Inserting Blocks

You can insert internal Blocks and external drawings as Blocks into drawings.

Inserting a Block in the drawing creates a Block reference.

You can insert:

• Blocks defined in the active drawing
• Blocks defined in external drawing files

Tip: You can group Blocks in block libraries.

The following tools and methods let you insert Blocks:

• Block Library palette
• Block Structure palette
• Design Resources palette
• Drag and drop drawings from a folder

To insert Blocks:

1. Click Insert > Block (or type InsertBlock).
2. In the dialog box, in Name, select a Block. Click Browse to locate an external drawing.

   The preview area displays the selected Block.

   Note: The sign in the lower right corner of the Preview area identifies the Block:

      Dynamic Block

   CB CustomBlock

3. Under Position, for X, Y, and Z, specify coordinate values, or select Specify later to specify the insertion point on screen after the dialog box closes.
4. Under Scale:
   • For X, Y, and Z, specify the scale factor for each axis.

     - or -

   • Click Specify later to define the Block size during insertion. Specify the Corner option, then define the opposite point of the rectangle where the Block is to fit.

     - or -

   • Click Apply uniform scale, and for X, specify a scale factor. A scale factor of:
     • 1: Inserts the Block at its original size.
     • Less than 1: Reduces the size to the percentage of the original size specified by the factor.
     • Greater than 1: Increases the size.
5. Under Rotate, for Angle, specify a value or select Specify later to set the rotation angle in the graphics area during insertion.
6. Under Block UnitSystem:
   • You cannot edit the Units or Scale. If Scale is unequal to 1.0, then the drawing units differ from the Block units.
   • Select Explode Block to explode the Block into its component entities. A Block loses its characteristics when exploded. You can explode uniform scaled Blocks only.
7. Click OK.

   The Block appears attached to the mouse cursor.

8. Use the Ctrl key to toggle through the available insertion points.
9. Click a point to place the Block.

Access

Command: InsertBlock

Menu: Insert > Block

Ribbon: Insert > Block > Insert

Tool Palettes: Draw > Insert Block