How to save a part of your BricsCAD drawing to reuse it later?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in BricsCAD, the most common professional way to save part of a drawing for reuse later is to create a block and then write it out as a separate file using WBLOCK. This preserves selected geometry cleanly for future insertion. Limitation: external references and some dependencies may not transfer as expected.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: If the objects you save depend on layers, linetypes, text styles, or referenced content not included correctly, the reused part may look different in the new drawing. Locked layers or xref-based geometry are a common reason WBLOCK output is incomplete.

How to Save Part of Your BricsCAD Drawing to Reuse It Later

  • Command: WBLOCK

  • Shortcut: No default shortcut in most setups

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Type WBLOCK in the command line, or go to the Ribbon and open the block-related tools if available in your workspace.
    2. In the Write Block dialog, choose Objects as the source, then click Select Objects and pick the part of the drawing you want to reuse.
    3. Set the Base point, choose the output file path, confirm Retain if you want to keep the original objects unchanged, then click OK to save the part as a separate dwg file.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Retain / Convert to Block / Delete from Drawing

  • Expert Setting: In the WBLOCK dialog, this option controls what happens to the selected objects after export. Retain is the safest professional choice when you only want to create a reusable file without altering the current drawing.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): The selected objects may include annotation, blocks, or referenced elements that rely on missing definitions or external files.
  • Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): Objects on locked or xref-dependent layers may not be editable or may not export the way you expect.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Choosing the wrong source option, such as Block instead of Objects, can create the wrong file content or wrong insertion base point.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Use WBLOCK, choose Objects, and set a correct Base point before saving so the reused DWG inserts in the right location later.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use WBLOCK when you need a clean, reusable DWG from part of a live project. Avoid casual copy-paste workflows when standards, insertion point accuracy, or repeated reuse matter.

FAQ

Can I save only selected objects as a new DWG in BricsCAD?

Yes, use WBLOCK with the Objects option.

Can I reuse the saved part in another drawing later?

Yes, insert the saved DWG later as a block or external reference.

Is creating a block enough without WBLOCK?

No, a regular block stays inside the current drawing unless you also save it out with WBLOCK.

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