Chapter 29: Wblocks and External References

Overview

Blocks are useful when shapes/objects are required for repetitive insertion in a drawing, but they are drawing specific, i.e. they can only be used within the drawing in which they were created (for now).
There are, however, blocks which can be created and accessed by all AutoCAD users, i.e. they are global.
These are called WBLOCKS (write blocks) and they are created in a similar manner to 'ordinary' blocks.
Wblocks are stored and recalled from a 'named folder/directory' which we will assume to C:\MYCAD.

The wblock we will create is a parts list table which can be inserted into any drawing if required, so open your A3PAPER standard sheet with layer TEXT current.

Refer to Figure 29.1 and menu bar with Draw-Table and:

prompt	Insert Table dialogue box
respond	at Table Style Name, pick . . .
prompt	Table Style dialogue box
respond	pick New
prompt	Create New Table Style dialogue box
respond	New Style Name: enter PARTS LIST pick Continue
prompt	New Table Style: PARTS LIST dialogue box
respond	activate the named tabs and enter/alter as follows:
	Title tab Cell Properties Include Title row active Text style: scroll and pick ST3 Text height: 6 Alignment: Middle Center Border Properties: leave as given General: Table direction: UP Cell margins: leave as given. Column heads tab Cell Properties Include Header row active Text style: scroll and pick ST2 Text height: 5 Alignment: Middle Center Border Properties: leave as given General: Table direction: UP Cell margins:...

< Previous Excerpt Next Excerpt >

Purchase This Book