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<a name="12"></a><h1>12 Blocks</h1>
<p>
<i>Blocks are named groups of entities which can be inserted into a
drawing multiple times with different attributes at different locations. Such
an inserted instance of a block is called an
<b>Insert</b>
.</i></p>
<p class="figure">
<img border="0" src="img/blocklist01.png"></p><p class="figure_label">
<b>Figure 17: </b>Block list.</p>
<a name="12_1"></a><h2>Changing the Visibility of a Block</h2>
<p>
Double-click on a block in the block list to toggle it's visibility.
Alternatively, you can right-click on it and choose "Toggle Visibility"
from the context menu (Figure 18).</p>
<p class="figure">
<img border="0" src="img/blockmenu01.png"></p><p class="figure_label">
<b>Figure 18: </b>Context menu of
the block list.</p>
<a name="12_2"></a><h2>Changing the Visibility of all Blocks</h2>
<p>
<b>Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="imgs/toolbar_block_toggle_all.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Menu:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Defreeze All</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Freeze All</p>
<p>
<b>Description:</b>
</p>
<p>
The two buttons shown above can be used to defreeze or freeze all
blocks at once. The same function is also available from the context
menu.</p>
<a name="12_3"></a><h2>Adding New Blocks</h2>
<p>
<b>Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="imgs/toolbar_block_add.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Menu:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Add Block</p>
<p>
<b>Description:</b>
</p>
<p>
This command creates a new empty block. The block dialog is shown where
you can specify the name for the new block (Figure 19).
If you want to create a block from existing entities, please use
the "Create Block" command instead.</p>
<p class="figure">
<img border="0" src="img/blockdialog01.png"></p><p class="figure_label">
<b>Figure 19: </b>Dialog for
creating new blocks.</p>
<a name="12_4"></a><h2>Removing Blocks</h2>
<p>
<b>Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="imgs/toolbar_block_delete.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Menu:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Remove Block</p>
<p>
<b>Description:</b>
</p>
<p>
Removes the active block. Please note that this action cannot be
undone. The block and all inserts of the block will be deleted.</p>
<a name="12_5"></a><h2>Renaming Blocks</h2>
<p>
<b>Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="imgs/toolbar_block_rename.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Menu:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Rename Block</p>
<p>
<b>Description:</b>
</p>
<p>
Renames the active block. The same dialog is presented as for creating
new blocks (Figure 19). Please note that this action cannot be
automatically undone. The block and all inserts of the block will be
renamed.</p>
<a name="12_6"></a><h2>Editing Blocks</h2>
<p>
<b>Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="imgs/toolbar_block_edit.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Menu:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Edit Block</p>
<p>
<b>Description:</b>
</p>
<p>
This command opens the active block in a new document window where it
can be modified just like any other drawing. To update the inserts that exist
inside your drawing, simply activate the drawing window either by using the
Windows menu or by clicking in it.</p>
<a name="12_7"></a><h2>Inserting Blocks</h2>
<p>
<b>Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="imgs/toolbar_block_insert.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Menu:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Insert Block</p>
<p>
<b>Command:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
?</p>
<p>
<b>Options Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="img/options_block.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Description:</b>
</p>
<p>
Inserts the active block into the drawing.</p>
<p>
<b>Procedure:</b>
</p>
<p>
<ol>
<li>Choose the block you want to insert from the list.</li>
<li>Click the insert button or choose 'Insert Block' from the menu.</li>
<li>Enter the rotation angle and scaling factor for the insert in the
options toolbar.</li>
<li>To create an array of inserts, enter the number of columns and rows
in the options toolbar and specify the column and row spacing.</li>
</ol>
</p>
<a name="12_8"></a><h2>Creating Blocks from Existing Entities</h2>
<p>
<b>Toolbar:</b>
</p>
<p>
<img border="0" src="imgs/toolbar_block_create.png"><br>
</p>
<p>
<b>Menu:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
Block - Create Block</p>
<p>
<b>Command:</b>
</p>
<p class="code">
?</p>
<p>
<b>Description:</b>
</p>
<p>
Creates a block from existing entities.</p>
<p>
<b>Procedure:</b>
</p>
<p>
<ol>
<li>Select the entities you want to use for the block.</li>
<li>Click the right arrow button in the CAD toolbar to continue.</li>
<li>Set the reference point of the block using the mouse or enter a
co-ordinate in the command line.</li>
<li>Enter a name for the new block in the dialog that is shown (Figure
19) and click OK.</li>
</ol>
</p>
<p>
The block is now added to the block list and can be inserted into the
drawing. The entities you selected in step 1 are removed and replaced by
an insert of the block. If you don't want that you can use 'undo' to
delete that insert. To restore the original entities, use 'undo' again.
The undo / redo functions have no influence on the blocks themselves.
Once a block is created it won't be removed again with undo.
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