Chapter 16. Blocks and Block Attributes

• Provide the ability to reuse drawing information repeatedly in one or more drawings

• Increase drawing uniformity and consistency

• Promote and help maintain drafting standards

• Reduce drawing size

• Reduce amount of time and effort to update and revise drawings

• Add intelligence to drawings

Blocks can be made from practically any type of AutoCAD objects including lines, circles, text, dimensions, and even hatching. They may be as simple as a single line or as complex as a complete drawing. There are three basic types of blocks as shown in Figure 16-1:

• Annotation Detail bubbles, section marks, door/window tags

• Schematic Electrical symbols, plumbing symbols, weld symbols

• Real-Size Furniture, doors/windows, plumbing fixtures

Annotation blocks need to be scaled up or down when they are inserted to account for the drawing scale, just like text and dimensions. For instance, a detail bubble drawn with a 1/2″-diameter circle as shown in Figure 16-1 would have to be scaled up by 48 in a drawing with the scale of 1/4″ = 1′-0″ in order to plot at the correct size.

Schematic blocks are created at the size they will plot so that you can create schematic drawings at a scale of 1:1. For instance, the electrical symbol in Figure 16-1 is drawn with a 1/4″ diameter so that it can easily be located in a schematic drawing created on a 1/4″ or 1/8″ grid layout.

Real-size blocks are created at the actual size that the objects exist in the real world so that they can be used to accurately lay out a drawing. For instance, a 2′-0″ wide chair is drawn 24″ wide so that when it is located on a floor plan it represents the actual furniture.

It is even possible to attach dynamic intelligent text referred to as a block attribute that can be updated when a block is inserted or anytime later.

Existing block attributes can be extracted directly to an AutoCAD table so that you can automatically create schedules, parts lists, bills of materials, and other tabular type information. In fact, block attributes can even be extracted to an external text file, spreadsheet, or database so that the attribute information can be shared with others, used to generate reports, and used to perform other tasks.

As you can see, blocks are very useful. The following sections explain how to exploit the power of blocks and block attributes in your AutoCAD drawings.

Create Block
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert Block Definition
Menu:	Draw Block | Make...
Command Line:	BLOCK BMAKE
Command Alias:	B

Every time a block is inserted in a drawing it refers back to the centrally located block definition. In fact, when a block is inserted in a drawing, it is referred to as a block reference because it refers back to the block definition to determine its appearance and other properties.

All that is stored with the block reference is the block’s insertion point, scale (x, y, and z), and rotation angle. The rest of the information is derived from the block definition. This arrangement provides a couple of advantages. One advantage is that the drawing size is reduced because the block definition is centrally stored in one place, regardless of how many references of the block exist in a drawing. The other advantage is that if you update a block definition, all references to that block definition in a drawing are automatically updated, regardless of how many references there are.

Creating a new block definition is easy. You simply draw the objects you want the block to consist of using standard drawing techniques and then start the BLOCK command so you can select the objects and give them a descriptive name that you can reference later.

The Name: list box is where you enter the desired block name. The name can be up to 255 characters long and can include letters, numbers, or blank spaces. Typically, you want to use a descriptive name that reflects the block’s contents and/or usage.

Selecting an existing block name from the list will redefine all references to that block in the drawing if you make any changes. Redefining blocks is explained later in this chapter.

The Base point area allows you to specify an insertion point for the block. This point is used to locate the block in the drawing when it is inserted later. The default insertion point is 0,0,0. You can either enter the x, y, and z coordinate values directly in their respective text boxes or pick a point in your drawing by selecting the Pick point button. The Pick point button temporarily closes the Block Definition dialog box so that you can pick a point in the drawing as shown in Figure 16-3.

The Objects area allows you to select the objects to include in the new block definition if there are none already selected in the drawing, as well as to indicate what to do with the selected objects after the block definition is created.

The Select objects button closes the Block Definition dialog box temporarily so you can select objects in the drawing as shown in Figure 16-4.

You can use any standard selection process. When you finish selecting objects, press <Enter> to redisplay the Block Definition dialog box and continue defining the block. Pressing the <Esc> key when selecting objects will deselect the objects so that nothing is selected and redisplay the Block Definition dialog box.

The QuickSelect button closes the Block Definition dialog box temporarily and displays the Quick Select dialog box shown in Figure 16-5 so you can select objects by filtering one or more object properties.

The other three options in the Objects area directly below the Select objects button determine what happens to the selected objects after the block is created:

• Retain Retains the original selected objects in the drawing without doing anything

• Convert to block (default) Converts the selected objects to a block reference “in-place”

• Delete Deletes all the selected objects after the block is created so that they no longer exist

The Settings area at the bottom left is where you specify different settings for the block.

The Block unit list box lists the different possible insertion units for the block. If you insert a block that is created with different block drawing units than the insertion scale units currently set for the drawing, the block is automatically scaled up or down according to the scale factor equivalent of the ratio between the different unit systems.

The Hyperlink... button displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box so that you can associate a hyperlink with the block definition. Hyperlinks can be attached to almost any AutoCAD object so that it is possible to link objects to websites and even other documents.

The Behavior area at the top right is where you control what happens after a block is inserted.

The Annotative check box indicates whether or not the block can be scaled up and down automatically using the current annotation scale.

The Scale uniformly check box indicates whether or not the block reference can be nonuniformly scaled when it is inserted so that the x, y, and z scales are not all equal.

The Allow exploding check box indicates whether or not the block reference can be exploded when it is inserted or afterward.

The Description text box allows you to input a text description for the block that appears in the DesignCenter block drawing content management tool discussed later in this chapter.

The Open in block editor check box opens the current block definition in the Block Editor after you select OK. The Block Editor is described briefly later in this chapter.

After you have entered a name for the block, selected one or more objects, and specified the desired settings described above, select OK to close the dialog box and create the block.

There are three different techniques for controlling the properties of a block’s subobjects that result in the following effects when the block is inserted:

• Create subobjects on Layer 0 with the color, linetype, and lineweight set to ByLayer

• Create subobjects on any layer other than 0

• Create subobjects using the ByBlock property set for color, linetype, or lineweight

Exercise 16-1 Creating Blocks

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Start a new drawing using the acad.dwt drawing template.

Create the following layers:

Create the “A” window tag shown in Figure 16-6 on Layer 0.

Create the “B” window tag shown in Figure 16-6 on layer WINTAG-B.

Create the “C” window tag shown in Figure 16-6 on Layer 0 with the color, linetype, and lineweight properties all set to ByBlock.

Start the BLOCK command to display the Block Definition dialog box.

Enter the name WINTAG-A in the Name: list box.

Select the Pick point button in the Base point area.

Select the center point of the “A” window tag circle using the Center object snap.

Select the Select objects button in the Objects area.

Select the “A” window tag circle and text, and press <Enter> to return to the Block Definition dialog box.

Make sure that the Convert to block button is selected.

Select the Annotative check box in the Behavior area.

Select OK to create the block.

Repeat steps 6 through 14 to create blocks named WINTAG-B and WINTAG-C for the “B” window tag and the “C” window tag, respectively.

Save the drawing as CH16_EXERCISE1.

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• Block name

• Insertion point

• x, y, and z scale

• Rotation angle

In fact, besides the standard object properties such as layer, color, linetype, and transparency discussed later, this constitutes the majority of the information that is stored with the block reference. This is evident when you list a block reference using the AutoCAD LIST command:

BLOCK REFERENCE Layer: “0”

Space: Model space

Handle = a4

Block Name: “WINTAG-A”

at point, X = 0.0000 Y = 0.0000 Z = 0.0000

X scale factor: 1.0000

Y scale factor: 1.0000

rotation angle: 0

Z scale factor: 1.0000

InsUnits: Inches

Unit conversion: 1.0000

Scale uniformly: No

Allow exploding: Yes

Remember that a block reference assumes the object properties that are current when the block is inserted just like any other AutoCAD object. However, how the object properties affect the appearance of the block reference is dependent on how the block was created as explained earlier in the section “Creating Blocks.”

Insert Block
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert Block
Menu:	Insert Block...
Command Line:	INSERT
Command Alias:	I

The Name: list box lists the names of all the blocks defined in a drawing that can be inserted.

The Browse... button displays the standard Select Drawing File dialog box so you can select a block or drawing file to insert.

The Path: label specifies the path to the block if you select an external drawing file using the Browse... button above.

The Locate using Geographic Data check box will insert the block using geographic data as the reference. This option is enabled only if both the block and the current drawing have geographic data.

The Preview window displays a preview of the specified block to insert. A lightning bolt icon in the lower-right corner of the preview indicates that the block is dynamic.

The Insertion point area allows you to specify the insertion point for the block. You can either pick a point in the drawing after you select OK (default), or you can specify the coordinate position in the X:, Y:, and Z: text boxes. The Specify On-screen check box toggles between the two methods.

The Scale area allows you to specify the x, y, and z scale factors for the inserted block. You can either enter the scale factors in the X:, Y:, and Z: text boxes (default), or you can enter the scale factors after you select OK. The Specify On-screen check box toggles between the two methods.

The Uniform Scale check box forces a single scale value for the X-, Y-, and Z-axes. When the Uniform Scale check box is selected, the y and z scales default to the value specified for x.

