARRAY (or COPY etc.) the BLOCK along a line that represents the finished grade. This creates a simple "fence". An ugly fence, but a fence. However, because it was drawn originally by using a BLOCK, you can easily redefine that BLOCK to create the vertical boards and horizontal structure of an actual fence, with all horizontal lines matching, all (standard) details complete. If you use "BYBLOCK" and/or "LAYER 0" , you may also control the COLORs, LINETYPEs etc. of your BLOCKs.

So remember, in particular beginners, if you open a drawing that is filled with BLOCKs – do not EXPLODE them in order to edit them one at a time.

First, explore the options/tools to automate the editing of BLOCKs, e.g., REFEDIT, basic redefining, Express/LISP routines that will SCALE or ROTATE etc. the BLOCKs and/or ATTRIBUTES for you!

EXPLODE a BLOCK to edit it only as a last resort. In other words – "Play with BLOCKs"

Eric Bailey