Autocad Block Editor

One of the most powerful features of AutoCAD is dynamic blocks. I mostly use this feature to create dynamic symbols that can be used in drawings, like Section arrows, 2D Pipe ends, North Arrows, etc. A Dynamic block allows you to dynamically change 2D Objects in various ways, like rotate, scale, move, show or hide.

  1. How To Edit A Block In Autocad
  2. Autocad Block Editor Background Color
  3. Autocad Block Editor Won't Close
  4. Autocad Block Editor Parameters
  5. Autocad Block Editor Disabled

Block Editor Toolbar. Provides tools for working in the Block Editor, creating dynamic blocks, and working with visibility states. The Block Editor toolbar is displayed when the ribbon is not active. It is also displayed only when you enter the Block Editor with the ribbon closed. Mar 10, 2009  AutoCAD Forum Single click to exit block editor? Single click to exit block editor? Go to the 'Tools' menu, expand the 'Xref and Block-in-place editing' menu, and select 'Save reference edits' to exit out of the Block Editor with your changes. I hope this helps. There is a Test Block Button on the ribbon as shown above that allows testing the Block in a new drawing window without closing the block editor. After testing the block you can close Test window and save the block, the final block should look like the image shown below. I did same for the Pipe, Tee and 90-Elbow Blocks, to make them all rotate. Jul 29, 2013  Block editor is a very powerful tool to edit your block. Not only allow you to modify your block geometry, you can also create a dynamic block here. You can activate block editor by double clicking a block OR select a block then right click choose block editor from context menu. You can also choose edit from AutoCAD ribbon, home tab block panel.

The example below is one of my Dynamic blocks.

This Section Label can rotate in any direction and be used on any side using the grips identified on the image, but this is just a fraction of what dynamic blocks can do. I will try to demonstrate most of the functions I have used before by applying it to something a little bit more interesting than just creating drawing symbols.

Simple Dynamic Block:

How To Edit A Block In Autocad

So to begin with I created some 2D pipe sketches. I created an 80NB and 100NB Flange, Pipe, Tee and 90° Elbow. I could add every size available for a pipe specification, but for this example, two sizes are enough. My 2D Sketches look like the image shown below.

I create a normal block with my two flange front sketches in it and call it Flange_Front.

I do the same for my Flange, Pipe, Elbow and tee sketches and call them respectively Flange Side, Pipe, 90-Elbow and Tee so that I have five blocks in total. After that is completed I select my Flange Front block, right click and select Block Editor and the display should look something like this.

I will be using the Block Authoring Palettes highlighted to the left of the screen above. If it is not there click the Authoring Palettes button on the ribbon highlighted in the image above.

The first thing I am going to do is set up the Visibility Parameter on the Authoring Palettes to create grips that will let me pick between the two flange sizes. I select the Visibility Parameter on the Authoring Palettes and place it to one side of the flanges as seen below. I am going to move it later after the setup is complete.

Next, I go to the ribbon and select Visibility States option, which will open a new window where I can create the two sizes as shown below. I rename the first to 80NB and add a new one for the 100NB leaving the settings as is and click OK.

Now on the same visibility tab of the Ribbon, I make sure the 80NB is selected. Currently, everything is visible in the drawing area. Above the selection drop down there are three buttons.

The first button “Visibility Mode” enables or disables the visibility of all items. The second “Make Visible” is for selecting everything I want to make visible and the third “Make Invisible” is for selecting everything that I want to make invisible.

As everything is visible at the moment I will be using the third button to make the 100NB flange invisible under the 80NB selection. I click the button and select everything on the 100NB Flange Sketch.

When I press enter the 100NB flange disappears, leaving only the 80NB flange visible. I click on the first option “Visibility Mode” which allows me to still see the 100NB Flange but it appears darker than the 80NB Flange.

I can make anything visible again by selecting the second button and selecting the components that are dimmed out. Now I change the selection drop down on the ribbon to the 100NB selection and follow the same procedure as before but instead of selecting the 100NB sketch parts I select the 80NB sketch parts.

Now all I need to do is reposition the sketches and Visibility parameter at the block base point which us also the origin. For some reason, in the Block Editor, the move to @0,0,0 will not work so I always draw a line starting at 0,0,0 and then move my sketch to that point on the line and then delete that line.

I position the two sketches over each other at the origin of the block and move the Visibility Parameter to look something like the image shown below (Visibility Mode Enabled). I then select Close Block Editor option on the Ribbon and save the block.