The Rotation area allows you to specify the rotation angle for the inserted block in the current UCS. You can either enter the rotation angle in the Angle: text box (default), or you can enter the rotation angle after you select OK. The Specify On-screen check box toggles between the two methods.

The Block Unit area displays information about the block units. The Unit: label indicates the insert units for the block. The Factor: displays the unit scale factor, which is calculated based on the insert units of the block and the drawing units. Neither of these settings can be changed in the Insert dialog box.

The Explode check box explodes the block immediately after it is inserted. It is possible to specify a uniform scale factor only when the Explode check box is selected.

After all the desired settings have been specified, select OK to insert the block as shown in Figure 16-8.

Figure 16-8 shows a block being inserted using the default settings, which prompt you to Specify insertion point or on-screen during the insertion process.

If the Specify On-screen check box is selected for the Scale settings, AutoCAD prompts you to Enter X scale factor, specify opposite corner, or so that you can either enter the desired scale for the X-axis at the keyboard or pick a corner point in your drawing that dynamically defines both the x and y scales. The default scale factor is always 1.

If you enter an x scale and press <Enter>, AutoCAD then prompts you to Enter Y scale factor <use X scale factor>: . You can either press <Enter> so that the x and y scales are equal, or you can enter a different scale factor to create a nonuniformly scaled block. Nonuniformly scaled blocks are discussed in the next section.

If the Specify On-screen check box is selected for the Rotation settings, AutoCAD prompts you to Specify rotation angle <0>: so that you can either enter the desired rotation angle at the keyboard or pick a point in your drawing that dynamically defines the angle using the insertion point as the angle base point as shown in Figure 16-9.

Exercise 16-2 Inserting Blocks

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Continue from Exercise 16-1.

Set the current layer to A-Glaze-Iden via the Layers drop-down list.

Set the current color to Blue via the Properties panel on the Home tab of the ribbon.

Use the INSERT command to insert the WINTAG-A, WINTAG-B, and WINTAG-C blocks anywhere in the drawing so that you can see all three block references in the drawing window.

Compare how the object properties are different for each block reference.

Turn on the Automatically add scales to annotative objects when the annotation scale changes button on the right side of the status bar.

Change the Annotation Scale to 1:2.

Insert one of the WINTAG blocks.

Change the Annotation Scale to 2:1.

Insert another WINTAG block.

Save the drawing.

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Unit blocks can be scaled along one axis so that one block definition can serve multiple purposes. A classic example is a structural lumber section, which is typically represented by a nominally sized rectangle with a cross through it (see Figure 16-10). Creating the lumber section as a unit block allows you to specify different x and y scales when the block is inserted so that different lumber sizes can be created as shown in Figure 16-10.

Exercise 16-3 Nonuniformly Scaled Unit Blocks

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Start a new drawing using the acad.dwt drawing template.

Create the unit block drawing shown in Figure 16-11.

Use the BLOCK command to create a block named STUD that consists of the line work created in step 2 with a base point at the lower left-hand corner.

Start the INSERT command to display the Insert dialog box.

Select STUD from the Name: list box.

Make sure the Specify On-screen check box is unselected in the Scale area.

Set the X: scale to 2.0.

Set the Y: scale to 4.0.

Select OK to insert the 2 × 4 stud anywhere in your drawing.

Start the INSERT command to display the Insert dialog box.

Select STUD from the Name: list box if not selected.

Set the X: scale to 2.0.

Set the Y: scale to 8.0.

Select OK to insert the 2 × 8 stud anywhere in your drawing.

Start the INSERT command to display the Insert dialog box.

Select STUD from the Name: list box if not selected.

Set the X: scale to 2.0.

Set the Y: scale to 12.0.

Select OK to insert the 2 × 12 stud anywhere in your drawing.

Your drawing should look like Figure 16-10.

Save the drawing.

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There are a couple of ways to insert a drawing file as a block. To insert a drawing file via the Insert dialog box explained earlier, select the Browse... button shown in Figure 16-7 to display the Select Drawing File dialog box shown in Figure 16-12.

Find the file you want to insert and select the Open button. A block definition with the same name as the drawing file is added to the Name list box, and it becomes the current block to insert as shown in Figure 16-13.

Once a drawing has been selected and it has been made a block definition, the exact same settings can be specified. You can select OK to insert the block.

Exercise 16-4 Inserting a Drawing File as a Block

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Continue from Exercise 16-3.

Start the INSERT command to display the Insert dialog box.

Select the Browse... button to display the Select Drawing File dialog box and locate the EX16-4.DWG drawing file in the student data files.

To access student data files, go to www.pearsondesigncentral.com.

Select the EX16-4.DWG file, and select the Open button to return to the Insert dialog box.

Select OK to insert the block anywhere in the drawing as shown in Figure 16-14.

Save the drawing.

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In order to use drag-and-drop techniques, you must be able to have both AutoCAD and Explorer visible on your computer at the same time, as shown in Figure 16-15.

If you select a file with the left mouse button and drag and drop it into your drawing, the same insertion point, scale factor, and rotation angle command prompts are displayed as if the Specify On-screen check boxes were selected in the Insert dialog box described earlier.

If you select a file with the right mouse button and drag and drop it into your drawing, the shortcut menu shown in Figure 16-16 is displayed.

Using the shortcut menu, you can elect to do one of the following:

• Insert Here Inserts the file as a block the same as above

• Open Opens the drawing file in a new window

• Create Xref Attaches the drawing as an xref

• Create Hyperlink Here Creates a hyperlink to the drawing on the object you select

• Cancel Cancels drag-and-drop operation

Exercise 16-5 Using Windows Explorer to Insert a Drawing File

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Continue from Exercise 16-4.

Start Windows Explorer using one of the techniques explained above.

Set up your computer display so that the AutoCAD drawing window and Windows Explorer window are both visible, similar to the display shown in Figure 16-15.

In Windows Explorer, locate the EX16-5.DWG drawing file in the student data files.

To access student data files, go to www.pearsondesigncentral.com.

Select the EX16-5.DWG drawing file with your left mouse button, and drag and drop it into the current drawing.

Select the EX16-5.DWG drawing file with your right mouse button, and drag and drop it into the current drawing.

Select Insert Here from the shortcut menu.

Select an insertion point in the drawing, and press <Enter> three times to accept the defaults for the x scale (1), y scale (1), and rotation angle (0).

Save the drawing.

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• Write an existing block definition that is already defined internally in a drawing

• Create a new block definition and write the block to an external drawing file

• Create a new block definition using all the information in the drawing, and write the block to an external drawing file

Write Block
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert | Block Definition
Menu:	None
Command Line:	WBLOCK
Command Alias:	W

Starting the WBLOCK command displays the Write Block dialog box shown in Figure 16-17. The Source area is the main area of the dialog box used to specify how to create the block.

The Block option allows you to select a block that has already been defined in the drawing from the list on the right. This option and the list are disabled if there are no blocks defined in the drawing. The Entire drawing option creates a block out of the entire drawing and writes it out to a file.

The Objects option allows you to create a new block on the fly and write it out to an external file using the exact same techniques as the BLOCK command explained earlier in the chapter. See the earlier section “Creating Blocks” for complete, detailed information about creating a block from scratch.

The Base point area allows you to specify a base point for the block. The default value is 0,0,0.

The Select objects button closes the Write Block dialog box temporarily so you can select objects in the drawing as shown earlier in Figure 16-4. The QuickSelect button closes the Write Block dialog box temporarily and displays the Quick Select dialog box shown earlier in Figure 16-5 so you can select objects by filtering on one or more object properties.

The other three options in the Objects area directly below the Select objects button determine what happens to the selected objects after the block is created:

• Retain (default) Retains the original selected objects in the drawing without doing anything

• Convert to block Converts the selected objects to a block reference “in-place”

• Delete from drawing Deletes all the selected objects after the block is created so that they no longer exist

The Destination area is where you specify the file name and location and the units of measurement to be used when the block is inserted.

The File name and path: text box allows you to enter the file name and path where the block will be saved.

Selecting the [...] button displays the standard Browse for Drawing File dialog box so you can select a file or specify another drive and folder location. The selected file and location are displayed in the File name and path: text box above when you exit the dialog box by selecting the Save button.

The Insert units: list box lists the different possible insertion units for the block. If you insert a block that is created with different block drawing units from the insertion scale units currently set for the drawing, the block is automatically scaled up or down according to the scale factor equivalent of the ratio between the different unit systems.

Exercise 16-6 Using the WBLOCK Command to Export a Block

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Continue from Exercise 16-5.

Start the WBLOCK command to display the Write Block dialog box.

Select the Block option in the Source area at the top of the dialog box.

Select the WINTAG-A block from the Block list box.

Set the File name and path: setting in the Destination area to a folder location of your choice using the WINTAG-A.DWG file name, and select OK to export the block.

Draw a “D” window tag similar to the others with the same circle diameter and text height somewhere in the drawing.

Start the WBLOCK command to display the Write Block dialog box again.

Select the Objects option in the Source area at the top of the dialog box.

Select the Pick point button in the Base point area.

Select the center point of the “D” window tag circle you just created using the Center object snap.

