AutoCAD 2004 Customization Tutorial: Handling
Blocks in Tool Palettes
By Alireza Parsai,
May 27, 2003
Tool Palettes extract block specifications from the various
drawing files. Any changes in files locations may cause
problems. You can solve this problem in various ways. You may
also specify the settings of the block at the time of insertion.
Note: This tutorial is based on
the results gained in the following tutorial:
► Creating a New Tool
Palette
1.
Start AutoCAD 2004. Enable Tool Palettes window if necessary.
2.
Start a new drawing file if necessary.
3.
Enable the Favorite Blocks palette [Figure 1].
Figure 1
4.
Click Bed-Queen icon.
5.
Click in drawing area to insert the block.
6.
Invoke Zoom-extents to fill the screen with the bed drawing.
7.
Right-click the Bed-Queen icon on the palette. A shortcut
menu appears [Figure 2].
Figure 2
8.
Select Properties. The Tool Properties dialog box appears
[Figure 3].
Figure 3
9.
Alter the scale to 0.25 [Figure 4]. Click OK.
Figure 4
10.
Insert Bed-Queen from the palette. The size of the new
insertion is 1/4 of the old one [Figure 5].
Figure 5
11.
Erase all objects.
12.
Insert some blocks in the drawing area using the tool palette
(e.g. the blocks shown in Figure 6).
Figure 6 -
Click on image to enlarge
13.
Save the file as Sample_Library.dwg in C:\ [Figure 7].
Figure 7-
Click on image to enlarge
14.
Start DesignCenter (e.g. by pressing Ctrl+2).
15.
Select Open Drawings tab [Figure 8].
Figure 8 -
Click on image to enlarge
16. In
the right pane, right-click on Blocks icon. A shortcut
menu appears [Figure 9].
Figure 9 -
Click on image to enlarge
17.
Select Create Tool Palette. A new tool palette called
Sample_Library will be created [Figure 10].
Figure 10
18.
Close DesignCenter window and then close AutoCAD.
19.
Move "Sample_Library.dwg" from "C:\" to "C:\Program Files".
20.
Start AutoCAD 2004.
21. In
Tool Palettes window, select Sample_Library and then click the
Bed-Queen icon. An error message similar to the following
one appears:
"Source drawing "C:\Sample_Library.dwg" for block "Bed - Queen"
not found."
22.
Right-click the icon and then select Properties.
23. In
Tool Properties dialog box click in the Source file box.
24.
Click the browse button to the right of the box.
25. In
the Select Linked Drawing dialog box locate
Sample_Library.dwg [Figure 11].
Figure 11 -
Click on image to enlarge
26.
Click Open.
27.
Click OK. Now the block can be inserted.
To
resolve the problem for the other blocks you may apply one of
the following solutions:
► Use the same method of steps 22 to 27 for
every single block.
► Move the drawing file to its original place or AutoCAD file
search path.
► Add "C:\Program Files" to AutoCAD file search path.
For
more information about defining AutoCAD file search path read
the following tutorial:
►
AutoCAD 2004 Customization
Tutorial: Search Paths.
About the Author
Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a
mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with
AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD
consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor
for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, an instructor
for AUGI Training Program, and an elected speaker for Autodesk
University 2002. He has written 7 books in Farsi, 3 booklets in
English, and more than 30 articles for different magazines and
newsletters. You can reach him at
alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website
www.cadpanel.com.
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