My first dynamic block is complete. Now when I select my Flange_front block there is a square grip in the middle of the flange for moving the block around which is also the base point of the block. There is also an arrow drop down grip on its side for choosing the size of the flange. When I pick a size the block switches between the two sketches of my flange.

Making “Nested” dynamic blocks:

Now I do the same for all the other blocks, adding the Visibility Parameter to all of them and moving them over each other and to the Origin or Basepoint so I can change between the sizes and have a grip at a good place to easily move my blocks. Pay attention to the positions I placed the grips in the image below, the square grip is the Basepoint of the blocks and the down-pointing grip is the size drop down.

After adding the base point and visibility parameter I can start adding the other Parameters that will be needed to make this a basic dynamic pipe routing system.

Dynamic Blocks can be added to other dynamic blocks. We can add the two flange blocks together to create another dynamic block to select between the front and side view of the flange. The only drawback to this is if we want to change sizes then we will have to insert the block, select the view that we want, then explode it and then we can access the size (Only one visibility Parameter per block).

But if I go this route I could add all the different parts of a pipe specification into one block, insert it and select the component (Pipe, Tee, etc.) explode and select the view (Front, Side, etc.), explode and select the size and then place it at its desired place on the drawing so I only have to have the master dynamic block in my drawing and I will have my whole specification at hand.

Personally, I would prefer having the different pipe fittings & parts separate from each other and just choosing between the views, exploding and then choosing the size.

Any blocks can also be added to the Tool Palettes as well. All that is needed is a template drawing with all of the blocks in it saved to a folder that will not change and a drawing name that will not change.

Adding more parameters to Block:

For this next part, I am only going to work with the last 4 side view blocks. The front view flange block will not be used further in this exercise.

I open the Flange_Side dynamic block in the block editor. I am now going to make it rotate. To do this I click on the Visibility Mode button on the ribbon till I can see both of the side flanges over each other one dimmed out a bit. I need to set up the rotation for both sizes and make the Rotate grip visible for both.

Now I select the Rotate Parameter in the Authoring Palettes, I click on the midpoint of the front of the flange then I move out a bit and click again. Then I need to move the mouse cursor around the flange till it shows 360 degree rotation then click again. Now it should look something like the image shown below.

Notice the yellow exclamation box on the Rotation Parameter. This is because this Parameter requires an Action to go with it. Switch to the action tab on the Block Authoring Palettes, as shown in the image below.

I select the Rotate Action from the Actions tab of the Block Authoring Palettes. It prompts me to select the Parameter so I select the Rotation Parameter I just created. Then it will prompt to select all the items that we want to rotate. I select everything except the visibility Parameter and press enter. Remember that I need to see both flanges, both need to rotate, but not the Visibility Parameter, I want that to stay where it is.

Next step is to make sure that the Rotate grip is visible on both flanges. I am currently on the 80NB Flange so I change to the 100NB and use the Make Visible button and select the Rotation Parameter and the round grip and press enter to enable visibility for the rotation grip in the 100NB selection.

There is a Test Block Button on the ribbon as shown above that allows testing the Block in a new drawing window without closing the block editor. After testing the block you can close Test window and save the block, the final block should look like the image shown below.

I did same for the Pipe, Tee and 90-Elbow Blocks, to make them all rotate as shown in the image below.

Adding actions to the Block:

Now there is only one final step left to do before I can start assembling my dynamic pipeline using the parts I created. I open the Pipe Block in the block editor. On the Block Authoring Palette I go back to the Parameter tab and select the Linear Parameter.

Then with both of the pipe sizes visible I select the one endpoint of the top line and then the other endpoint of the top line of the 100NB Pipe sketch and move the mouse cursor up, like placing a dimension.

Then I go back to the Action tab on the Authoring Palettes and select the Stretch Action. It will prompt to select the parameter which I want to use, I select the Linear Parameter. Then it will prompt to select one of the two arrows on the Linear Parameter to indicate which direction I want to stretch in.

I choose the left one to keep the origin or basepoint at the end of the pipe sketch. After that, I need to select the object that needs to be stretched, similar to a normal stretch. Click below left of the bottom line of sketch and draw a box over all the left end points of my two pipe sketches just like the stretch command, so it looks like the image shown below.

You will notice that there is still an exclamation mark at the right arrow of the Linear Parameter. This is only because I can set up two stretch actions for one Linear Parameter if I want. For my purposes one is good. Remember to enable visibility on the linear stretch grip on both sides of the pipe so as to keep grips visible when we change the sizes of the pipe.

