Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

1. Creating Symbols For Multiple Use Sacramento City College EDT 310/312 Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

2. Objectives • Create and save blocks • Insert blocks in drawings • Edit a block and update it in a drawing. • Insert drawings and blocks into drawings. • Create blocks that are saved independent of the drawing. • Construct and use a symbol library of blocks. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

3. Symbols or “BLOCKS” Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

4. Blocks or Symbols • A block can be any • Shape. • Symbol. • View. • Drawing • Text • Group of lines. • that you use more than once. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

5. Blocks or Symbols • Examples of blocks • Chair • Desk • Plumbing Fixture • Piping Symbol. • Etc. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

6. Blocks or Symbols • When preparing drawings • LOOK for items that should be a block • Review the drawing. • Look for any shapes, components, notes, and assemblies that are used more than once. • These can be drawn once and then saved as blocks and re-used over and over again. • Saves time. • Saves $$$ for your company. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

7. Blocks or Symbols • AutoCAD has two commands for blocks. • Block • WBlock Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

8. Blocks or Symbols • BLOCK – • Creates a block that is stored within the CURRENT drawing ONLY. • Re-use block over and over in THAT drawing. • LOCAL access only. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

9. Blocks or Symbols • WBLOCK – • Creates a block that is saved as a separate drawing file on your diskette, flash or hard drive • Can be used in any drawing. • Put Blocks in Library on file server. • Can be used by the entire company. • GLOBAL access Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

10. Blocks or Symbols • Both typesof blocks can be scaled and rotated to meet the drawing requirements. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

11. Blocks or Symbols • Both types of blocks can be used to create a symbol library. • A symbol library is a related group of symbols. • Pipe • Furniture • Mechanical symbols Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

12. Creating a Block Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

13. Creating a Block • Procedure to create a block. • 1. Select the drawing components that should be part of the block. • 2. Name the block. • 3. Indicate the block “handle” or Insertion Point. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

14. Selecting a Layer Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

15. Selecting A Layer • Before drawing blocks or symbols • Determine the appropriate layer first. • An understanding of how layers and objects properties are applied to blocks is critical. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

16. Drawing the Block Components • Three Methods • 1. Draw blocks on Layer 0 • 2. Draw blocks with components on other layers. • 3. OVERRIDE colors/linetypes Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

17. Drawing the Block Components • Method 1 – Created on Layer 0 • The block inherits the samecolor, linetype and lineweight as the layer on which it is inserted. • The block will become “part of the family” where it is inserted. • Always create blocks on layer 0. • If block objects are on different layers, move them to layer 0 first. • Usually the preferred method! Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

18. Drawing the Block Components • Example 1: • If a block is • Created on Layer “0” and the • INSERT’ed on a layer with these attributes: • RED color • HIDDEN linetype • The block will appear RED and HIDDEN. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

19. Drawing the Block Components • Example 2: • If a block is • Created on Layer “0” and the • INSERT’ed on a layer with these attributes: • GREEN color • CENTER linetype • The block will appear GREEN and CENTER. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

20. Drawing the Block Components • Method 2 – Created on Layers other than the layer 0 • The objects belong to the layer on which the block was created • They retain the properties of the layer or layers on which the objects were created. • This can cause confusion • A block belongs to one layer but has the properties of a different layer. • Solution: Create blocks on layer 0 instead. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

21. Drawing the Block Components • Method 3 – Blocks with specific colors, linetypes. • Set the absolute color/linetype before drawing the objects. • (OVERRIDE) • The block will always be the selected color and linetype. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

22. Layers and Blocks • Blocks when created • retain the properties of the layers on which they were created. • Retain the layers on which they were created. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

23. Layers and Blocks • ByLayer is the default creation mode. • When set to “ByLayer”, the block will take on the properties of the layer it is inserted. • Block color and linetype are determined by the layer on which they were created. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

24. Layers and Blocks • If a block named circle was created with • Red color. • Dashed linetype. • When inserted or used on the drawing, • it remains red and dashed, no matter what layer it is inserted on. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

25. Layers and Blocks • A block defined in ByLayer mode retains its properties, including layer. • If the layers do not exist in the drawing where the block is being inserted, AutoCAD creates these layers. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

26. Layers and Blocks • A block must be created on layer 0 to assume the properties of the layer it is inserted on. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

27. Layers and Blocks • If a block • is created on layer 0, and • inserted on layer 1 • it becomes part of Layer 1 and • assumes Layer 1 properties. • If the block is exploded, the objects return back to layer 0 and to the original color and linetype of Layer 0. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

28. ByLayer vs ByBlock • If the current linetype is set to BYLAYER, • The block is created with the current linetype assigned to that layer. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

29. ByLayer vs ByBlock • If the current linetype is set to BYBLOCK, • The block will assume the current color and linetype (from the Object Properties toolbar) when it is inserted into a drawing. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

30. ByLayer vs ByBlock • If the current linetype is set to BYBLOCK, • Objects are created using the CONTINOUS linetype until the objects are grouped into a block. • When the block is inserted into the drawing, those objects acquire the current linetype setting. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

31. ByLayer vs ByBlock • If the current color is set to BYLAYER, • Objects are created with the color assigned to the current layer. • If the current color is set to BYBLOCK • Objects are created using color 7 (white or black) until the objects are grouped into a block. • When the block is inserted into the drawing, it acquires the current color setting. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

32. Changing Block Properties Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

33. Changing Block Properties • Use the Properties window to change the properties of a block. • To open the Properties window • Right-click, choose Properties • Or • Double-click entity. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

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35. Drawing Block Components Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

36. Drawing Block Components • Draw block geometry just as any other geometry • Pick an insertion base point. • The insertion base point attaches to the crosshairs for placement in the drawing. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

37. Creating Blocks Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

38. To Create A Block • To create a BLOCK: • Pick the Make Block button in the Draw toolbar • OR • Pick Make... from the Block cascading menu in the Draw pull-down menu • OR • Enter B, BLOCK, or BMAKE at the Command: prompt. • Any one of these methods displays the Block Definition dialog box. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

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41. To Create A Block • 1. In the Name: text box, enter a name for the block, such as BORDER. • The name cannot exceed 255 characters. • It can include numbers, letters, and spaces, as well as the dollar sign ($), hyphen (-), and underscore (-). Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

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44. To Create A Block • 2. In the Objects area, pick the Select objects button • Use your pointing device to select objects for the block definition. • Select all the objects that will make up the block. Press [Enter] when you are done. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

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47. To Create A Block • The Block Definition dialog box reopens, • The number of objects selected is shown in the Objects area. Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

48. To Create A Block • 3. In the Objects area specify • Retain • Convert • Delete Chapter 23-Creating Symbols For Multiple Use

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