Symbols

Insert symbols and details into your drawings from commercial online sources or from your own designs.

Some Basic Definitions

In AutoCAD, symbols and details that you insert into drawings are called blocks. A block is a collection of geometric and text objects plus other data that are combined into a single named object. The following are some examples of a variety of blocks at different scales.

There are four things involved for inserting blocks in a drawing.

For example, the following drawing contains only four block definitions: Cubicle, Chair, Table, and Plant. There are three block references to Cubicle, twelve block references to Chair, two block references to Table, and two block references to Plant.

Considering this example, what are the advantages of inserting the chair as a block reference 12 times rather than creating 12 copies of a geometry of the chair?

Note: The commonly used term, block, can refer loosely to either a block definition, a block reference, or both depending on the context.

Insert Blocks into a Drawing

Typically, you insert a block into the current drawing from one of these sources:

Once you insert a block, you can easily move, copy, rotate or scale it as a single unit.

Use a Block Insertion Tool

To get started with the Blocks palette, follow these steps:

  1. Click Insert from the Home tab and click Blocks from Libraries. This starts the BLOCKSPALETTE command.
  2. This action opens the Blocks palette to the Libraries tab.
    Note: The first time Blocks from Libraries is clicked, a file selection dialog box opens where you can select an initial block library drawing.
  3. Click the Browse button to display a folder or file selection dialog box.
  4. Navigate to the DesignCenter folder where a variety of sample drawings are stored.

    Each drawing in the DesignCenter folder contains a set of related block definitions.

  5. Select a drawing file that interests you.

    For example, let's say you create drawings for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Select the HVAC drawing and then click Open.

  6. From the Blocks palette, Libraries tab, click and place several of the blocks.

    This action copies the selected block definition from the block library drawing into your current drawing and inserts a block reference. Inserting additional block references will now be much faster. To specify a different drawing file, use the Browse control as before.

  7. To choose a different library drawing from the DesignCenter folder, make sure that the Libraries tab is current (1) and click the file navigation button (2).
    Note: You can also navigate directly to a drawing file to insert as a block.
  8. Experiment with the other controls. For example, try changing the preview control.
Tip: The default options at the bottom of the Blocks palette are usually acceptable, but you can experiment with them to see what options you might want to use.

Notice that the next time you click Insert on the ribbon, the gallery displays all of the block definitions stored in the current drawing. You can quickly click and place these blocks from the gallery into your drawing.

Also, familiarize yourself with the Blocks palette tabs.
  • The Current Drawing tab displays all of the block definitions in the current drawing only.
  • The Recent tab displays the block definitions that you've recently inserted or created in the current and previous sessions. These blocks can come from various drawings.
  • The Favorites tab displays blocks you've copied to this tab. To copy a block to the Favorites tab, right-click a block on one of the other tabs and select Copy to Favorites.

Create a Drawing for Use as a Block

Often, individual drawing files are created to be used as blocks and saved in a folder with similar drawing files. This method is an alternative to accessing the block definitions stored in a single drawing.

Note: You can store your block drawings on cloud storage so that you have access to them across devices.

When you create a drawing file for use as a block, make sure that you locate an object at the origin point (0,0). This will serve as the default base point of the block. Later, when you insert the block, it is attached to your cursor at the base point.

In the following example, a drawing file is inserted into the current drawing to provide a standard detail view.

Custom title blocks and drawing borders are also created as drawing files that can be inserted later or included in drawing template files.

Tip: When you save drawings for later insertion, navigate to a folder, right-click, and create several folders to organize the drawings. You can drag one or more of them into your Places bar for easier access in the future.

Manage Block Definitions and Data in a Drawing (Optional)

You can create, remove, and modify block definitions directly in the current drawing for special circumstances.

Tip: Block definitions can also include objects called block attributes that can store information such as part number, vendor name, and cost. You can extract and export block attribute data to a table, schedule, or external file. Some blocks called dynamic blocks can change their appearance dynamically depending on the associated data, location, or options chosen.

Summary of Suggestions and Recommendations

Several different methods are commonly used for saving and organizing block definitions.

Tip: With online access, you can download AutoCAD drawing files from the web sites of commercial vendors and suppliers. This option can save you a significant amount of time, but always check to make sure that these drawings are drawn correctly and to scale.