The Action function is represented by the small blue squares with a picture of its action. I will have to right click the rotation action to change my selection to include the Linear Parameter and stretch action so it will rotate with the sketch.

I just want to add a word of caution here, if you rotate or mirror a dynamic block with the normal commands it will make a mess of the dynamic features you added.

That’s it! My basic Dynamic 2D Pipe block is complete.

I can rotate all the components. I can change the size from 80NB to 100NB with minor position adjustments at the elbow that could be made easier by adding additional control points. I can stretch the pipe length to any length I want.

This is only the basics of what can be accomplished with dynamic blocks. The list of actions and parameters is long and they can be combined to form even more complex 2D blocks for use in AutoCAD.

3D dynamic Block:

Some of the parameters can also be used on 3D objects, but remember that a block is a 2D thing so you need to create the block in the correct view to perform the action you want on a 3D object.

If you create a block from a 3D object you need to be in one of the 2D views, Top, Left, Front, etc. and if you open the 3D block in the block editor you will only have that view you created to work with.

Autocad Block Editor

You can’t stretch a 3D object the same way you stretch a 2D object, so the Stretch action will not work. I have a 3D Manway/Access lid which I turned into a Dynamic Block to make the lid open and close.

I had to create the block in the left view and added the Rotation Parameter so the lid could open and close from the hinge. After it was created I could open and close the lid in 3D.

I think this is not something Autodesk envisioned when they added the Dynamic Block feature, but it is kind of cool to be able to do something like this in AutoCAD. It could be used for anything you want to rotate or any part you want to make visible or invisible.

I could just as easily have added a drop down to show the manway with the lid or without the lid or to remove the safety grating covering the hole.

Conclusion:

I hope this will be of use to someone. It is something I learned in the beginning of my dealings with AutoCAD and it is one of the things I use every time I create a drawing in AutoCAD and something I almost miss in the Inventor drawing environment.

Do you have questions related to this article? Let us know in the comments below. This is a guest post, you can share your articles as well.

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The Block Editor contains a special authoring area in which you can draw and edit geometry as you would in the drawing area.

You use the Block Editor to define the objects and behavior for a block definition. In the Block Editor, you add parameters and actions, which define custom properties and dynamic behavior.

The following commands are used for editing blocks and are available only in the Block Editor:

  • BACTION
  • BACTIONBAR
  • BACTIONSET
  • BACTIONTOOL
  • BASSOCIATE
  • BATTORDER
  • BAUTHORPALETTE
  • BAUTHORPALETTECLOSE
  • BCLOSE
  • BCPARAMETER (not in AutoCAD LT)
  • BCYCLEORDER
  • BCONSTRUCTION
  • BGRIPSET
  • BLOOKUPTABLE
  • BPARAMETER
  • BSAVE
  • BSAVEAS
  • BTABLE
  • BTESTBLOCK
  • BVHIDE
  • BVSHOW
  • BVSTATE

When the BLOCKEDITLOCK system variable is set to 1, the Block Editor cannot be opened.

The Block Editor also provides a Block Editor toolbar and Block Authoring palettes that contain tools for creating dynamic blocks. The Block Authoring Palettes window contains the following tabs:

  • Parameters tab
  • Actions tab
  • Parameter Sets tab
  • Constraints tab (not in AutoCAD LT

Block Editor Toolbar

Provides tools for working in the Block Editor, creating dynamic blocks, and working with visibility states.

The Block Editor toolbar is displayed when the ribbon is not active. It is also displayed only when you enter the Block Editor with the ribbon closed.

The AutoCAD LT Toolbar

Edit or Create Block Definition

Displays the Edit Block Definition dialog box.

Save Block Definition
Save Block As
Name

Displays the name of the current block definition.

Test Block (BTESTBLOCK)
Automatically Constrain Objects (AUTOCONSTRAIN) - Not available in AutoCAD LT
Apply Geometric Constraint (GEOMCONSTRAINT) - Not available in AutoCAD LT
Display / Hide Constraints Bar (CONSTRAINTBAR)
Parameter Constraint (BCPARAMETER) - Not available in AutoCAD LT
Block Table (BTABLE) - Not available in AutoCAD LT
Parameter (BPARAMETER)
Action (BACTION)
Define Attribute (Attribute Definition Dialog Box)
Authoring Palettes (BAUTHORPALETTE)
Parameters Manager (PARAMETERS)
Close Block Editor (BCLOSE)
Visibility Mode ( BVMODE)
Make Visible (BVSHOW)
Make Invisible (BVHIDE)
Manage Visibility States (Visibility States Dialog Box)
Visibility State

Specifies the current visibility state displayed in the Block Editor.

