In the following example, we will use a tool palette to insert blocks of different types, and we will also modify those blocks:
- Open a tool palette using the Tool Palettes icon in the Palettes panel on the View tab, as shown in the following screenshot, or use its command alias, TP. You can also press Ctrl + 3 on your keyboard:
- The Tool palettes palette will open, and you will see a list of palettes, such as Architectural, Mechanical, and Civil. Select the Architectural palette, and you will find a list of blocks on it divided into Imperial samples and Metric samples, as shown in Figure 8.42:
- The imperial category has blocks in Imperial units, and the metric has blocks in Metric units. Depending on the units you are using in your drawing, you can select either of the blocks. All the blocks in this Architectural palette contain a yellow lightning symbol near block thumbnail. These lightning symbols are for the dynamic blocks, and it indicates that the blocks are all dynamic in nature.
- To insert any block from the Architectural palette, simply drag and drop the block into the drawing area. In this example, I will drag and drop the Door-Imperial block into the drawing area. If the block is very small or big, then zoom in or out to scale it properly.
When you click on the door block from the drawing area, many grips show up. These grips allow you to change the geometry of the Door block. As an example, when you click the grip marked A as shown in the following image, you get a menu that changes the open-angle of the door, and the grip marked B changes the length of the door block.
These grips are added using the dynamic block properties, which we will discuss in the next chapter.
In a similar way, you can switch to other palettes and add blocks from them. As an example, switch to the Mechanical palette and then select the Shoulder screw – Imperial block at the top of the list and insert it into the drawing. Here, you will also find grips that allow you to change the length or type of this screw.
Other tool palettes can be used to insert other blocks as well. If you, however, want to make your own palette with your own custom blocks, then you can do that as well, and we will discuss this feature in the next section.