Select the Select objects button in the Objects area.

Select the “D” window tag circle and text, and press <Enter> to return to the Write Block dialog box.

Set the File name and path: setting in the Destination area to a folder location of your choice with the file name WINTAG-D.DWG and select OK to export the block.

Save the drawing.

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The key to an attribute is its tag, which is used to store and retrieve the attribute data. A tag is an attribute’s unique identifier, similar to a field in a database or a row/column in a spreadsheet. The tag allows you to specify which attributes to extract when you use the Data Extraction wizard. Tags are typically all uppercase and cannot include any spaces or special characters. They are typically given a descriptive name indicating the type of data they are storing. For example, the attribute tags for a window tag block that contains information about the window type, width, height, and manufacturer might be defined as shown in Figure 16-18.

Figure 16-18 shows what the window tag block looks like prior to being defined. Attributes that are defined to be invisible are not turned off until the block is defined and inserted as a block reference in the drawing as shown later in Figure 16-21.

The other key parts of an attribute definition are its prompt and default value. The prompt is what you see when you insert the block so you know what type of information to enter. The default value is what the attribute is automatically set to if no information is entered. The attribute tag, prompt, and default value for the window tag block’s manufacturer attribute are shown in Figure 16-19.

After the block is defined and you insert it, you are automatically prompted to enter the attribute values either individually at the command prompt or en masse via the Edit Attributes dialog box shown in Figure 16-20.

After the attribute values have been entered either via the Edit Attributes dialog box or at the command prompt, a block reference is created as shown in Figure 16-21.

Notice that the attributes that were defined as invisible are now no longer displayed, although it is possible to turn them on if necessary.

It is possible to update the attributes after the block is inserted using a number of different approaches, all of which are explained later in the section “Updating and Editing Attributes.” First, though, we need to create a block with some attributes.

Just like other AutoCAD objects, attributes also assume the current object properties such as layer, color, and linetype. Some organizations create attributes on their own individual layer so you can further control their visibility and appearance.

Define Attributes
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert Block Definition
Menu:	Draw | Block | Define Attributes...
Command Line:	ATTDEF
Command Alias:	ATT

The Mode area is where you control the visibility and other attribute options that are set when you insert the block. The Mode options are as follows:

• Invisible Specifies that attribute values are not displayed or printed when you insert the block

• Constant Makes the attribute a constant value so that it cannot be updated either when it is inserted or anytime later

• Verify Has you verify that the attribute value is correct when you insert the block by prompting you for the attribute information twice

• Preset Sets the attribute to its default value and does not prompt you for the attribute information, although it is still possible to update the attribute after it is inserted using the techniques explained in the following section

• Lock position Locks the position of the attribute definition in the block so that it cannot be moved after the block is inserted using grips

• Multiple lines Allows you to create multiple line attributes by selecting the [...] button next to the Default value (changed from the Insert Field button when this option is selected) to display a stripped-down version of the multiline text editor introduced in Chapter 11 and add multiple lines of text

The Attribute area is where you define the attribute tag, prompt, and default value:

• Tag The unique alphanumeric key used to identify the attribute. Enter a descriptive name using any combination of characters except spaces. Lowercase letters are automatically changed to uppercase. Attribute tags can contain up to 256 characters

• Prompt The prompt that is displayed either in the Edit Attributes dialog box or at the command prompt when you insert the block. If the prompt field is left blank, the attribute tag is used as a prompt. The Prompt option is disabled if you are defining an attribute with the Constant mode selected

• Default Specifies the default attribute value used

The Insert Field button displays the Field dialog box so you can insert a field into the attribute default value.

The Insertion Point area specifies the location for the attribute in the drawing. You can enter coordinate values via the keyboard, or if you select the Specify on-screen check box, you can pick a point in your drawing after you select OK and the dialog box closes.

The Text Settings area sets the justification, text style, height, and rotation of the attribute text:

• Justification Allows you to set the attribute justification from a list of standard single-line text justification options

• Text style Allows you to assign a text style from a list of text styles defined in the current drawing

• Annotative Allows you to make the attribute Annotative so that it scales up and down automatically based on the current annotation scale

• Text height Allows you to specify the height of the attribute text. You can enter a height value via the keyboard, or select the Text height button to define the height by picking points with your mouse. The Text height: option is disabled if a text style with a height greater than 0.0 is selected or if the justification is set to Align

• Rotation Allows you to specify the rotation angle of the attribute text. You can enter a value via that keyboard or select the Rotation button to define the rotation angle by picking points with your mouse. The Rotation: option is disabled if the justification is set to Align or Fit

The Align below previous attribute definition check box allows you to automatically locate an attribute tag directly below the previously defined attribute using all of the same text options. If selected, both the Insertion Point and Text Settings areas of the dialog box are disabled. This option is disabled if you have not previously created an attribute definition.

Selecting OK closes the dialog box, and AutoCAD prompts you to Specify start point: so you can locate the attribute in the drawing. If the Align below previous attribute definition check box is selected, the attribute is automatically located directly below the last attribute that was defined.

Exercise 16-7 Creating a Block with Attributes

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Start a new drawing using the acad.dwt drawing template.

Create the window tag drawing shown in Figure 16-23 on Layer 0 at 0,0,0 with the following attributes and settings:

Save the drawing as Wintag.

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The easiest way to update attributes after they are inserted is to simply double-click on the attributed block. Double-clicking on a block with attributes displays the Enhanced Attribute Editor dialog box discussed in the next section so that you can update attribute values, as well as change attribute text options and attribute object properties.

The Block Attribute Manager discussed a little later in this section allows you to edit block attribute definitions on a global scale so that you can change the attribute modes, the attribute prompt order, and even remove attributes, so that all existing and future block references in the drawing are updated.

Edit Attribute Single
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert | Block
Menu:	Modify | Object | Attribute | Single
Command Line:	EATTEDIT
Command Alias:	None

• Update attribute values

• Control attribute text options (text style, height, etc.)

• Manage attribute object properties (layer, color, linetype, etc.)

After starting the EATTEDIT command, AutoCAD prompts you to Select a block:. Select the block to update, and press <Enter> to display the Enhanced Attribute Editor dialog box shown in Figure 16-24.

The name of the selected block along with the current attribute tag is displayed at the top left of the dialog box. The Select block button on the right temporarily closes the dialog box so you can select another block to update.

The Attribute tab is the default tab shown in Figure 16-24 that allows you to update attribute values. All the block’s attribute tags and their corresponding prompts and values are displayed in a tabulated list that you can navigate by selecting an attribute with your mouse or by pressing <Enter> while the Value: text box below is selected.

The Value: text box displays the current value assigned to the attribute highlighted in the list box above. Enter a new value and press <Enter> to update the attribute and proceed to the next attribute in the list.

If a multiline attribute is selected, the [...] button is displayed to the right of the Value: text box so you can select it to display the stripped-down multiline text editor and edit multiline attribute values.

The Text Options tab shown in Figure 16-25 allows you to control the text properties of the currently selected attribute:

• Text Style Allows you to assign a text style from a list of text styles defined in the current drawing

• Justification Allows you to set the attribute justification from a list of standard single-line text justification options

• Height Allows you to specify the height of the attribute text. You can enter a height value via the keyboard or select the Height button to define the height by picking points with your mouse. The Height option is disabled if a text style with a height greater than 0.0 is selected or if the justification is set to Align

• Rotation Allows you to specify the rotation angle of the attribute text. You can enter a value via the keyboard or select the Rotation button to define the rotation angle by picking points with your mouse. The Rotation option is disabled if the justification is set to Align or Fit

• Backwards Specifies whether the attribute text is displayed backward

• Upside down Specifies whether the attribute text is displayed upside down

• Width Factor Sets the character spacing for the attribute text. Entering a value less than 1.0 condenses the text. Entering a value greater than 1.0 expands it

• Oblique Angle Specifies the angle that the attribute text is slanted

• Annotative Specifies whether annotation scaling is on or off

The Properties tab shown in Figure 16-26 allows you to control the general object properties of the currently selected attribute:

• Layer Specifies the attribute layer

• Linetype Specifies the attribute linetype

• Color Specifies the attribute color

• Lineweight Specifies the attribute lineweight

• Plot style Specifies the attribute plot style

When you are done making changes or updates, you can either select OK to exit the dialog box and update the block, or you can select Apply to update the block and keep the Enhanced Attribute Editor dialog box open so you can make more changes.

Edit Attributes Multiple
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert | Block
Menu:	Modify | Object | Attribute | Global
Command Line:	-ATTEDIT
Command Alias:	-ATE

The -ATTEDIT command is rather archaic. In fact, the -ATTEDIT command is actually just the old command line version of the ATTEDIT dialog box–driven command. It may be an old, clunky command, but it is the only way to update more than one attribute at a time in a drawing so that you don’t have to select and update each block individually.

After starting the -ATTEDIT command, AutoCAD prompts: Edit attributes one at a time? . Enter N or No <Enter> to update attributes globally. AutoCAD then prompts: Edit only attributes visible on screen? Typically, you should enter No <Enter> to ensure all attributes in the drawing are updated accordingly and not just those shown in the drawing window.