Parameters Tab (Block Authoring Palettes Window)

Kazaki game download besplatno. Provides tools for adding parameters to a dynamic block definition in the Block Editor. Parameters specify positions, distances, and angles for geometry in the block reference. When you add a parameter to a dynamic block definition, it defines one or more custom properties for the block.

Point Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a point parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines custom X and Y properties for the block reference. A point parameter defines an X and Y location in the drawing. In the Block Editor, a point parameter looks similar to an ordinate dimension.

Linear Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a linear parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines a custom distance property for the block reference. A linear parameter shows the distance between two anchor points. A linear parameter constrains grip movement along a preset angle. In the Block Editor, a linear parameter looks similar to an aligned dimension.

Polar Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a polar parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines custom distance and angle properties for the block reference. A polar parameter shows the distance between two anchor points and displays an angle value. You can use both grips and the Properties palette to change both the distance value and the angle. In the Block Editor, a polar parameter looks similar to an aligned dimension.

XY Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds an XY parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines custom horizontal and vertical distance properties for the block reference. An XY parameter shows the X and Y distances from the base point of the parameter. In the Block Editor, an XY parameter displays as a pair of dimensions (horizontal and vertical). These dimensions share a common base point.

Rotation Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a rotation parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines a custom angle property for the block reference. A rotation parameter defines an angle. In the Block Editor, a rotation parameter displays as a circle.

Alignment Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds an alignment parameter to the dynamic block definition. An alignment parameter defines an X and Y location and an angle. An alignment parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. An alignment parameter allows the block reference to automatically rotate around a point to align with other objects in the drawing. An alignment parameter affects the angle property of the block reference. In the Block Editor, an alignment parameter looks like an alignment line.

Flip Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a flip parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines a custom flip property for the block reference. A flip parameter flips objects. In the Block Editor, a flip parameter displays as a reflection line. Objects can be flipped about this reflection line. A flip parameter displays a value that shows if the block reference has been flipped or not.

Visibility Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a visibility parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines a custom visibility property for the block reference. With visibility parameter, you can create visibility states and control the visibility of objects in the block. A visibility parameter always applies to the entire block and needs no action associated with it. In a drawing, you click the grip to display a list of visibility states available for the block reference. In the Block Editor, a visibility parameter displays as text with an associated grip.

Lookup Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a lookup parameter to the dynamic block definition and defines custom lookup properties for the block reference. A lookup parameter defines a custom property that you can specify or set to evaluate to a value from a list or table you define. It can be associated with a single lookup grip. In the block reference, you click the grip to display a list of available values. In the Block Editor, a lookup parameter displays as text.

Base Point Parameter (BPARAMETER)

Adds a base point parameter to the dynamic block definition. A base point parameter defines a base point for the dynamic block reference relative to the geometry in the block. A base point parameter cannot be associated with any actions, but can belong to an action's selection set. In the Block Editor, a base point parameter displays as a circle with crosshairs

Actions Tab (Block Authoring Palettes Window)

Provides tools for adding actions to a dynamic block definition in the Block Editor. Actions define how the geometry of a dynamic block reference move or change when the custom properties of a block reference are manipulated in a drawing. You associate actions with parameters.

Move Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds a move action to the dynamic block definition when you associate the action with a point, linear, polar, or XY parameter. A move action is similar to the MOVE command. In a dynamic block reference, a move action causes objects to move a specified distance and angle.

Scale Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds a scale action to the dynamic block definition when you associate the action with a linear, polar, or XY parameter. A scale action is similar to the SCALE command. In a dynamic block reference, a scale action causes its selection set to scale when the associated parameter is edited by moving grips or by using the Properties palette.

Stretch Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds a stretch action to the dynamic block definition when you associate the action with a point, linear, polar, or XY parameter. A stretch action causes objects to move and stretch a specified distance in a specified location.

Polar Stretch Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds a polar stretch action to the dynamic block definition when you associate the action with a polar parameter. A polar stretch action rotates, moves, and stretches objects a specified angle and distance when the key point on the associated polar parameter is changed through a grip or the Properties palette

Rotate Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds a rotate action to the dynamic block definition when you associate the action with a rotation parameter. A rotate action is similar to the ROTATE command. In a dynamic block reference, a rotate action causes its associated objects to rotate when the associated parameter is edited through a grip or the Properties palette.

Flip Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds a flip action to the dynamic block definition when you associate the action with a flip parameter. With a flip action you can flip a dynamic block reference about a specified axis called a reflection line.

