From the course: AutoCAD for Mac 2020 Essential Training

Blocks - AutoCAD for Mac Tutorial

From the course: AutoCAD for Mac 2020 Essential Training

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Blocks

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- [Tutor] Oftentimes, we create shapes that we want to use over and over and over again, like sinks for floor plans or hardware like nuts and bolts. Instead of drawing these over and over again, or even trying to copy the geometry, we can create a library of objects called blocks. Blocks are groupings of objects that can be recalled, inserted and shared among drawings. A block is a little bit more advanced, however, than a simple group of geometry. Each instance of a block references the same source geometry. This gives us the benefit of both a smaller drawing as AutoCAD only calculates the main geometry once and then only the location of all the references or instances of that block in the drawing. It also means that we can update the geometry of the block later, and all the instances of the block update as well. Blocks are created both for their connectivity, but also for their consistency. Blocks are locked so the individual geometry cannot be accidentally stretched or deleted. This provides a uniform appearance across the drawing, project and the company. Blocks are also unique in the way that they are shared. There is no need to go scavenging through drawings, looking for your specific symbol. Blocks can be exported from a drawing into a library, and this library can be shared across the company. Blocks from this library can then be inserted into any drawing. Blocks provide a consistent and connected way of managing libraries of symbols so that we can spend more time drafting and designing and less time drawing repetitive objects.

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