AutoCAD then prompts you for the block name, attribute tag, and attribute value to be found. The default asterisk (*) value represents a wildcard, meaning that all blocks that match that category will be processed. If you know the block name, attribute tag, or attribute value for the block you want to update, you can enter the information to limit the number of blocks that are processed. Pressing <Enter> in response to all these prompts forces AutoCAD to process all the attributed blocks in the drawing.

AutoCAD then requests the original value of the attribute text value to change by prompting Enter string to change: so you can enter the current attribute value. You are then prompted for a new attribute value Enter new string: so you can enter a new value. Immediately after you press <Enter>, AutoCAD searches the drawing for all the attributes with a value of the text to change and updates the attribute with the new value as shown in Figure 16-27.

• Edit attribute definitions so that you can change the tag, prompt, default, and even the modes (invisible, constant, verify, preset)

Block Attribute Manager
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert | Block
Menu:	Modify | Object | Attribute | Block Attribute Manager
Command Line:	BATTMAN
Command Alias:	None

• Control attribute definition text options (text style, height, etc.)

• Manage attribute definition object properties (layer, color, linetype, etc.)

• Change the attribute prompt order

• Remove attribute definitions

Changes made with the Block Attribute Manager update the block definition so that all future block insertions reflect the changes. It is also possible to synchronize the changes with blocks that have already been inserted.

Starting the BATTMAN command displays the Block Attribute Manager dialog box shown in Figure 16-28.

The Select block button allows you to choose a block definition to edit by selecting a corresponding block reference in the current drawing. Selecting the Select block button temporarily closes the Block Attribute Manager dialog box and prompts you to Select a block:. Select the block to update, and the dialog box is redisplayed.

The Block: list box allows you to select the block from the list of blocks currently defined in the drawing.

The tag, prompt, default, mode, and annotative properties of all the attributes defined for the selected block are displayed in the list box in the middle of the dialog box. The number of block references found in the drawing and whether they are located in the current layout are displayed directly below the list box.

The Settings... button at the bottom of the dialog box allows you to control what information is displayed in the attribute list box. Selecting the Settings... button displays the Block Attribute Settings dialog box shown in Figure 16-29.

The following options are available:

• The Display in list area is where you select which properties you want to display in the attribute list. Selected properties are displayed as an additional column in the list. The Tag property is always displayed.

• The Select All button selects all of the properties in the Display in list area above.

• The Clear All button clears all of the properties in the Display in list area above.

• The Emphasize duplicate tags check box turns duplicate tag emphasis on and off. When the Emphasize duplicate tags check box is selected, duplicate tag names are changed to red in the attribute list in the Block Attribute Manager dialog box so they can be easily identified.

• The Apply changes to existing references check box indicates whether to update all the existing block references in the drawing when any changes are made. When the Apply changes to existing references check box is selected, all existing and new block references are updated with the new attribute definitions. If it is not selected, only new block references have the new attribute definitions.

• The OK button accepts any setting changes, closes the Block Attribute Settings dialog box, and returns you to the Block Attribute Manager so you can continue to make any changes.

In the Block Attribute Manager dialog box, there are several more options:

• The Sync button updates all block references in the drawing with the currently defined attribute properties. Attribute values are not affected by any changes.

• The Move Up button moves the selected attribute tag up in the prompt order.

• The Move Down button moves the selected attribute tag down in the prompt order.

• The Edit... button displays the Edit Attribute dialog box shown in Figure 16-30.

Using the Edit Attribute dialog box, you can modify the attribute definition properties. The name of the selected block is displayed at the top left of the dialog box. The Attribute tab is the default tab shown in Figure 16-30 that allows you to update attribute definitions; you can control:

• The Mode area is where you update the visibility and other attribute options that are set when you insert the block. There are five different options:

• Invisible Specifies that attribute values are not displayed or printed when you insert the block

• Constant Makes attribute a constant value so that it cannot be updated either when it is inserted or anytime later. This option is disabled when using the Block Attribute Manager. The Constant option can be used only when an attribute is first defined

• Verify Has you verify that the attribute value is correct when you insert the block by prompting you for the attribute information twice

• Preset Sets the attribute to its default value and does not prompt you for the attribute information although it is possible to still update the attribute after it is inserted using the techniques explained in the following section

• Multiple lines Allows you to use multiline attributes

• The Data area is where you update the attribute tag, prompt, and default value:

• Tag The unique alphanumeric key used to identify the attribute. Enter a descriptive name using any combination of characters except spaces. Lowercase letters are automatically changed to uppercase. Attribute tags can be up to 256 characters long

• Prompt The prompt that is displayed either in the Edit Attribute dialog box or at the command prompt when you insert the block. If the prompt field is left blank, the attribute tag is used as a prompt. The Prompt option is disabled if you are defining an attribute with the Constant mode selected

• Default Specifies the default attribute value used

The Text Options tab shown in Figure 16-31 allows you to control the text properties of the currently selected attribute definition:

• Text Style Allows you to assign a text style from a list of text styles defined in the current drawing

• Justification Allows you to set the attribute justification from a list of standard single-line text justification options

• Height Allows you to specify the height of the attribute text. The Height option is disabled if a text style with a height greater than 0.0 is selected or if the justification is set to Align

• Rotation Allows you to specify the rotation angle of the attribute text. The Rotation option is disabled if the justification is set to Align or Fit

• Backwards Specifies whether the attribute text is displayed backward

• Upside down Specifies whether the attribute text is displayed upside down

• Width Factor Sets the character spacing for the attribute text. Entering a value less than 1.0 condenses the text. Entering a value greater than 1.0 expands it

• Oblique Angle Specifies the angle that the attribute text is slanted

• Annotative Specifies whether the attribute scales up and down using the current annotation scale

The Properties tab shown in Figure 16-32 allows you to control the general object properties of the currently selected attribute definition:

• Layer Specifies the attribute layer

• Linetype Specifies the attribute linetype

• Color Specifies the attribute color

• Lineweight Specifies the attribute lineweight

• Plot style Specifies the attribute plot style

The Auto preview changes check box allows you to immediately display any updates or changes made in the Edit Attribute dialog box. If the Auto preview changes check box is selected, any changes are immediately displayed.

The OK button accepts any setting changes, closes the Edit Attribute dialog box, and returns you to the Block Attribute Manager so you can continue to make any changes.

The Remove button removes the selected attribute from the block definition. The Remove button is disabled when a block has only one attribute.

The Apply button applies the changes you made to all block references in the drawing but does not close the Block Attribute Manager.

Select OK to accept any updates and close the Block Attribute Manager dialog box.

Exercise 16-8 Updating and Editing Attributes

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Open the building floor plan drawing named EX16-8 in the student data files.

To access student data files, go to www.pearsondesigncentral.com.

Set layer A-Glaze-Iden current.

Start the INSERT command.

Select the Uniform Scale check box and set the X Scale to 48.

Insert the WINTAG.DWG file created in Exercise 16-7 as a block using the Browse... button.

Locate the window tags as shown in Figure 16-33, and update them with the following attribute values:

Change the window manufacturer from Glassarama, Inc. to SpectorLite for all “D” type window tags in the drawing using either the EATTEDIT or the ATTEDIT command.

Change the attribute text color to blue for the TAG attribute for all blocks in the building plan drawing using the BATTMAN command.

Save the drawing as CH16_EXERCISE8.

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To make the extraction process as easy as possible, AutoCAD provides the Data Extraction wizard, which guides you through a series of preprogrammed steps so that you can provide the following information.

Extract Data
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert | Linking & Extraction
Menu:	Tools | Data Extraction...
Command Line:	DATA-EXTRACTION
Command Alias:	DX

• Data source for information to extract

• Current drawing

• Multiple drawings or sheet set

• Selected objects

• The block names and attribute tags to extract

• Whether to output the attribute information to an AutoCAD table or to output the information to one of the following external file types:

• Comma-delimited text file (CSV)

• Microsoft Excel^® spreadsheet (XLS)

• Microsoft Access^® database (MDB)

• Generic text file (TXT)

The Data Extraction wizard saves all the settings you specify in each step to an external file (DXE) so that you can use it the next time you use the Data Extraction wizard.

Starting the DATAEXTRACTION command displays the Data Extraction wizard on the Begin page as shown in Figure 16-34.

The Begin page allows you to select whether you want to specify new extraction settings from scratch or use settings previously saved in an attribute extraction file (DXE or BLK).

If you select the Use previous extraction as a template option, you must select the [...] button on the right to select a file using the standard file selection dialog box.

The Edit an existing data extraction option allows you to modify an existing data extraction (DXE) file. You must select the [...] button on the right to select a file using the standard file selection dialog box.

Select the Next > button on the bottom to proceed to the Define Data Source page shown in Figure 16-35 or the Cancel button to close the wizard.

The Define Data Source page allows you to select one of the following data sources from which to extract the attribute information:

• Drawings/Sheet set Enables the Add Folder... and Add Drawings... buttons so you can add a folder or more drawings (DWG) or sheet sets (DST) using the standard file selection dialog box. The current drawing is included by default

• Select objects in the current drawing Enables the Select objects button so you can select one or more blocks in the current drawing

The Drawing files and folders: list box lists all the drawing files or sheets in the selected sheet set from which attributes will be extracted.

