- Practical Autodesk AutoCAD 2021 and AutoCAD LT 2021
- Yasser Shoukry Jaiprakash Pandey
- 519字
- 2025-02-26 19:25:03
Making blocks
Make a simple door symbol using the rectangle and arc commands, as shown:
F igure 4.44: A simple door symbol made with the rectangle and arc commands
In the following example, we will learn how to convert this door symbol into a block:
- Click on the Create option from the Block panel of the Home tab, shown in the following figure, or use the command alias, B:
F igure 4.45: The Create option in the Block panel of the Home tab
- The Block Definition window will pop up. Give this block a name in the Name field. I am naming it Sample Door.
- In the Base point panel, click on the box that says Pick point. You will notice that the cursor will change to pick a point and the Block Definition window will also disappear:
F igure 4.46: The Pick point option in the Block Definition window
- Click on the lower-right corner of the door symbol to specify the base point and the Block Definition window will pop back up.
- Click on the Select objects box in the Objects panel, then select all the rectangles and arcs that make the door symbol and press the Enter key.
- In the Objects section, select the Convert to block radio button, as shown:
F igure 4.47: The Convert to block radio button, along with other options, in the Objects panel
- From the Behavior section, check the Allow exploding checkbox and keep the other checkboxes unchecked. Also, make sure the Open in block editor checkbox is unchecked in the lower-left corner of the Block Definition window.
- Once you are done with these settings, click OK and the door symbol will now be converted into a block.
Understanding the Retain, Convert to block, and Delete options from the Objects panel of the Block Definition window.
When making a block, I asked you to select the Convert to block option in the Block Definition window, shown in figure 4.47. If, however, you select any of the remaining options, namely Retain and Delete, you will still end up with a block. So what is the difference between these three different options?
These options control the behavior of objects that you use to create the block; that is, the rectangle and arc in the drawing area.
The Retain option leaves the rectangle and arc the way they are initially and even after making the block, if you hover your cursor over the objects you used to create blocks, the objects will show up as a polyline and arc, respectively, and not as a block.
The Convert to block option converts the on-screen object into a block reference, too and the Delete option deletes the on-screen objects, which are the polyline and arc, in this case.
When making a block, I asked you to select the Convert to block option in the Block Definition window, shown in figure 4.47. If, however, you select any of the remaining options, namely Retain and Delete, you will still end up with a block. So what is the difference between these three different options?
These options control the behavior of objects that you use to create the block; that is, the rectangle and arc in the drawing area.
The Retain option leaves the rectangle and arc the way they are initially and even after making the block, if you hover your cursor over the objects you used to create blocks, the objects will show up as a polyline and arc, respectively, and not as a block.
The Convert to block option converts the on-screen object into a block reference, too and the Delete option deletes the on-screen objects, which are the polyline and arc, in this case.
Now, you have a door block in your drawing, which you can use anywhere in your current drawing. You can also use this block in other drawings if you want to. So, let's talk about the options we have for inserting blocks in the drawing.