Work with Block Feature Definitions

You can create a unique feature definition for each type of feature a user may need to record in the field. There are four types of feature definitions available: point, line, polygon , and block.

A block feature is made up of a single block, which is a collection of individual CAD objects (sometimes containing nested blocks) that are grouped together into a single larger object to make selecting and moving the related objects easier and more consistent. For example, a block might be used to represent an automobile or some other recognizable feature. More about block features...

When a CAD block is created, it typically includes one to three insertion points that determine where the block is located and, optionally, how it is rotated and scaled.

If a block is inserted using just one insertion point, it is positioned based on the insertion point without additional rotation or scaling.
If a block is inserted using a two insertion points, the placement of the second insertion point can be used to rotate the block around the Z axis and scale it on the X axis.
If a block is inserted using a three insertion points, the placement of the third insertion point can be used to scale the block on the Y axis.

You can create a feature definition that is used to insert a predefined CAD block that was created in TBC or some other software application and imported into your TBC project as a DWG (.dwg) or DXF (.dxf) file. When creating the definition, you can determine how many of the block's insertion points you want to use to locate and, optionally, rotate and scale the block. For example, if the block includes three insertion points, you can specify that only the first insertion point be used. In addition, you can specify rotation and X, Y, and Z scaling values to apply to the block (in addition to any rotation or scaling achieved using a second and third insertion point).

Field users can also specify that a block feature definition use a block control code to determine its insertion points.

To create a block feature definition:

Note: If you want to create a new feature definition that will share properties with an existing definition, you can, as an alternative to the instructions presented here, copy the existing definition and then modify the copy as necessary (including assigning it to a different category) using the instructions below. See Create a New Feature Definition Based on an Existing Definition for additional information.

In the Project Explorer, right-click the node representing the feature definition category to which you want to assign the new block feature definition and select New Block Feature Definition.
A new Block Feature Definition node displays nested beneath the selected Category node in the Project Explorer. In addition, the Block Feature Definition Properties pane displays.
Complete the fields as described in "Properties" below.
To assign an attribute to the new block feature definition, see Work with Feature Definition Attributes.

To edit or delete a block feature definition:

In the Project Explorer, right-click the node for the block feature definition you want to edit or delete and do either of the following:

Select Properties to display the Block Feature Definition Properties pane. Then make any necessary edits as described in "Properties" below. Your changes are saved automatically.
Select Delete.
Note: If you delete a feature definition that has been assigned to a point in your project and then reprocess the feature codes, the deleted definition will no longer be recognized and will be reported as "Unknown" in the Feature Code Processing Report.

Properties:


Feature
Name	Enter a unique name for the block feature definition. Duplicate feature definition names cannot be used in the same Feature Definition (.fxl) file.
Code	Enter a unique code for the block feature definition. Typically, the code is an abbreviation for the feature definition name that can be easily assigned to a point in the field. Duplicate feature definition codes cannot be included in the same Feature Library for the same feature definition type.
Category	Select the category to which you want to assign the feature definition. Categories are used to organize feature definitions into sets of similar definitions. For instructions on creating categories, see Work with Feature Definition Categories.
Style
Layer	Select an existing layer on which the block feature will display. Or, select <<New Layer>> to create a new layer for the feature. For additional instructions, see Manage Layers.
Color	Select the color to use for the block feature. Or, select By Layer to use the color specified for the layer on which the block feature displays.
Line style	Select the line style to use for the block feature. Or, optionally: Select By Layer to use the line style specified for the layer on which the line feature displays. Select By Block / Feature to use the line style specified for a CAD block, if the block feature is included in it. You can also select this option to indicate that the line style be specified after the feature is processed. Select <<Import line styles>> to import a line style. For instructions, see Manage Line Styles.
Point
Include in surface	Select Yes to specify that a point to which this feature definition is assigned, along with the resulting block feature, can be included as a member in a surface. Note: If multiple features are assigned to a point, only the first feature code displayed in the Feature code field in point's Properties pane (the "primary feature") will use this setting to determine if the point can be included as a member in a surface.
Point label style	Optionally, select a predefined point label style that specifies the following for each point to which this feature definition is assigned: Label content type (for example, the point name) Label text prefix (optional) Units suffix Decimal precision Angle display format Offset position of the label above or below the line Placement of the label along the block See Create and Edit Label Styles for more information.
Point layer	Select an existing layer on which each point to which this feature definition is assigned will display. Or, select <<New Layer>> > to create a new layer for the point. For additional instructions, see Manage Layer..
Block
Block	Select the predefined block you want to use to create the new feature definition. For additional information, see Work with Blocks and Work with Block Control Codes.
Insertion	Select one of the following block insertion options: Using control codes - Select this option to specify that the block insertion point(s) and or additional rotation and scaling are determined by block control codes applied to one or more points. For example, a user could enter a block control code along with this block definition code to specify that a block with three insertion points be inserted based on the current point and the next two points, controlling rotation and scale. Or, a user could enter a block control code along with this definition code to specify that the block be scaled on the X axis by a certain value. For more information on block control codes, see Work with Block Control Codes. From 1 point - Select this option to specify that the block insertion location is based on a single selected point, regardless of how many insertion points are defined for the block itself. From 2 points - Select this option to specify that (1) the block insertion location is based on the selected point and (2) the block's rotation around the Z axis and scaling on the X axis are based on the next subsequent point that includes a block feature whose insertion option is Using control codes. This option is available only if the block itself includes two or three insertion points. From 3 points - Select this option to specify that (1) the block insertion location is based on the selected point, (2) the block's rotation around the Z axis and scaling on the X axis are based on the next subsequent point that includes a block feature whose insertion option is Using control codes, and (3) the block's scaling on the Y axis is based on the next subsequent point that includes a block feature whose insertion option is Using control codes. This option is available only if the block itself includes three insertion points. Note: If you select to use a block insertion method that uses more than one insertion point, the rotation value resulting from the location of the second insertion point will be added to any rotation value you might enter in the Rotation field; scale values will be multiplied by any values you might enter in the Scale X and Scale Y fields.
Rotation	Optionally, enter a value for the degrees of rotation for the block. (See Insertion note above.)
Scale X	Optionally, select a scaling value on the X axis. (See Insertion note above.)
Scale Y	Optionally, select a scaling value on the Y axis. (See Insertion note above.)
Scale Z	Optionally, select a scaling value on the Z axis.