The Settings... button displays the Data Extraction—Additional Settings dialog box shown in Figure 16-36.

The Additional Settings dialog box allows you specify whether to include nested blocks and xrefs, as well as specify which types of blocks should be included in the overall block count.

The Extraction settings area allows you to control which blocks are included in the attribute extraction process and whether to include xrefs in the block count.

• Extract objects from blocks Includes blocks nested within other blocks

• Extract objects from xrefs Includes blocks located in any attached xrefs

• Include xrefs in block counts Includes attached xrefs as blocks in block counts

The Extract from area provides options for which objects to include in the extraction process.

• Objects in model space Extracts from only block references in model space and ignores any blocks located in paper space layouts

• All objects in drawing Extracts from all block references in the entire drawing (model space and paper space)

The OK button accepts any setting changes, closes the Additional Settings dialog box, and returns you to the Data Extraction wizard so you can continue to the next step.

Select the Next > button on the bottom to proceed to the Select Objects page shown in Figure 16-37, the Cancel button to close the wizard, or the <Back button to return to the previous page.

The Select Objects page allows you to select the objects and drawing information to be extracted. Just about any AutoCAD object information can be extracted including blocks and non-blocks.

The Objects list displays each object by its name in the Object column. Blocks are listed by block name, and non-blocks are listed by their object name.

The Display Name column allows you to enter an optional alternative name for an object as it will appear in the extracted information. To change a display name, right-click in the Display Name column and select Edit Display Name from the shortcut menu.

The Type column indicates whether the object is a block or non-block.

The Preview area displays a preview image of the checked block in the Objects list.

You can limit the types of objects displayed in the Objects list in the Display options area at the bottom.

The Display all object types option displays a list of all object types (blocks and non-blocks) in the Objects list. It is on by default.

Turning off the Display all object types option allows you to toggle between the Display blocks only option and the Display non-blocks only option so you can further filter the Objects list.

The Display blocks with attributes only option displays only those blocks that have attributes in the Objects list.

The Display objects currently in-use only will limit the Objects list to objects that exist in the selected drawings.

Select the Next > button at the bottom to proceed to the Select Properties page shown in Figure 16-38, the Cancel button to close the wizard, or the <Back button to return to the previous page.

The Select Properties page allows you to control the object, block, and drawing properties to extract.

Each row in the Properties list displays a property name, display name, and category.

The Property column displays the properties of all the objects selected on the Select Objects page in the previous step. These are the same object properties displayed in the Properties palette in AutoCAD.

The Display Name column allows you to enter an optional alternative name for a property as it will appear in the extracted information. To change a display name, right-click in the Display Name column and select Edit Display Name from the shortcut menu.

The Category column displays a category for each property. For example, General designates ordinary object properties, such as color or layer. Attribute designates user-defined attributes. These are the same object categories displayed in the Properties palette in AutoCAD.

The Category filter check box list allows you to filter the list of properties shown in the Properties list based on the category listed in the Category column. Only checked categories are displayed.

Select the Next > button on the bottom to proceed to the Refine Data page shown in Figure 16-39, the Cancel button to close the wizard, or the <Back button to return to the previous page.

The Refine Data page allows you to modify the structure of the data extraction table. You can reorder and sort columns, filter results, add formula columns and footer rows, and even create a link to data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

The grid in the middle of the dialog box displays properties that were selected in the Select Properties page in the previous step in a tabular format. The Quantity and Name columns display by default and can be turned off as explained below.

The Combine identical rows check box groups identical records by row in the table and updates the Quantity column with the sum total.

The Show count column check box toggles the Quantity column on and off in the table display.

The Show name column check box toggles the Name column on and off in the table display.

The Link External Data... button displays the Link External Data dialog box, where you can create a link between the extracted drawing data and data in an Excel spreadsheet.

The Sort Columns Options... button displays the Sort Columns dialog box, where you can sort data across multiple columns.

The Full Preview... button displays a full preview of the final output, including linked external data. The preview is for viewing only.

Right-clicking in a column displays the shortcut menu shown in Figure 16-40, which gives you the following options:

Select the Next > button at the bottom to proceed to the Choose Output page shown in Figure 16-41, the Cancel button to close the wizard, or the <Back button to return to the previous page.

The Choose Output page allows you to select the type of output to which the data are extracted.

The Insert data extraction table into drawing check box allows you to extract the attribute information to an AutoCAD table.

The Output data to external file check box allows you to export the attribute information to the file type and location you specify. Selecting the [...] button displays the standard Save As file dialog box so you can select the file type via the File of type: list box at the bottom of the dialog box and the folder location to save the file. By default, the file name is the same name as the current drawing file. The three-character file extension is determined by the file type selected. The four file output options are as follows:

• XLS Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

• MDB Microsoft Access database

• CSV Comma-separated file format

• TXT Tab-separated file format

Select the Next > button at the bottom to proceed to either the Table Style page shown in Figure 16-42 or the Finish page shown in Figure 16-43, the Cancel button to close the wizard, or the <Back button to return to the previous page.

The Table Style page allows you to control the appearance of the table before it is inserted in the drawing.

The Table style area at the top allows you to control the table style used for the extracted data. The Select the table style to use for the inserted table list box allows you to select an existing table style. You can also select the Table Style button to the right to display the Table Style dialog box to modify an existing table style or create a new one.

The Formatting and structure area allows you to fine-tune the final table structure and format.

The Use table in table style for label rows option creates the data extraction table with a set of top rows that contain label cells and a bottom set of label rows that contain header and footer cells. Extracted data are inserted between the top and bottom label rows.

The Manually setup table option allows you to manually enter a title and select a specific title, header, and data cell style.

The Enter a title for your table: text box allows you to enter a title for the table. This row is not overwritten when the table is updated. If the selected table style does not include a title row, this option is not available. The default table style, Standard, includes a title row.

The Title cell style: list allows you to select a separate style for the title cell. Select the drop-down list to select a title cell style defined in the selected table style.

The Header cell style: list allows you to select a separate style for the header row. Select the drop-down list to select a cell style defined in the selected table style.

The Data cell style: list allows you to select a separate style for data cells. Select the drop-down list to select a cell style defined in the selected table style.

The Use property names as additional column headers check box includes column headers and uses the Display Name property as the header row.

Select the Next > button at the bottom to proceed to the Finish page shown in Figure 16-43, the Cancel button to close the wizard, or the <Back button to return to the previous page.

The Finish page allows you to complete the process of extracting object property data that was specified in the wizard and creates the output type that was specified on the Choose Output page.

If you select the Insert data extraction table into drawing check box on the Choose Output page, when you select the Finish button, a table will be attached to your mouse cursor. AutoCAD then prompts you to Specify insertion point: so you can locate the table as shown in Figure 16-44.

If the Output data to external file option was selected, the extracted data are saved to the specified file type.

You can unlock a cell by selecting Locking from the right-click menu and checking the Unlocked cascade menu item. Table data that are overwritten manually will be updated when the table data are updated using the automated update data links options explained in the following section.

AutoCAD locates a Data Link icon in the status tray on the far right of the status bar any time a data extraction table is located in your drawing. You can right-click on the icon and select Update All Data Links... from the shortcut menu shown in Figure 16-46, and AutoCAD will read all the attributes in the drawing and update the table data with any changes.

You can select to be notified when extracted data have changed. When information in the data source has changed that affects the extracted data in a table, the Data Extraction—Outdated Table dialog box is displayed so that you can update the table data automatically (see Figure 16-47).

Notification is controlled by the current DXEVAL system variable setting. By default, DXEVAL is set to check whether the extracted data are not current only when the PLOT or PUBLISH command is used. It can also be set to occur with the OPEN, SAVE, and ETRANSMIT commands. The DXEVAL system is stored as an integer using the sum of the following values:

• 0 No notification

• 1 Open

• 2 Save

• 4 Plot

• 8 Publish

• 16 eTransmit/Archive

• 32 Save with Automatic Update

• 64 Plot with Automatic Update

• 128 Publish with Automatic Update

• 256 eTransmit/Archive with Automatic Update

The default value of DXEVAL is 12, which enables notification for the PLOT and PUBLISH commands.

Exercise 16-9 Extracting Attributes

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Continue from Exercise 16-8.

Use the Data Extraction wizard and extract all the block attributes to create the window schedule shown in Figure 16-44 using the AutoCAD table option.

Hint: Use your mouse to reorder and sort the columns as needed in the Refine Data page shown in Figure 16-39. The table must be scaled by a drawing scale factor of 48 after the table is inserted if it is inserted in model space.

Save the drawing.

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When you select OK to update the block information, AutoCAD displays a message like the one shown in Figure 16-49. This informs you that the block definition already exists and asks you whether you want to update it.

Selecting the Redefine block button replaces the existing block definition with the new one, and all the existing block references in the drawing are immediately updated to reflect the new definition. All future block insertions will also refer to the new block definition.

The easiest way to update a block is to insert the original block and explode it so that you can update its subobjects and then redefine it using the BLOCK command as explained above.

