-INSERT (Command)

Inserts a block or drawing into the current drawing.

The following prompts are displayed.

Block Name

Specifies the name of the block to insert.

Note: Grouped objects in an inserted drawing are inserted as unnamed groups. In AutoCAD, you can list unnamed groups by selecting Unnamed Groups in the Object Grouping dialog box. In AutoCAD LT, you can list unnamed groups by selecting Include Unnamed Groups in the Group Manager.

Enter a tilde (~) to display the Select Drawing File dialog box (a standard file selection dialog box).

You can control block insertion behavior using the following methods:

• Inserting exploded blocks: Preceding the name of the block with an asterisk (*) explodes the block and inserts the individual parts of it. The block definition is not added to the drawing.
• Updating a block path: If you enter a block name without a path name, INSERT searches the current drawing data for an existing block definition by that name. You can replace an existing block definition with an external file by entering block name=file name.
• Updating a Block Definition: If you make changes to a block file that is inserted in your drawing and you want to change the existing block definition without creating a new block insertion, enter the following at the Insertion Point prompt (following the Block Name prompt):

  block name=

  If you enter = after the block name, the following prompt is displayed:

Block "current" already exists. Redefine it?

Specify Yes or No.

If you choose to redefine the block, the existing block definition is replaced with the new block definition. The drawing is regenerated, and the new definition is applied to all existing insertions of the block definition. Press Esc when prompted for the insertion point if you do not want to insert a new block into the drawing.

?—List Block Names

Lists the blocks currently defined in the drawing.

Insertion Point

Specifies a location for the block or drawing.

Scale Factor

All X and Y dimensions of the block or drawing are multiplied by the X and Y scale factors. The block or drawing is rotated by the specified angle, using the insertion point as the center of rotation.

Corner

Defines the X and Y scale factors at the same time, using the insertion point and another point as the corners of a box. The X and Y dimensions of the box become the X and Y scale factors. The insertion point is the first corner.

XYZ

Sets X, Y, and Z scale factors.

• X Scale Factor: Defines X, Y, and Z scale factors for the block or drawing.
• Corner: Defines the X and Y scales at the same time, using the insertion point and another point as the corners of a box, and then defines the Z scale.

Basepoint

Temporarily drops the block in the drawing where it is currently positioned and allows you to specify a new base point for the block reference as it is dragged into position. This does not affect the actual base point defined for the block reference.

Scale

Sets the scale factor for the X, Y, and Z axes. The scale for the Z axis is the absolute value of the specified scale factor.

X

Sets the X scale factor.

Y

Sets the Y scale factor.

Z

Sets the Z scale factor.

Rotate

Sets the angle of insertion for the block.

Explode

Explodes the selected block when inserted.

Repeat

Repeats the block insertion until canceled.

Geographic

Sets the geographic location of the attached file as reference.