JJ206 Computer & Design 1 Chapter 09

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

AutoCAD 2012and

AutoCAD LT 2012 Essentials

By Scott Onstott

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Using the WBLOCK command:• You can write block definitions, the entire

drawing, or portions of a drawing to a new file

• You can specify Insert Units when creating the new file through WBLOCK, or use the UNITS command in the new file itself to specify the Insert Scale.

• Writing an entire drawing to itself eliminates unreferenced items that you might normally unsuccessfully purge

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Inserting Global Blocks• The key to inserting a global block is

to click the Browse button in the Insert dialog box to access another drawing file

• If you see a path referenced in the Insert dialog box, then the block you are inserting is a global block

• Local blocks are available on the Name drop down

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Global and Local Blocks• When you insert a drawing file with the

same name as a local block you are asked whether you want to redefine the block

• After a block is redefined by a global block it appears in the Name drop down because it is now a local block

• If you check Explode in the Insert dialog box you can insert a global block without creating a local block definition

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Redefining Blocks• You redefine blocks by inserting a

drawing file with the same name as a local block definition

• When you redefine a block, all block references with that name will automatically updated. Be careful when doing this or you might overwrite important information!

• Use the RENAME command to change the name of existing block definitions if you don’t want to redefine when inserting a block of the same name

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Configuring the Content Manager• Click the Configure Settings button in the

Content Manager (lower right corner)• Click the Add Watched Folder button in

the Configure Settings dialog• The Content Manager will search all

subfolders within the folders you add to the watch list

• Your CAD Manager can install software on each computer in your local area network so they will appear as content sources

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Browsing the Content Manager • You can browse items in the content manager by

double clicking them• When you drill down within a single drawing file

you will see icons and thumbnails for items that can be dragged into the current drawing

• You can also right click items listed in the content manager for options such Open Drawing or Insert

• Click the breadcrumbs along the top bar to go up to a specific folder

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Searching in the Content Manager• Searching within the Content Manager is where

it really shines more than the Autodesk Design Center

• Once folders have been indexed, searching is very fast

• You can search through the files in all watched folders and find specific blocks, text, styles, xrefs and more in seconds

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

Using the Tool Palettes• You can drag almost anything in a

drawing to the Tool Palettes, provided you have saved the drawing

• Right click a new tool to configure its properties

• You can choose to prompt for rotation so inserting a block from a palette is much like using the INSERT command

• Additional properties like color, layer, linetype, and so on can be configured in Tool Properties

Ch 9: Working with Blocks and Xrefs

External References• Xrefs are linked rather than being inserted

like blocks• Links are updated when the target

drawing is opened • Balloon notifications appear when an Xref

source file is saved• You can manually update links that have

changed since they were initially loaded• Xrefs allow teams to work together

without overwriting each others’ work• Xrefs give singular control over multiple

references for more efficient drawing