Part 9

10.0 Additional Commands 10.1 GROUP This command creates a named selection set of objects. Group command can be invoked by typing GROUP at the command prompt. This displays the object grouping dialog box. Command: GROUP Select objects for grouping: Select objects: Use one of the object selection methods Select objects: 

10.2 BLOCK Draw ► Block ► Make… Sometimes you may require an object or a group of objects at various places in your drawing. For example, a mechanical component may need the same symbol (nuts, bolts) at different drawing locations. AutoCAD provides you with a powerful tool to handle such issues which name as BLOCK. Block is a collection of objects that you can associate together to form a single object. You can insert, scale, and rotate a block in a drawing. You can explode a block into its component objects, modify them, and redefine the block. When you invoke the block command Block Definition dialog box will appear.

Retain – Retains the parent object without converting to block Convert to Block – Retains parent object and also converts into block Delete – Parent object are Deleted once the block is made

10.3 INSERT Insert ► Block… The blocks you have already defined could be inserted into the current drawing through insert command. Insert command displays the insert dialog box.

Attributes An attributes is a label or tag that attaches data to a block. Examples of data that might be contained in an attribute are part numbers, prices, comments and owner name.

10.4 ATTDEF Draw ► Block ► Define Attributes… An attribute definition dialog box specifies the properties of an attribute and prompts that are displayed when the block is inserted. The Attribute Definition dialog box appears as shown below.

Block with ATTRIBUTES defined Block with ATTRIBUTES inserted

10.5 ATTDISP View ► Display ► Attribute Display ► [Options] The visibility of attributes is controlled by ATTDISP command. Command: attdisp Enter attribute visibility setting [Normal/ON/OFF] : Enter an option

ON - Displays all the defined attributes OFF – Hides the display of all attributes defined in the current drawing NORMAL – This option sets back the visibility of attributes to their default condition as defined. i.e. attributes defined as visible remain visible while defined as invisible are made invisible

10.6 EATTEDIT Modify ► Object ► Attribute ► Single… Attributes in the current drawing can be edited using EATTEDIT command. EATTEDIT command lists the attributes in a selected block instance, and display the properties of each attribute. You can change the attribute properties and values. Command: eattedit Select a block: Select an attribute block

10.7 DESIGNCENTER Tools ► DesignCenter With DesignCenter you can •

Browse for drawing content such as drawings or symbol libraries on your computer

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View definition tables for named objects such as blocks or layers

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Update a block definition

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Create shortcuts to drawings, folders

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Add contents such as blocks and hatches to a drawing

10.8 Using a Layout Tab Choosing a layout tab places you into the paper environment. A rectangular outline (Shadow) indicates the paper size of the currently configured plotting device. The margins displayed within the paper indicate the printable area of the paper.

To create multiple layouts 1. On the layout tab, right-click to display the shortcut menu 2. From the shortcut menu. Choose New Layout 3. To rename a layout tab. Choose Rename from the shortcut menu

Using the Layout Wizard to Specify Layout Settings When you begin a new drawing session, you can have the option of specifying the layout environment using the Create Layout wizard. You can access this through Tools  Wizards  Create Layout… or Insert  Layout  Layout Wizard or by entering LAYOUTWIZARD at the command Prompt.

Using the Layout Wizard, you can •

Specify a plot device

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Indicate a paper size, based on the specified plotting device

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Specify the orientation of the drawing on the paper

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Select a title block to use for the layout

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Determine the viewport setup

10.9 Standard symbols used in Architectural drawings

10.10 Doors and Windows

10.11 Stair case details

10.12 Foundation details