2004

Create and Insert Symbols (Blocks) | 323
Command line WBLOCK
To create a new drawing file from an existing block definition
1 From the Modify menu, choose Object ➤ Block Description.
2 In the Block Definition dialog box, in the Name box, select the block to
modify.
3 In the Name box, enter a new name.
4 In the Description box, enter or modify the description for the new draw-
ing file.
5 Choose OK.
Command line
BLOCK
Control the Color and Linetype Properties in Blocks
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 proper-
ties 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 defi-
nition, 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.