Subject: Saving blocks

You can create a block as a separate drawing file that you can insert into other drawings. The Save Block to Disk command includes the most options for saving blocks, and the Quick Block Save command includes only the essential steps: selecting entities and naming the block.

To quickly save entities as a separate drawing file    

   1   Do one of the following to choose Quick Block Save ():

•   On the ribbon, choose Insert > Quick Block Save (in Block Definition).

•   On the menu, choose Tools > Quick Block Save.

•   On the Tools toolbar, click the Quick Block Save tool.

•   Type quickwblock and then press Enter.

   2   Select the entities you want to save as a block, and then press Enter.

   3   Enter a name for the destination drawing file.

   4   Click Save.

To save a block as a separate drawing file    

Advanced experience level    

   1   Do one of the following to choose Save Block To Disk ():

•   On the ribbon, choose Insert > Save Block to Disk (in Block Definition).

•   On the menu, choose Tools > Save Block To Disk.

•   On the Tools toolbar, click the Save Block To Disk tool.

•   Type wblock and then press Enter.

   2   In Source, choose Block, then select the desired block from the list.

   3   In File Name and Path, type the name and path of the destination drawing file you want to create, or click [...] to browse for it.

   4   In Insert Units, select the units used for inserting the separate drawing file.

   5   Click OK.

The program assigns the 0,0,0 coordinate as the insertion base point.
You can change the base point by opening the drawing and redefining the block.

To save the current drawing as a separate drawing file    

Advanced experience level    

   1   Do one of the following to choose Save Block to Disk ():

•   On the ribbon, choose Insert > Save Block to Disk (in Block Definition).

•   On the menu, choose Tools > Save Block To Disk.

•   On the Tools toolbar, click the Save Block To Disk tool.

•   Type wblock and then press Enter.

   2   In Source, choose Entire Drawing.

   3   In File Name and Path, type the name and path of the destination drawing file you want to create, or click [...] to browse for it.

   4   In Insert Units, select the units used for inserting the separate drawing file.

   5   Click OK.

The program assigns the 0,0,0 coordinate as the insertion base point.
You can change the base point by opening the drawing and redefining the block.

To select entities and save them as a separate drawing file    

Advanced experience level    

   1   Do one of the following to choose Save Block to Disk ():

•   On the ribbon, choose Insert > Save Block to Disk (in Block Definition).

•   On the menu, choose Tools > Save Block To Disk.

•   On the Tools toolbar, click the Save Block To Disk tool.

•   Type wblock and then press Enter.

   2   In Source, choose Entities.

   3   In Base Point, enter the x,y,z coordinates of the base point to save with the sepa­rate drawing file, or click () to select it directly in the current drawing.

   4   Click () and then select the source entities directly in the current drawing. Or you can click () to select entities by type or value.

   5   Choose what action to take with selected entities in the current drawing after the separate drawing file is created:

•   Retain Keeps the selected source entities in the current drawing.

•   Convert to block Converts the selected source entities to a block in the current drawing.

•   Delete from drawing Deletes the selected source entities from the current drawing.

If no entities are selected, a separate drawing file is not created.

   6   In File Name and Path, type the name and path of the destination drawing file you want to create, or click [...] to browse for it.

   7   In Insert Units, select the units used for inserting the separate drawing file.

   8   Click OK.

If you often include blocks in your drawings, you can create a tool palette that con­tains the blocks you use most often. For details, see Creating tool palettes and adding commands and blocks.