Array Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds an array action to the dynamic block definition when you associate the action with a linear, polar, or XY parameter. An array action causes its associated objects to copy and array in a rectangular pattern when the associated parameter is edited through a grip or the Properties palette.

Lookup Action (BACTIONTOOL)

Adds a lookup action to the dynamic block definition. When you add a lookup action to a dynamic block definition and associate it with a lookup parameter, it creates a lookup table. You can use a lookup table to assign custom properties and values to a dynamic block.

Parameter Sets Tab (Block Authoring Palettes Window)

Provides tools for adding a parameter and at least one action at the same time to a dynamic block definition in the Block Editor. When you add a parameter set to a dynamic block, the actions are automatically associated with the parameter. After you add a parameter set to a dynamic block, you double-click the yellow alert icon (or use the BACTIONSET command) and follow the Command prompts to associate the action with a selection set of geometry.

Point Move

Automatically adds a move action associated with the point parameter.

Linear Move

Automatically adds a move action associated with the endpoint of the linear parameter.

Linear Stretch

Automatically adds a stretch action associated with the linear parameter.

Linear Array

Automatically adds an array action associated with the linear parameter.

Linear Move Pair

Automatically adds a two move action, one associated with the base point and one associated with the endpoint of the linear parameter.

Linear Stretch Pair

Automatically adds two stretch actions, one associated with the base point and one associated with the endpoint of the linear parameter.

Polar Move

Automatically adds a move action associated with the polar parameter.

Polar Stretch

Automatically adds a stretch action associated with the polar parameter.

Polar Array

Automatically adds an array action associated with the polar parameter.

Polar Move Pair

Automatically adds two move actions, one associated with the base point and one associated with the endpoint of the polar parameter.

Polar Stretch Pair

Automatically adds two stretch actions, one associated with the base point and one associated with the endpoint of the polar parameter.

XY Move

Automatically adds a move action associated with the endpoint of the XY parameter.

XY Move Pair

Automatically adds two move actions, one associated with the base point and one associated with the endpoint of the XY parameter.

XY Move Box Set

Automatically adds four move actions, one associated with each key point on the XY parameter.

XY Stretch Box Set

Automatically adds four stretch actions, one associated with each key point on the XY parameter.

XY Array Box Set

Automatically adds an array action associated with the XY parameter.

Rotation Set

Automatically adds a rotation action associated with the rotation parameter.

Flip Set

Automatically adds a flip action associated with the flip parameter.

Visibility Set

Adds a visibility parameter to the dynamic block definition and allows visibility states to be defined. No action is necessary with the visibility parameter.

Lookup Set

Automatically adds a lookup action associated with the lookup parameter.

Constraints Tab (Block Authoring Palettes Window) - Not available in AutoCAD LT

Provides tools for applying geometric constraints and constraint parameters to objects. When you apply geometric constraint to a pair of objects, the order in which the objects are selected and the point on which each object is selected can affect how the objects are positioned relative to each other.

Geometric Constraints

Coincident Constraint (GCCOINCIDENT)
Perpendicular Constraint (GCPERPENDICULAR)
Parallel Constraint (GCPARALLEL)
Tangent Constraint (GCTANGENT)
Horizontal Constraint (GCHORIZONTAL)
Vertical Constraint (GCVERTICAL)
Colinear Constraint (GCCOLLINEAR)
Concentric Constraint (GCCONCENTRIC)
Smooth Constraint (GCSMOOTH)
Symmetric Constraint (GCSYMMETRIC)
Equal Constraint (GCEQUAL)
Fix Constraint (GCFIX)

Constraint Parameters

Aligned Constraint (BCPARAMETER)

Constrains the length of a line or the distance between two lines, a point on an object and a line, or two points on different objects.

Horizontal Constraint (BCPARAMETER)

Constrains the X distance of a line or between two points on different objects. Valid objects include lines and polyline segments.

Vertical Constraint (BCPARAMETER)

Constrains the Y distance of a line or between two points on different objects. Valid objects include lines and polyline segments.

Autocad Block Editor Background Color

Angular Constraint (BCPARAMETER)

Constrains the angle between two lines or polyline segments. It is similar to an angular dimension.

Radial Constraint (BCPARAMETER)

Autocad Block Editor Won't Close

Constrains the radius of a circle, arc, or polyarc segment.

Diameter Constraint (BCPARAMETER)

Autocad Block Editor Parameters

Constrains the diameter of a circle, arc, or polyarc segment.

Autocad Block Editor Disabled

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