QCad User Reference Manual

13. Blocks

Blocks are named groups of entities which can be inserted into a drawing multiple times with different attributes at different locations. Such an inserted instance of a block is called an Insert.

Figure 17: Block list.

13.1. Changing the Visibility of a Block

Double-click on a block in the block list to toggle its visibility. Alternatively, you can right-click on it and choose "Toggle Visibility" from the context menu (Figure 18).

Figure 18: Context menu of the block list.

13.2. Changing the Visibility of all Blocks

Toolbar (Block List):

Menu:

Block - Show All
Block - Hide All

Description:

The two buttons shown above can be used to show (defreeze) or hide (freeze) all blocks at once. The same function is also available from the context menu.

13.3. Adding New Blocks

Toolbar (Block List):

Menu:

Block - Add Block

Description:

This command creates a new empty block. The block dialog is shown where you can specify the name for the new block (Figure 19). If you want to create a block from existing entities, please use the "Create Block" command instead.

Figure 19: Dialog for creating new blocks.

13.4. Removing Blocks

Toolbar (Block List):

Menu:

Block - Remove Block

Description:

Removes the active block. Please note that this action cannot be undone. The block and all inserts of the block will be deleted.

13.5. Renaming Blocks

Toolbar (Block List):

Menu:

Block - Rename Block

Description:

Renames the active block. The same dialog is presented as for creating new blocks (Figure 19). Please note that this action cannot be automatically undone. The block and all inserts of the block will be renamed.

13.6. Editing Blocks

Toolbar (Block List):

Menu:

Block - Edit Block

Description:

This command opens the active block in a new document window where it can be modified just like any other drawing. To update the inserts that exist inside your drawing, simply activate the drawing window either by using the Windows menu or by clicking in it.

13.7. Inserting Blocks

Toolbar (Block List):

Menu:

Block - Insert Block

Command:

Options Toolbar:

Description:

Inserts the active block into the drawing.

Procedure:

Choose the block you want to insert from the list.
Click the insert button or choose 'Insert Block' from the menu.
Enter the rotation angle and scaling factor for the insert in the options toolbar.
To create an array of inserts, enter the number of columns and rows in the options toolbar and specify the column and row spacing.

13.8. Creating Blocks from Existing Entities

Toolbar:

Menu:

Block - Create Block

Description:

Creates a new block from existing entities.

Procedure:

Select the entities you want to use for the block.
Click the right arrow button in the CAD toolbar to continue.
Set the reference point of the block using the mouse or enter a coordinate in the command line.
Enter a name for the new block in the dialog that is shown (Figure 19) and click OK.

The block is now added to the block list and instances of it can be inserted into the drawing. The entities you have selected in step 1 are removed and replaced by an instance of the block. If you don't want that you can use the 'undo' function to delete that insert. To restore the original entities, use 'undo' again. Note that the undo / redo functions have no influence on the blocks themselves. Once a block is created it will not be removed again when using undo.