Tool Palette w/Blocks

[nusouthsc]

Hi all,

I have had a little time over the holidays to attempt some house-keeping items for my template and tool palette. My first issue is with referencing the block into the tool palette. It is my understanding that I need to create an individual dwg file for each block to be added to the tool palette.

The weird thing is that most of the blocks are already contained within my template. Is there no an easy way to use it from the template. I am simply wanting what is already in my template to be on the tool palette. Is this possible? 

Josh Ellis

Nu-South Surveying

Anderson, SC

[v-silvestre · Accepted solution]

Hi Josh, the easiest way I found to create a tool palette with blocks already within your drawing is to use Design Center > Blocks > highlight the specific blocks > right-click > Create Tool Palette:

[BrianHailey · Accepted solution]

You absolutely don't need a drawing for each block. We have three drawings that have all of our blocks that are on our tool palettes. I don't recommend using your template as the basis for your tool palettes although that might work just fine. I do however think that you should NEVER use a production drawing as the basis of your tool palette blocks. The reason I say that is that your production drawing will at one point be completed and then archived and when that happens, your break you tool palettes. We have our three drawings in a specific file path and the tool palettes reference those drawings. If you change up a block on your tool palette and you need it to be updated in your template, simply open the template, right click on the block in the tool palette, and then choose "Redefine".

Also, if you want every block in your drawing to be on a tool palette, browse to the drawing in Design Center, right click on the drawing, and then choose "Create Tool Palette".

[nusouthsc]

Brian,

Thank you so much for the input. That makes a lot more sense. I was getting terribly frustrated thinking I had to export all the blocks separately. In reference to your drawings containing all your blocks, are the blocks just randomly scattered in the drawing? My concern was if the coordinates of the blocks effects the insertion points? Or is that still controlled within the block parameters. If so, it would make my life way simpler to have just one drawing with all our blocks in one location. Thank you again!

Josh Ellis

Nu-South Surveying

Anderson, SC

[Pointdump]

Hi Josh,
"[insertion points] controlled within the block parameters."
Yes, BEDIT will show the defined insertion point.
"...are the blocks just randomly scattered in the drawing?"
Well, you could organize them. Like >>>This<<<.
Dave

[BrianHailey]

Remember, there are two different things that we're talking about here.

1) Block - A block is a preset group of AutoCAD objects that are defined in the database of the drawing. You can almost think of this as a drawing within your drawing. 

2) Block Reference - This is the object that is inserted into your drawing that displays according to the defined block. This can be scaled, copied, rotated, etc.

Colloquially, block references are called "blocks". For example, I'm working in a drawing, someone looks over my shoulder and says, "Brian, move that manhole block to the other side of the street." What they meant was, "Brian, move that manhole block reference to the other side of the street." 

With that understanding, your tool palettes reference the blocks in the drawing, not the block references. When you drag a block reference onto the tool palette, it creates a command that says inserts the block from this specific drawing into the current drawing. 

Now, the block reference does have a bit to play in the tool palette but only when the tool is being created. When you drag a block reference onto the tool palette, the default properties of the tool will be set based on the properties of the block reference. For example, if the block reference is on layer "STORM MANHOLE", when it's dragged onto the tool palette, the tool will have the layer "STORM MANHOLE" assigned to it. You can always change the properties of the tool on the tool palette and if you edit the block reference, the tool does NOT change.

Hope this help!

[nusouthsc]

Brian,

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation! This is a huge help and just what I was needing.

Josh Ellis

Nu-South Surveying

Anderson, SC