Inserts a drawing or block into the current drawing.
The following prompts are displayed.
External File Path
Specifies the path and name of the external drawing file.
Block Name
Specifies the name of the block to insert.
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:
- 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.