AutoCad block redefinition trick

[randychase]

Just a reminder to myself since AutoCad changed the command.

INSERT will bring up the dialogue box so you can insert a separate BLOCK (DWG) into your drawing. Handy for a fab/assy drawing, you can just insert the translated pcb.

However, when it's updated, you need to redefine the inserted block.
-INSERT will allow the old command line to work.

The type in the name of the existing block followed by the equals sign, for example:
-INSERT
Enter block name or [ ? ]
AW=

Will replace the existing block I named AW with the new AW drawing.

[Colorado-PC-Dude]

Randy,

You might want to consider using an XREF (external reference) instead of a block. When you modify a drawing that has been referenced into another drawing, it updates the other drawing when you open it. If at some point you wish to combine the two drawings you can then either "bind" or "resolve" (can't remember which) the XREF and it becomes a block.

Ben

[randychase]

When you send a client a drawing that has an xrefed insertion in it, do you need to then bind it or send the xrefed drawing also? In other words, the XREF is like a link only?

[Jason Roetz]

Yes, an xref is just a link to another drawing.

If you bind the xref to the drawing, it gets converted into a block in the drawing. This breaks the link to the xref'd drawing.

Jason