2011

Table Of Contents
Swap blocks
The block swapper tool can operate in several different modes:
Swap Block: Exchanges one block for another, retaining the scale of the
old block, rotation, wire connections, attribute values, and attribute
positions (if Retain is selected). For example, use the tool to swap out a red
standard pilot light with a green one, or drawing-wide, swap out all
standard red pilot lights with red press-test pilot lights.
Update: Updates all instances of a given block with an updated version of
the same block. Again, all attribute values and wire connections are
retained. For example, an old AutoCAD Electrical project set must be used
on a new project but the client likes the limit switches drawn a bit
differently. Simply make client-specific versions of the limit switch symbols.
Then use the Update option; select any limit switch on the drawing, and
then reference the path to the new version of the symbol. AutoCAD
Electrical quickly replaces all instances of the symbol it finds on the
drawings with the new version of the same symbol. The Library mode
works the same way as the Update mode, but swaps out all the blocks on
the drawings.
When you swap or update a block there may be times when you want the
values of certain attributes mapped to different attribute names. For example,
you may be doing a Library Update and the library symbols you are swapping
out do not use standard AutoCAD Electrical attribute names. You want a quick
way to update the library symbols, but you do not want to lose information
held on the current attributes.
Update or change blocks in place
1 Click Schematic tab Edit Components panel Swap/Update Block.
2 Determine whether you want to exchange one block for another (Option
A) or update all instances of a given block with an updated version of the
same block (0ption B).
332 | Chapter 5 Symbol Libraries