Can I create a new Block from objects already drawn in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
Yes — in BricsCAD, you can create a new block from objects already drawn by using the BLOCK command, which is the standard professional method for turning existing geometry into a reusable block definition. Pick a base point carefully and select the objects you want included. A common limitation is that locked-layer objects may prevent proper selection or editing.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: If you choose the wrong base point, every future insertion of that block will be misaligned, especially in production drawings with snap-based placement. Also, if selected objects include annotative or differently scaled content, the resulting block may not behave as expected across viewports.
How to Create a New Block from Existing Objects
Command: BLOCK
Shortcut: B
Quick Steps:
- On the Ribbon, go to Insert tab > Block Definition panel > create block, or type B and press Enter.
- In the Block Definition dialog box, enter a block name, click Pick point to define the base point, then click Select objects and choose the existing drawn objects.
- Enable the appropriate Convert to block behavior, confirm Allow exploding if needed, then click OK to create the block from the selected geometry.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Allow exploding
Expert Setting: This option controls whether the block can later be exploded back into individual objects. Leave it enabled for flexible drafting workflows; disable it for library content or standardized symbols you do not want edited casually.
Why it Fails
Cause 1 (Geometry): The selected objects may include unsupported or inconsistent elements, such as nested annotations or objects with unexpected scales, causing an unreliable block result.
Cause 2 (layers/Locks): Some objects are on locked layers, so they cannot be properly modified or included as expected during block creation.
Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The base point was set incorrectly, so the new block inserts at the wrong location in later use.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
Quick Fix: Use B, redefine the block with a precise snap-based base point, and unlock any affected layers before selection.
Manager’s Verdict: Use BLOCK for repeated geometry that belongs in the current drawing. For company-standard content reused across multiple files, build a proper block library instead of recreating blocks manually in every drawing.
FAQ
Can I make a block and keep the original objects in place?
Yes, the standard block creation workflow converts the selected objects into a block in the same location.
Can I edit the block after creating it?
Yes, you can edit it later with block editing tools such as BEDIT.
Can I create a block from objects on different layers?
Yes, but layer properties inside the block will follow the original object settings unless you standardize them first.
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