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Quickly Create an Anonymous Block in AutoCAD
Tip# 4042 By Leonid Nemirovsky On 07-Jan-2013
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Categories : Blocks General
Software type : AutoCAD 2013
Rename File To : No Files to download.
Making a block can be an easy task.

Frequent tipster Leonid Nemirovsky shares a trick that gives us a quick way to create blocks in AutoCAD out of selected linework.

"First select the objects you want to be a block using Control+C. Then, once the objects are selected, place the anonymous block by pressing Control+Shift+V. Now every time you use Control+Shift+V the same block will appear where the crosshair is, ready to be placed into your drawing."

Notes from Cadalyst Tip Reviewer Brian Benton: This is a very useful trick. Making a block can be cumbersome at times. But if all of the linework is there, it is very easy to do. Without any command active, select the objects you want to be in the block. Press Control+C to copy the objects to the Windows clipboard. Instead of the normal paste procedure, press Control+Shift+V. This will paste the objects in the clipboard as a block. It will assign the block a name that is made up of an odd arrangement of letters and numbers. If you want to keep using that block, use the Rename command to change the name to something more memorable.
 

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User comments
Comment by Fisher,R
Posted on 2013-01-08 10:31:12
After you select the objects for your block, Press Shift+Control+C (or COPYBASE) and it will ask for a base point. You then select the point on which to index the block, like the center of a circle, corner of a rectangle, or even center of a rectangle if you plan ahead. Then each time you insert the block, it will have a designated point rather than an arbitrary insertion point.
Comment by nemirovsky,len
Posted on 2013-01-08 13:10:03
Well it is through, but NOT EXACTLY THE SAME. In your case you gain base point but it is NOT A BLOCK . You inserting same objects (separate) but not a block. :)
Comment by Figueras,Richard
Posted on 2013-01-09 07:54:13
I've used cut & paste for years to create fast blocks for information management - it's great for being able to control parts in assembly views. My empirical investigations show that the inserttion point is not really random - it is at the bottom left limits of the group of selected objects. (note that I am a 2D user, so I can't verify this for 3D application) There is also a "paste as block" icon available for customizing menus.
Comment by Demer,Mac
Posted on 2013-01-10 01:24:57
Great tip, I tried it using control+c and shift+control+c, it makes a block either way. I use copybase all the time to get stuff from drawing to drawing, but this is a neat trick to make blocks real fast
Comment by nemirovsky,len
Posted on 2013-01-10 11:26:31
I forgot to mention that trick works between open files. :)