2012

Control the Color and Linetype Properties in
Blocks
The objects in an inserted block can retain their original properties, can inherit
properties from the layer on which they are inserted, or can inherit the
properties set as current in the drawing.
Assign Color and Linetype Properties
Generally when you insert a block, the color, linetype, and lineweight of
objects in the block retain their original settings regardless of the current
settings in the drawing. However, you can create blocks with objects that
inherit the current color, linetype, and lineweight settings. These objects have
floating properties.
You have three choices for how the color, linetype, and lineweight properties
of objects are treated when a block reference is inserted.
 Objects in the block do not inherit color, linetype, and lineweight
properties from the current settings. The properties of objects in the block
do not change regardless of the current settings.
For this choice, it is recommended that you set the color, linetype, and
lineweight properties individually for each object in the block definition:
do not use BYBLOCK or BYLAYER color, linetype, and lineweight settings
when creating these objects.
 Objects in the block inherit color, linetype, and lineweight properties from
the color, linetype, and lineweight assigned to the current layer only.
For this choice, before you create objects to be included in the block
definition, set the current layer to 0, and set the current color, linetype,
and lineweight to BYLAYER.
 Objects inherit color, linetype, and lineweight properties from the current
color, linetype, and lineweight that you have set explicitly, that is, that
you have set to override the color, linetype, or lineweight assigned to the
current layer. If you have not explicitly set them, then these properties are
inherited from the color, linetype, and lineweight assigned to the current
layer.
336 | Chapter 7 Define and Reference Blocks