How can I find a block inside my block? It references itself when inserting

[k_geo]

Hello!

I created a block as DWG. Then I made a copy of it because I wanted to test some edits.

Then I saved the copy and overrode the original because I liked the result.

Now the problem is, that everytime I want to insert the block in a drawing, it says "Block references itself".

I don't know how this could happen, because I don't think I inserted a block into the block editor when I was editing it.

Is there a way to find what causes this?

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

Open that drawing.  Does it contain a Block definition of the same name?  If so, Explode that Block if it's Inserted in the drawing, and Purge its name from the drawing.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>>"I created a block as DWG. "

No, you have a DWG with a Blockdefinition and one Blockreference inside

AND you named the DWG the sam as the blocks name.

Now, you trying to insert the DWG (not a block) "as Block".

Short story: Rename your DWG, open your DWG, start WBLOCK command, use BLOCK option and select your block from the list.

Change no other options (except the save-folder) and save your Block as DWG.

Insert the new DWG, works?

Open this file to understand it.

Your original Block content is now in Modelspace, there is no Block inside.

By inserting this 'DWG as Block', AutoCAD create a Block by taking the modelspace content as Block content and DWG name as Block name.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

>>"I created a block as DWG. "

No, you have a DWG with a Blockdefinition and one Blockreference inside

AND you named the DWG the sam as the blocks name.

Now, you trying to insert the DWG (not a block) "as Block".

Short story: Rename your DWG, open your DWG, start WBLOCK command, use BLOCK option and select your block from the list.

Change no other options (except the save-folder) and save your Block as DWG.

Insert the new DWG, works?

Open this file to understand it.

Your original Block content is now in Modelspace, there is no Block inside.

By inserting this 'DWG as Block', AutoCAD create a Block by taking the modelspace content as Block content and DWG name as Block name.

[james_moore]

The way computers function, you've created a circular reference.

You cannot have a block INSERT defined with the name DWG within a drawing file named DWG.dwg.  AutoCAD follows system path rules when inserting and will see this as a conflict... it doesn't know whether you're talking about the drawing file on disk or the INSERT defined within it.

[k_geo]

Thank you guys. Now I start to understand how everything works.

The problem was indeed that for some reason I messed something up while trying to improve my block.

When I click on the block editor, there were 3 block definitions and the current drawing in it.

1. my current drawing which was a copy of the objects of the original block I tried to improve. This current drawing was the new "block" I wanted to have.

2. empty block definition with random alphanumeric name

3. defintion of weird old state of my block with random alphanumeric name

4. The old block that I wanted to edit with the name of the DWG file. This was the problem.

So now I used: Application Button -> Drawing Utilites -> Purge: and purged all block definitions I mentioned above. My current drawing wasn't in there because, as you guys said, it is not a block but the actual drawing in the dwg, that I want to insert in other drawings as a block.

Now everything works great. Thank you very much guys. This forum is a great place.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@k_geo wrote:

.... random alphanumeric name ....

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If those are something similar to:

A$C2670e6ca

that is a result of using the PASTEBLOCK command [Ctrl+Shift+V], which gives names like that to the Blocks that are made of what you paste in with it.  If you want to intercept that command so you won't ever get names like that, see >this<.  PasteBlockWithName.lsp redefines the PASTEBLOCK command to require you to give the Block a meaningful name before it lets you put it in.