Edit Reference
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert | Reference
Menu:	Tools | Xref and In-place Block Editing | Edit Reference In-Place
Command Line:	REFEDIT
Command Alias:	None

When you select OK to exit the Insert dialog box and insert the updated block, AutoCAD displays a message like the one shown in Figure 16-49. This informs you that the block definition already exists and asks whether you want to update it. Rather than insert another block reference by picking a point in the drawing, you can press the <Esc> key to cancel the insertion process. All the existing block references are still updated, but you don’t end up with a new, unwanted block reference in your drawing.

After starting the REFEDIT command, AutoCAD prompts you to Select reference:. Select the block to redefine, and press <Enter> to display the Reference Edit dialog box shown in Figure 16-50.

This dialog box provides the following options:

• The Identify Reference tab is used to identify and select the block definition you want to edit.

• The block name is listed on the left in the Reference name: box along with any blocks that might be nested within the block. If multiple blocks are displayed, you must select the block you want to modify from the list. Only one block can be edited in place at a time.

• The Preview window displays a preview image of the currently selected block.

• The Automatically select all nested objects option controls whether nested blocks are included automatically in the block editing session.

• The Prompt to select nested objects option controls whether nested blocks must be selected individually in the block editing session.

• The Settings tab is used to control various block editing settings.

• The Create unique layer, style, and block names check box allows you to control how xref layers and other named objects are managed.

• The Display attribute definitions for editing check box allows you to control whether all the attribute definitions in a block reference are displayed during the block editing session.

Additionally, the Lock objects not in working set check box allows you to lock all objects not in the working set so that you don’t inadvertently modify other objects in the drawing while in a block editing session. Locked objects behave similarly to objects on a locked layer—they can be viewed, but they cannot be selected.

Selecting OK puts you in the block editing mode where all the objects that are not part of the working set are locked and faded back so that the objects to edit in the working set stand out as shown in Figure 16-51.

When you are in block editing mode, the Edit Reference panel shown in Figure 16-52 is turned on to allow you to manage the working set and save or discard any changes made to the block definition.

In block editing mode, you can edit the block definition using any of the standard AutoCAD drawing and editing commands. You can add information, erase information, and change object properties—almost anything you would normally do in the AutoCAD drawing editor.

When you are done updating the block definition, select the Save Changes button on the left side of the Edit Reference panel shown in Figure 16-52 to save the changes and exit block editing mode. You can discard any changes and exit block editing mode by selecting the Discard Changes button shown in Figure 16-52.

Adding new attribute definitions is even more problematic—adding a new attribute to a block affects only future block insertions. Not even the BATTMAN command described earlier allows you to add new attributes. Fortunately, AutoCAD provides the ATTREDEF command to solve the issues surrounding updating blocks with attributes.

Because the ATTREDEF command is not on any menu or ribbon, you must type it at the command prompt. After starting the ATTREDEF command, AutoCAD prompts you to Enter name of the block you wish to redefine:. You must enter the block name at the keyboard. AutoCAD then prompts you to Select objects: so you can select the objects and attributes that make up the block. After you have selected all the block objects, press the <Enter> key, and AutoCAD prompts you to Specify insertion base point of new Block: so you can select the insertion point. You should select an insertion point in the exact location as the original base point, or any existing block references in the drawing will move.

Exercise 16-10 Redefining Blocks

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Continue from Exercise 16-9.

Start the REFEDIT command, and select any one of the WINTAG window tag blocks.

Select OK in the Reference Edit dialog box to enter block editing mode.

Change the window tag circle to a hexagon as shown in Figure 16-53 by erasing the circle and using the POLYGON command to create the hexagon.

Select the Save Changes button on the Edit Reference panel to save your changes. All window tags in the drawing should immediately change to hexagons.

Save the drawing.

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DesignCenter allows you to “open” another drawing so that you can view the drawing’s named objects, referred to as drawing content, in list or icon form. You can then copy any of the drawing content from the source drawing to your current drawing by simply dragging and dropping it with your mouse. You can even select multiple objects, making it possible to copy a group of named objects as one. For instance, using this approach, you could copy all the layer definitions from one drawing to another, saving a lot of time. In addition to layers, DesignCenter provides access to the following drawing content:

• Blocks

• Dimension styles

• Layers

• Linetypes

• Table styles

• Text styles

• Xrefs

For the purpose of this chapter, we are going to concentrate on using DesignCenter to manage and insert blocks.

Designcenter
Ribbon & Panel:	Insert | Content
Menu:	Tools | Design Center
Command Line:	ADCENTER
Command Alias:	ADC

Starting the ADCENTER command displays the DesignCenter window shown in Figure 16-54.

The DesignCenter window consists of three parts:

• Tree view (left pane) Navigation tools used to locate drawing files and Web-based content

• Content area (right pane) Displays the contents of a drawing or Web content once it is located

• Toolbar (top) Additional navigation and display tools

The following sections explain each of these parts as well as other DesignCenter features.

• Folders tab Explorer-like interface that allows you to navigate the hierarchy of files and folders on your computer or attached network drives (see Figure 16-54)

• Open Drawings tab List of all currently open drawings

• History tab History of the last drawings accessed

The preview window and description window can be toggled on and off by selecting the Preview and Description buttons on the DesignCenter toolbar shown in Figure 16-57. It is also possible to switch how the information is viewed in the content pane via the Views flyout menu on the right side of the DesignCenter toolbar shown in Figure 16-57 to one of the following standard Explorer-type formats:

• Large icons

• Small icons

• List

• Details

You can navigate in the content area by double-clicking an icon with your mouse to display its contents. You can then select the Up arrow on the DesignCenter toolbar shown in Figure 16-57 to go back up one level in the hierarchy.

Right-clicking on a block icon displays the shortcut menu shown in Figure 16-56 so that you can do the following:

• Insert Block... Displays the Insert dialog box

• Insert and Redefine Inserts the selected block and redefines all block definitions in the drawing

• Redefine only Redefines a block in the drawing but does not insert a copy

• Block Editor Displays the dynamic block editor

• Copy Copies the block to the Windows Clipboard

• Create Tool Palette Creates a custom tool palette

• Load Displays the standard file selection dialog box so you can locate a file and load its information in the content area

• Back Returns to the most recent location in the history list

• Forward Moves forward to a recent location in the history list

• Up Displays the contents of the next level up in the hierarchy

• Search Displays the Search dialog box so you can enter search criteria to locate drawings, blocks, and other named objects within drawings

• Favorites Displays the contents of the Favorites folder in the content area. You can add items to the Favorites folder by right-clicking and selecting Add to Favorites from the shortcut menu

• Home Returns DesignCenter to the home folder. You can change the home folder by navigating to the desired folder in the tree view, right-clicking, and selecting Set as Home from the shortcut menu

• Tree View Toggle Displays and hides the tree view. When the tree view is hidden, you can still navigate in the content area using the techniques described earlier

• Preview Toggle Toggles the preview window on and off in the content area

• Description Toggle Toggles the description window on and off in the content area

• Views Allows you to switch between different display formats in the content area

Using the shortcut menu, you can prevent the DesignCenter window from being docked. You can also toggle on and off the Auto-hide feature that collapses the window, so that only the title bar is visible when the mouse pointer is not directly over the window.

• Drag and drop the block into the current drawing using your mouse.

• Double-click on the block in the content area to display the Insert dialog box.

• Right-click on the block in the content area to display the shortcut menu shown earlier in Figure 16-56.

Each method has its merits. Dragging and dropping a block is obviously the fastest method, while double-clicking on a block provides the most control because you can specify different block settings in the Insert dialog box. Finally, right-clicking provides the only option to redefine a block. Practice using each method so that you are prepared for any situation.

Either method will launch your Internet browser and take you to the http://seek.autodesk.com website so you can find the product you are searching for. Once you locate a drawing, you can drag and drop the content into the current AutoCAD drawing.

It is also possible to share your blocks and other content with other Autodesk Seek users by selecting the Share with Autodesk Seek tool on the Autodesk Seek panel on the Output tab of the ribbon. Selecting the Share with Autodesk Seek tool asks you what content you want to share and then takes you through an online submittal process where the selected content is then uploaded to the Autodesk Seek website.

Exercise 16-11 Using DesignCenter

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Continue from Exercise 16-10.

Set layer A-Furn current.

Start DesignCenter and navigate to the Home-Space Planner.dwg file located in the DesignCenter folder as shown in Figure 16-54.

Select the Blocks icon so you can see the blocks defined in the drawing in the content area on the right as shown in Figure 16-55.

Select the Tree View Toggle button on the DesignCenter toolbar shown in Figure 16-57 to turn off the tree view.

Insert blocks using the techniques explained above, and furnish the floor plan in a manner similar to Figure 16-59.

Save the drawing.

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Tool Palettes
Ribbon & Panel:	View | Palettes
Menu:	Tools | Palettes | Tool Palettes
Command Line:	TOOL PALETTES
Command Alias:	TP

Dynamic blocks are multipurpose blocks that can be changed after they are inserted using special grips that allow you to display multiple block views, sizes, block behavior, and more. Using dynamic blocks, one block definition can be used for myriad different scenarios and situations. Dynamic blocks are covered in detail later in this section. The AutoCAD tool palettes are shown in Figure 16-60.

