2012

Create a New Drawing File
You have two methods for creating drawing files:
■ Create and save a complete drawing file using SAVE or SAVEAS.
■ Create and save only selected objects from your current drawing to a new
drawing using EXPORT or WBLOCK.
With either method, you create an ordinary drawing file that can be inserted
as a block into any other drawing file. Using WBLOCK is recommended when
you need to create several versions of a symbol as separate drawing files, or
when you want to create a drawing file without leaving the current drawing.
Change the Base Point of Drawings to Be Used as Blocks
By default, the WCS (world coordinate system) origin (0,0,0) is used as the
base point for drawing files inserted as blocks. You can change the base point
by opening the original drawing and using BASE to specify a different base
point for insertion. The next time you insert the block, the new base point is
used.
Update Changes in the Original Drawing
If you change the original drawing after inserting it, the changes have no
effect on the current drawing. If you expect the original drawing to change,
and you want the changes to be reflected in the current drawing, you may
want to attach it as an external reference instead of inserting it as a block. For
more information about external references, see
Reference Other Drawing
Files
on page 1279.
Use Paper Space Objects in Blocks
Objects in paper space are not included when you insert a drawing as a block.
To transfer paper space objects to another drawing, make the objects into a
block or save them in a separate drawing file, and then insert the block or
drawing file into the other drawing.
To create a new drawing file from selected objects
1 Open an existing drawing or create a new drawing.
2 At the Command prompt, enter wblock.
3 In the Write Block dialog box, select Objects.
768 | Chapter 21 Create and Modify Blocks