Replace Blocks Using AESWAPBLOCK in AutoCAD Electrical

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Introduction

The AESWAPBLOCK command is a specialized tool within AutoCAD Electrical designed to automate the replacement or updating of block instances across multiple drawings. Whether you are modifying a block’s geometry or attributes, this command can help you replace all instances of the old block project wide. It also ensures that attribute values are preserved while the physical block definition is replaced.

In the following tutorial, we will utilize the NFPADEMO sample project to demonstrate how to modify an existing title block (acade_title) and replace it project-wide using the AESWAPBLOCK command. While this tutorial focuses on title block, the same process could be used to replace any type of blocks.

Original Title Block

Modified Title Block

Exporting a block using WBLOCK

This section explains the process of using the WBLOCK command to extract a specific block from an existing drawing and save it as an independent .dwg file.

If you have already prepared and saved a revised version of your block as a .dwg file, you may proceed directly to the next section Replace blocks using AESWAPBLOCK.

1. Open the drawing in AutoCAD Electrical with your target block.
2. Select the block that you would like to modify.
3. Type WBLOCK in the command line and press Enter.
For Example: We are going to export and modify the title block (acade_title) in the image below.

4. Browse and select a location to save the symbol dwg and click OK.

5. Open the exported dwg symbol and make modifications as required.
For Example: We are going to relocate the title bar from right side of the drawing to below the drawing.

 

Replace blocks using AESWAPBLOCK

1. Open the drawing in AutoCAD Electrical with your target block.
2. Type AESWAPBLOCK in the command line and press Enter.

3. Select Option B: Update a Block – substitute new version for selected block and Click OK.

4. Select the block you would like to replace from the active drawing.
For Example: We are going to replace the title block (acade_title) in the image below.

5. Browse a select a replacement block.

 
6. Click on Active Drawing to replace the block from current drawing only or click the Project button to browse and select multiple drawings in the active project.

7. If using the Project option to update multiple drawings, select all the drawings to process from the active project.

8. The title block is successfully replaced with new version.