Tool palette tools can be either dragged and dropped directly into your drawing to perform the associated action or selected by clicking on the tool’s icon with your mouse. Figure 16-61 shows the Door-Imperial block being inserted in the drawing by dragging and dropping it from the sample Architectural palette.

More options are available by right-clicking anywhere on the title bar to display the shortcut menu shown in Figure 16-62.

In addition to the Auto-hide and Transparency palette features, the tool palette title bar right-click menu allows you to do the following:

• Turn tool palette docking off so that if you drag a palette to the far left or right side of your screen, the palette will remain in a floating state and not attach itself to the AutoCAD window.

• Anchor tool palettes on the left or right side of the AutoCAD window. Anchored palettes are palettes that are docked but hidden using the Auto-hide feature so that only the title bar is visible. Placing your mouse over the palette title bar displays the entire palette, but it remains anchored.

• Create new empty tool palettes and rename existing tool palettes.

• Turn tool palette groups off and on. Related tool palettes can be grouped together in categories so you can control what palettes are displayed by category.

• Customize tool palette groups. The Customize Palettes... menu item displays the Customize dialog box shown in Figure 16-63 so you can do the following:

• Add/remove/move palettes by dragging palettes with your mouse. A palette can be added to a group by dragging it from the Palettes: list box on the left to the desired palette group on the right.

• Add/remove palette groups by right-clicking on a group in the Palette Groups: list box on the right and using the shortcut menu.

• Export and import tool palettes using the XTP file format so that palettes can be shared with other users by right-clicking on a palette in the Palettes: list box on the left and selecting Export... or Import... from the shortcut menu to display the Windows file dialog box.

• Add custom commands. The Customize Commands... menu item displays the Customize User Interface dialog box with a list of all the AutoCAD commands. To add a command to a tool palette, you simply drag it from the Command List: and drop it onto the tool palette of your choice.

But wait, there’s more. There is a total of four different tool palette right-click shortcut menus depending on where you right-click with your mouse. If you right-click on a tool palette anywhere between toolbar icons on an empty space on the palette background, the shortcut menu in Figure 16-64 is displayed.

In addition to most of the commands and features already discussed, this menu also allows you to control different display options. The View Options... menu item displays the View Options dialog box so that you can switch between icon and list view, as well as control the size of the images used for the icons. The Sort By cascade menu allows you to automatically sort tool icons by name or type.

Right-clicking on the named tab on a tool palette displays yet another shortcut menu. This menu allows you to move a palette up and down in the palette order, rename a palette, or create a new palette.

Finally, right-clicking directly over a tool palette icon displays a shortcut menu that allows you to cut, copy, delete, rename, and control the selected tool’s properties.

Each tool also has general properties such as layer, color, and linetype that can be controlled via the Tool Properties dialog box (see Figure 16-65). These properties are applied to any object type that is created when the corresponding tool palette icon is selected. For instance, setting a block’s Layer property to any layer setting other than—use current will insert the block on the layer specified.

Exercise 16-12 Using Tool Palettes

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Continue from Exercise 16-11.

Turn on tool palettes via the Palettes panel on the View tab of the ribbon.

Right-click anywhere on the Tool Palettes title bar, and select Annotation and Design from the shortcut menu to turn on only the Annotation and Design tool palettes shown in Figure 16-60.

Size and position the palettes on the screen using your mouse.

Turn the Auto-hide feature on by selecting the Auto-hide button at the top of the palette title bar directly above the Properties button.

Move your mouse off the palette so that the palette closes and only the palette title bar is visible.

Right-click anywhere on the Tool Palettes title bar again, and select Anchor Right > to anchor the tool palette on the right side of the screen.

Put your cursor over the anchored tool palette to display it, and select the Architectural palette tab to make it active.

Select the Door-Imperial block at the top of the Architectural palette by clicking on it with your left mouse button. AutoCAD should prompt you to Specify insertion point or .

Pick a point to locate the block anywhere on the floor plan.

Select the Fluorescent (Recessed)-Imperial block, hold your mouse button down, and drag and drop the light fixture block anywhere in the drawing.

Right-click on the Door-Imperial block on the Architectural palette and select Properties... from the shortcut menu to display the Tool Properties dialog box.

Change the Layer property under the General category from —use current to A-DOOR, and select OK to close the dialog box.

Insert another Door-Imperial block. It should now always insert on the A-DOOR layer regardless of what layer is current.

Save the drawing.

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There are a couple of different ways to add blocks to a palette besides dragging them from the drawing.

Using the DesignCenter palette described earlier, it is possible to automatically create a new palette that contains all the blocks in a drawing by right-clicking on a drawing on the DesignCenter Folders tab and selecting the Create Tool Palette menu item from the shortcut menu. A new palette with the same name as the drawing is added to the current palette group with blocks and tool icons generated for each block.

DesignCenter can also create a new palette that consists of all the drawing files located in a folder. If you right-click on a folder that contains drawing (DWG) files and select Create Tool Palette of Blocks from the shortcut menu, AutoCAD will create a new tool palette with the same name as the folder with blocks and icons for each drawing file in the folder.

Exercise 16-13 Adding Tools to Tool Palettes

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Continue from Exercise 16-12.

Right-click anywhere on the Tool Palettes title bar, and select New Palette from the shortcut menu to create a new palette. Name the new palette My Tools.

Select any toilet block on the floor plan in the drawing so it is highlighted, and add it to the My Tools palette by dragging and dropping it onto the palette from the drawing. Be careful not to select a grip when dragging it.

Select any wall line so it is highlighted, and add it to the My Tools palette by dragging and dropping it onto the palette from the drawing. You should now have a Line tool with a flyout of assorted drawing commands.

Select the Line tool, and create a line.

Right-click on the My Tools tab, and select Move Up from the shortcut menu to move the My Tools palette up in the palette order.

Repeat step 6 until the My Tools palette is the top-level palette.

Select the Line tool and, while holding your left mouse button down, drag the tool to the top of the palette and release the mouse button to move the tool to the top of the palette.

Save the drawing.

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For example, using dynamic block technology, one single block of an architectural-type door for a floor plan can be updated so that you can:

• Switch between different standard door opening angles

• Resize the door using standard door opening and frame widths

• Flip the door horizontally or vertically about the center of the door opening

• Automatically align the door along a wall

Using the List Arrow grip, the door opening angle can be set to 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, or even appear closed as shown in Figure 16-67.

Using the Stretch Arrow grip, you can resize the door to any predefined opening size (24″, 28″, 30″, 32″, 36″, or 40″) as shown in Figure 16-68.

Using the Flip Arrow grip, you can mirror the door about the center of the opening either horizontally or vertically as shown in Figure 16-69.

With the Alignment grip, you can drag the door near a wall, and it will automatically align itself along the same angle as the wall as shown in Figure 16-70.

Unfortunately, covering all the dynamic block update options and features is beyond the scope of this text, as is the complex process involved in creating a dynamic block. Because of their complex nature, AutoCAD includes a special Block Editor environment for creating and updating dynamic blocks that has its own set of “authoring” palettes where you define parameters and actions. You might have started it accidentally at some point and wondered what it was because it changes the ribbon and the color of the AutoCAD background as shown in Figure 16-71.

If this happens, the best thing to do at this point is to select the Close Block Editor button on the ribbon at the top of the screen to exit the editor and get back to your drawing.

Fortunately, AutoCAD has many sample dynamic blocks available on the sample tool palettes that come with AutoCAD (shown earlier in Figure 16-60) that you can play with and use in your drawings.

Exercise 16-14 Using Dynamic Blocks

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Continue from Exercise 16-13.

Select one of the Door-Imperial blocks inserted in Exercise 16-12 so that dynamic grips are displayed.

Select the Alignment grip, and align the door with the vertical wall by dragging it with your mouse close to the wall until the block rotates 90° and is aligned with the wall as shown in Figure 16-70. Select a point to locate the door on the wall.

Select the List Arrow grip to display all the door opening angle options, and select Open 45° so that the door angle is updated as shown in Figure 16-67.

Select the vertical Stretch Arrow grip, and stretch the door so that the door opening is 36″ wide as shown in Figure 16-68.

Select the horizontal Stretch Arrow grip, and stretch the door so the door frame width is 4″ wide, the same as the wall thickness.

Select the vertical Flip Arrow grip, and mirror the door horizontally as shown in Figure 16-69.

Save the drawing.

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The Search box at the top of the Content Explorer palette allows you to search for drawing content on your local computer, network, and the Autodesk Seek website. The Location drop-down menu on the upper left shown in Figure 16-72 allows you to select which location to search.

Once search results are displayed, you can simply drag and drop selected content directly into your current drawing just like you do with DesignCenter. Right-clicking on content will display a shortcut menu similar to the one shown in Figure 16-73 with different options depending on the content type. For example, if you are searching for a particular text string or attribute value, you can right-click to open the source file and zoom directly to the found text.

You can control what and how content is displayed via the Change filter settings and Change view options buttons on the bottom right of the palette (see Figure 16-72). Using the filter options you can reduce the info glut by limiting the content to only those objects you’re interested in. The view options allow you to control the icon size, switch between detailed and thumbnail views, group different results, and turn on/off the text labels and column headers.

