Create a Block Definition

Use the Create Block command to create one or more CAD block definitions (for example, a north arrow) from lines, text, and other objects. You can then insert instances of the blocks (such as a title block) into your model.

Note: For simplicity, the term "block" is used interchangeably with "block definition" in this topic.

Block Colors and Line Styles

For a block to have a uniform color, each of the objects that the block is created from must have its color set to By Block / Feature. Otherwise, a block's objects will retain the colors set for their layers (if color is still set by default to By Layer). If an object within a block has its color set to a specific color, it will retain that color regardless of the color of its layer or the block. This logic also applies to the line styles for blocks.

View Filters

If a block has nested blocks, the layers turned on within each view filter control visibility for those child blocks in graphic views. Turning off the layer for the parent (if different from the child layers) has no affect on visibility.

Note: One exception to the rules above is for objects on layer 0, which inherit their color and line style from the block they are part of, and their visibility is controlled by the parent block's layer.

Prerequisites:

To access the command:

To create a block definition:

  1. In the Name field, type a unique and descriptive name for the block so it is easy to identity when you want to insert an instance of it.
  2. Click in the Select objects field, then pick one or more objects in a graphic view from which to build the block, or click Options for additional selection tools.

    Note: Blocks can also be created by combining existing blocks. These sub-blocks are called "nested blocks" when they are used to create a "parent block."

  3. Optionally, enter an elevation or pick an object from the Elevation box to extract its elevation for the block's Location 1 insertion point.

    This elevation defines the relative vertical distance (if any) between the insertion point and the CAD objects in the block, which themselves have elevations assigned.

  4. Click in the Location 1 field and then, in the Plan View, pick a location that can be used to locate an instance of the block when you insert it. Or, type in a coordinate.

    You can click anywhere on or off of the object to specify an insertion point.

    A single insertion point is typically adequate to insert an instance of a block. When inserting the block using Insert Block command pane, you select where the insertion point should be located, which in turn determines where the block is located (relative to the insertion point). The Insert Block command pane also allows you to specify rotation of the block around the Z axis and scaling on the X, Y, and Z axes.

    Tip: If you create many block definitions, you may want to use a consistent location for the insertion point so all of your blocks can be placed uniformly.

    Optionally, you can add one or two additional insertion points (up to three total) that can be used when the block is inserted to determine the rotation of the block around the Z axis and scaling of the block on the X and Y axes based on the location of the points. Since the Insert Block command pane also allows you to specify a rotation for the block and scaling along its X and Y (and Z) axes using fields in the command pane, any values you enter in these fields will be added to the rotation and scaling changes resulting from the positioning of the second and third insertion points. For examples of the use of multiple insertion points, see Block Insertion Examples. For instructions on using insertion points to insert blocks, see Insert a Block.

  5. Optionally, use the Location 2 and Location 3 fields to add one or two additional insertion points.
  6. Click Create.

    The block definition is created. Now you can use the Insert Block command to insert instances of the new block in your model.

Related topics

Import Block Definitions

Edit a Block Definition

Delete a Block Definition

Block Insertion Examples

Insert a Block

Explode an Object