Understanding the Block Definition Dialog Box

Understanding the Block Definition Dialog Box
The Block Definition dialog box offers several options that can help make using blocks easier. If
you’re interested in these options, take a moment to review the Block Definition dialog box as you
read the descriptions of the options. If you prefer, you can continue with the tutorial and come back
to this section later.
You’ve already seen how the Name option lets you enter a name for your block. AutoCAD
doesn’t let you complete the block creation until you enter a name.
You’ve also seen how to select a base point for your block. The base point is like the grip of the
block: It’s the reference point you use when you insert the block back into the drawing. In the exercise,
you used the Pick Point option to indicate a base point, but you also have the option to enter
X, Y, and Z coordinates just below the Pick Point option. In most cases, however, you’ll want to use
the Pick Point option to indicate a base point that is on or near the set of objects you’re converting
to a block.
The Objects group of the Block Definition dialog box lets you select the objects that make up
the block. You use the Select Objects button to visually select the objects you want to include in the block you’re creating. The QuickSelect button to the right of the Select Objects button lets you filter
out objects based on their properties. You’ll learn more about QuickSelect in Chapter 15. Once you
select a set of objects for your block, you’ll see a thumbnail preview of the block’s contents in the
upper-right corner of the Block Definition dialog box.
Other options in the Objects group and Settings group let you specify what to do with the objects
you’re selecting for your block. Table 4.1 shows a list of those other options and what they mean: