Using Blocks with Tool Palettes

Blocks are frequently used in all types of drawings. To help you keep consistency in drawings, in practice, it is recommended to create sets of Blocks that you can use later, along with other users involved in the project.

The most simple way to make Blocks available for all members of the team is to share them within a network. However, as the number of Blocks increases, finding a Block might become time consuming.

Tool palettes let you group Blocks efficiently in one place for easier access.

Examples:

• Place your favorite Blocks on a tool palette.
• Organize your Blocks on different palettes which you can later group to display them in the Tool Palettes for easier access.

Creating Tools from Blocks

You can create tools on Tool Palettes for simple Blocks, CustomBlocks, and Dynamic Blocks.

You can add new Block tools one by one on a tool palette using the following methods:

• Dragging specified Blocks from the graphics area onto the palette
• Dragging specified drawings from a folder onto the palette. Drawings are added as Blocks.
• Copying and pasting Blocks one by one from the graphics area to the palette
• Copying and pasting Blocks from one palette to another

Alternatively, you can add a set of Blocks on a tool palette in one step using the Design Resources. Options are available in context menus. You can create tool palettes with Blocks using the following methods:

• From a folder that contains drawings. All drawings are automatically added as Blocks on a tool palette.
• From a drawing. All Blocks from the specified drawing are added to a new tool palette with the same name as the drawing that contains the Blocks. Also, you can create a tool palette containing all Blocks from the current drawing.
• From a Block. The tool palette will contain only one Block.

You can use the Blocks from the Tool Palettes directly in your drawing by clicking the Block tool or by dragging and dropping them in the graphics area.

Create a drawing specifically for storing and updating Blocks. Thus you can add all Blocks from the drawing to a tool palette using the Design Center. You can create catalogs of your standard Blocks using tool palettes.

Block tools from the Tools Palette point to the original Block definitions. Blocks that you create using a Block tool are not automatically updated when you modify the Block definition in the source drawing. To redefine the Block definition, use the Redefine Block option from the tool context menu.

To add a tool based on an existing Block:

Note: Before starting, make sure the Tool Palettes is displayed.

1. Create the Block from which to create the tool.
2. Save the drawing.
3. On the Tool Palettes, display the palette on which to place the tool. If necessary, create a new palette.
4. In the graphics area, select the Block from which to create the tool.

   You can select a simple Block or a CustomBlock.

5. Press and hold the mouse button and drag the specified Block onto the palette.

   The tool for creating the specified Block appears on the Tool Palettes.

6. On the palette toolbar, click Save all .

Note: Tools that you have created from Blocks are automatically updated only if you save the drawing containing the Block definition after modifications.

To insert a Block from the Tool Palettes:

1. On the Tool Palettes, click the new Block tool.

   The Block appears attached to the cursor.

2. In the graphics area, specify the insertion point for the Block, or specify an option:
   • Angle. Sets the rotation angle in the graphics area during insertion.
   • Reference point. Sets a new reference point other than the default insertion point as you drag the Block into position.
   • Uniform scale. Sets a uniform scale factor for the XYZ axes.

To create a tool palette for Blocks from a folder using Design Resources:

Note: Before starting, remove unused Blocks from the folder to avoid including unnecessary content on the tool palette.

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the ribbon, click Insert > Palettes > Design Resources.
   • On the menu, click Tools > Design Resources.
   • Type DesignResources.
2. On the Design Resources palette, in Computer, In the Resources list, browse to the folder that contains Blocks.
3. Right-click the folder and select Create Tool Palette of Blocks from the context menu.

   On the Tool Palette, a new palette with the same name as the folder is created. All drawings from the folder are added as Blocks on the new palette.

To create a tool palette from a Block from Design Resources:

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the ribbon, click Insert > Palettes > Design Resources.
   • On the menu, click Tools > Design Resources.
   • Type DesignResources.
2. On the Design Resources palette, in Computer or in Opened files, browse to the drawing file that contains Blocks.
3. In the Resources list, double-click the Blocks category.

   The Content list displays the available Blocks.

4. In the Contents list, specify a Block.

   The Block is displayed in the Preview area.

5. Right-click and select Create Tool Palette from the context menu.

   On the Tool Palette, a new palette with the same name as the Block is created.

To create a tool palette for Blocks from a drawing using Design Resources:

Note: Before starting, remove unused Blocks from the drawing to avoid including unnecessary content on the tool palette.

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the ribbon, click Insert > Palettes > Design Resources.
   • On the menu, click Tools > Design Resources.
   • Type DesignResources.
2. On the Design Resources palette, specify the drawing:
   • In Computer, in the Resources list, browse to the drawing that contains Blocks.
   • In Opened Files, in the Resources list, browse to the drawing that contains Blocks.
3. Right-click the drawing name and select Create Tool Palette from the context menu.

   On the Tool Palette, a new palette with the same name as the drawing is created. The new palette contains all Blocks from the drawing.

Updating Block Definitions on Tool Palettes

You can modify Blocks that have been added as tools on a tool palette.

When you modify Blocks in your drawing, Block definitions from the Tools Palette do not automatically update.

You can modify the Block definition for a tool:

• Modify the Block geometry

  In the Block Editor, modify the Block geometry by adding and removing entities and by changing properties.

  Additionally, you can define elements and activities to add a dynamic behavior to the Block.

• Modify Block properties

  Block properties are available in the Tool Properties dialog box.

  For CustomBlocks you can specify custom properties.

• Update Block definitions for the Block tool

  After modifying a Block in your drawing, you must save the drawing that contains the Block. The Redefine Block option from the Tool Palettes updates all instances of the Block in the current drawing.

To modify and update the Block definition from the Tools Palette:

1. On the Tools Palette, right-click the Block tool and select Edit Block from the context menu.

   The Block Editor opens. The geometry of the Block from which you have created the tool appears.

2. Modify the Block as necessary and save the Block.
3. Close the Block Editor.
4. Save the drawing that contains the Block.
5. On the Tools Palette, right-click the tool and select Redefine Block from the context menu.

   The tool icon and all instances of the Block in the current drawing are updated.

To update the path to the Block definition in a tool:

1. On the Tools Palette, right-click the Block tool and select Properties from the context menu.
2. In the Tool Properties dialog box, in Source File, specify the path to the file containing the Block.