You can add one or more network folders to the Content Explorer index, but it requires that the Autodesk Content Service software be installed and running on that network computer in order to maintain a single shared index that everyone can access and search.

The Autodesk Seek location allows you to browse and search for content online on the Autodesk Seek website so you can find files from specific manufacturers or about different product types without going to an external website as shown in Figure 16-74.

• Increased productivity Draw it once and use it over and over again.

• Increased precision If you take the time to draw a block right the first time, it is always correct for each subsequent insertion.

• Increased standards compliance Draw a block that you are sure meets the standards of your organization, and then distribute it so that it is used throughout a project.

Many blocks already exist that can be downloaded from the Internet from various manufacturers, suppliers, trade organizations, and others. The Autodesk Seek feature provides access to much of this content. It is even possible to download complete symbol libraries of blocks.

Take the time to consider when to make a block. If you are going to use something in a drawing more than three times, it might be a good candidate for a block. Think about creating a block library and what it might look like. You can create several separate block drawing files and organize them in folders so they can be inserted using Windows Explorer, or you might put all the blocks in a single drawing file and access them using DesignCenter. Each approach has its pros and cons.

The ability to add nongraphical alphanumeric intelligence to your drawings in the form of block attributes is another huge productivity enhancer. Now you can create a single block definition and assign different alphanumeric information each time it is inserted—visible or invisible! Using invisible attributes, you can attach important alphanumeric information to blocks that will not plot but can be extracted to an AutoCAD table, text file, spreadsheet, or even database. What you do with this information is up to your own imagination.

Accessibility is the key to utilizing blocks productively. There are many different ways to organize and provide blocks. Tool palettes are convenient and highly customizable, whereas DesignCenter is unwieldy but it provides access to information that tool palettes can’t. Alternatively, sometimes dragging and dropping a file from Windows Explorer is the way to go. Autodesk Content Explorer can do all of the above, usually quicker too, but you must first create an index of all the information you wish to access. You will find yourself mixing and matching different block tools to meet your needs at the moment. Take time to investigate AutoCAD’s dynamic block samples and glimpse the symbol libraries of the future. Now one block can provide a complete symbol library that is just a click away!

1. An AutoCAD block is best described as a:

a. Hatch pattern

b. Named collection of AutoCAD objects treated as a single complex object

c. Title border

d. Group of layers

2. The advantage of using blocks in a drawing is:

a. Reduced drawing size

b. Increased accuracy

c. Ease of updating drawings

d. All of the above

3. When inserting an annotation-type block, it is necessary to:

a. Put it on a text layer

b. Scale the block by the drawing scale

c. Set the text style

d. All of the above

4. A block attribute is:

a. An object property such as layer, color, linetype, or lineweight

b. A scale

c. A rotation

d. Dynamic text used to store alphanumeric data

5. Defining a block within another block is referred to as:

a. Block assembly

b. Impossible

c. Block reference

d. Block nesting

6. Block subobjects created on Layer 0 with all their object properties set to ByLayer assume what current object property when the block is inserted?

a. Color

b. Lineweight

c. Layer

d. All of the above

7. Unit blocks allow you to:

a. Maintain consistent grid and snap settings

b. Scale a block differently in the x and y scale for different results

c. Transfer blocks from one unit system to another

d. All of the above

8. Dragging and dropping a drawing from Windows Explorer into a drawing using the right mouse button allows you to:

a. Open a drawing

b. Insert a drawing as a block

c. Attach an xref

d. All of the above

9. The command that allows you to turn invisible attributes on so they are displayed in the drawing is:

a. ATTREQ

b. ATTDIA

c. ATTDISP

d. -ATTEDIT

10. The command that allows you to update the value of an attribute is:

a. -ATTEDIT

b. BATTMAN

c. EATTEDIT

d. a and c

1. True or False: Blocks can be defined so that they cannot be exploded.

2. True or False: It is not possible to create a block with the same name as a block already defined in a drawing.

3. True or False: A block definition cannot be inserted in another drawing until it is exported as a drawing file.

4. True or False: It is possible to always specify a different x, y, and z scale when inserting a block.

5. True or False: When inserting a drawing file (DWG) as a block, both model space and paper space information are included.

6. True or False: It is possible to export all the objects in a drawing automatically using the WBLOCK command.

7. True or False: Attributes can be located automatically so that they align below the previous attribute.

8. True or False: It is possible to insert an AutoCAD field in an attribute value.

9. True or False: The -ATTEDIT command allows you to update multiple attributes with the same value at one time.

10. True or False: A table created using the Data Extraction wizard can be set to update automatically if a referenced attribute value changes.

1. Open drawing P15-1 from Chapter 15.

2. Create separate blocks for each of the items shown in Figure 16-75 using the insertion points indicated by the “X” symbol.

3. Create blocks for the left- and right-hand workstations as shown in Figure 16-75 using the insertion points shown. Use the blocks created in the previous step as components of the workstation blocks.

4. Replace the original workstations with the new workstation blocks.

5. Save your drawing as P16-1.

Project 16-2: B-Size Mechanical Border, continued from Chapter 15 [INTERMEDIATE]

1. Open template file Mechanical B-Size.DWT from Chapter 15.

2. Create the title block attribute definitions shown in Figure 16-76. Place the attributes on the Title layer. Use the definitions shown in the following table:

3. Use the WBLOCK command to create a block/drawing named Title Attributes Mechanical B-Size.DWG by selecting the attributes defined above and shown in Figure 16-76 using the following settings:

a. Set the Base point to 0,0,0.

b. Set the Objects option to the Delete from drawing setting so the attributes are deleted.

c. Set Insert units to Unitless.

4. Use the WBLOCK command to create a block/drawing named Mechanical B-Size.DWG by selecting all the remaining title border line work and static text that never changes using the following settings:

a. Set the Base point to 0,0,0.

b. Set the Objects option to the Delete from drawing setting so the attributes are deleted.

c. Set Insert units to Unitless.

5. Close the drawing template. Do not save changes to the drawing template.

Project 16-3: Architectural D-Size Border, continued from Chapter 15 [ADVANCED]

1. Open template file Architectural D-Size.DWT from Chapter 15.

2. Create a layer named A-ANNO-TTLB-ATTS with default properties. Set its color to red and make it the current layer.

3. Replace all the updateable title block text with the attribute definitions shown in Figure 16-77 and defined in the following table:

4. Use the WBLOCK command to create a block/drawing named Title Attributes Architectural D-Size.DWG by selecting the attributes defined above and shown in Figure 16-77 using the following settings:

a. Set the Base point to 0,0,0.

b. Set the Objects option to the Delete from drawing setting so the attributes are deleted.

c. Set Insert units to Unitless.

5. Use the WBLOCK command to create a block/drawing named Architectural D-Size.DWG by selecting all the remaining title border line work and static text that never changes using the following settings.

a. Set the Base point to 0,0,0.

b. Set the Objects option to the Delete from drawing setting so the objects are deleted.

c. Set Insert units to Unitless.

Note: Do not include the graphic scale in the upper right-hand corner as part of title block definition!

6. Close the drawing template. Do not save changes to the drawing template.

Project 16-4: Socket Head Cap Screws, continued from Chapter 12 [INTERMEDIATE]

1. Open drawing P12-2 from Chapter 12.

2. Create blocks from the fasteners created for Chapter 12 using the following settings:

a. Name the block as indicated in the table shown in Figure 16-78. Do not include any text in the block definition.

b. Specify the base point shown with “X” in Figure 16-78.

c. Select the Convert to block option so the block is converted in place.

d. Select the Allow exploding option.

3. Save the drawing as Socket Head Cap Screws but leave the drawing open.

4. Start a new drawing using the acad.dwt template.

5. Start DesignCenter, and select the Open Drawings tab.

6. Select the plus symbol (+) next to Socket Head Cap Screws.dwg to expand the tree.

7. Select the Blocks icon so that the fastener blocks you created in step 2 are displayed in the content area on the right.

8. Practice dragging and dropping fastener symbols into your drawing using both the left and right mouse buttons.

9. Double-click on a block to display the Insert dialog box.

Project 16-5: Structural Steel Symbol Library [ADVANCED]

1. Start a new drawing using the acad.dwt template.

2. Draw eight wide flange shapes using the designation and dimensions in the following steel table using the wide flange profile shown in Figure 16-79.

3. Create blocks from the wide flange shapes drawn in step 2 using the following settings:

a. Name the block using its corresponding steel designation (i.e., W8x67). Do not include text or dimensions in the block definition.

b. Specify the base point shown with “X” in Figure 16-79.

c. Select the Convert to block option so the block is converted in place.

d. Select the Allow exploding option.

4. Save the drawing as Structural Steel Symbols but leave the drawing open.

5. Start a new drawing using the acad.dwt template.

6. Start DesignCenter and select the Open Drawings tab.

7. Select the plus symbol (+) next to Structural Steel Symbols.dwg to expand the tree.

8. Select the Blocks icon so that the structural steel blocks you created in step 3 are displayed in the content area on the right.

9. Practice dragging and dropping structural steel symbols into your drawing using both the left and right mouse buttons.

10. Double-click on a block to display the Insert dialog box.