Drawing Management

 

Save Block Function

 

The Save Block function is a powerful tool that allows the End User to save blocks to the Land F/X block folders while within AutoCAD. When adding blocks, the End User can control its scale and rotation input, automatically create a slide of the object, and allow it to immediately be available for input via the various Land F/X functions.

 

The Save Block function will only work in adding blocks to the Blocks folders within Land F/X. These include:

§	Detail Components: components of items to be inserted while creating details.

§	Discipline Graphics: symbols used in construction documents by A&E disciplines.

§	Graphics: Arrows, callouts, north scale, etc. These are accessed by a variety of Land F/X functions.

§	Material Objects: physical objects entered into a drawing, such as graphics of people, cars, sports fields, furniture, etc.

 

 

After preparing a drawing of the object you wish to create a block of (which can even be within another drawing, select the Save Block function. The command line will prompt:

 

Insertion point:

 

Select the proper insertion point for the block. The command line will prompt:

 

Select Objects:

 

Select the block objects as required from the drawing. A directory structure dialog box will appear:

 

Directory structure for saving an “Save Block” object.

 

Notice that the directory structure is LandFX/Blocks/ folders. These folders are the only ones that the Save Block function can save to.

 

As an example, a backflow device drawing was created or imported from the manufacturer. You now want to add this drawing as a block to the Detail Components for future use in creating details. After performing the above functions, select the directory folder Detail_Components. The folders within the Detail_Components directory will appear.

 

Sub-directory folders under Detail_Components.

 

The sub-directory folders under Detail_Components are listed by the sixteen divisions of the CSI specifications. The file location for this item is 02-Sitework, then Irrigation as this is an irrigation item, and the following folders will be available for 02-Sitework/Irrigation:

§

Equipment

§

Fittings

§

Heads

§

Misc

§

Valves

 

As this is a irrigation backflow device, and the Land F/X Irrigation Manager lists backflow devices under Equipment (see Adding Irrigation Components), then Equipment is the proper location to file this block.

 

Select 02-Sitework, then Irrigation, then Equipment, and a list of files in that folder will appear. Give the file a name as desired, and select Save.

 

The files listed under LandFX/Blocks/Detail_Compoents/02-Sitework/Irrigation/Equipment.

 

Entering a File Name and selecting Save will bring up the Land F/X Block Manager dialog box. This dialog box will be used to enter a description and insertion scale and rotation information.

 

Block Manager dialog box for the saved item.

 

Description: If a description is desired, fill this out. You can also leave this blank if the file name adequately describes the object.

 

Scale: The sliding bar under scale will allow three options:

§	1:1 or one to one scale. This is appropriate material objects such as detail components that will be inserted at full scale.

§	Dimscale this is appropriate for graphic symbols that will have to be scaled for the drawing scale, or dimscale.

§	Manual this is seldom used, primarily for specialty items such as plant symbols.

 

Rotation: The sliding bar under rotation will allow three options:

§	Manual the End User defines the rotation after it is inserted.

§	No rotation the block is inserted without any rotation.

§	Set degree this is a seldom used option, primarily for specialty items.

 

Upon selecting OK, Land F/X will automatically WBlock the selection out to the location and name as entered, a slide will be created of the WBlock, the slide will be made available in the slide library for the objects location, and Land F/X’s database will be updated for the new object.

 

Now go to Detail Components to add a component to a detail. Under 02-Sitework, Irrigation, Equipment, the item you just saved will be visible and available for input into a drawing by anyone using Land F/X within your office.

 

Detail Component library for Irrigation Equipment. The object you just saved is now listed (in this example, the last item) within the library for this category, and is ready for insertion into a drawing.

F Remember: The Save Block function is the preferred method of adding one block at a time, or “on the fly”, to the Land F/X database. To add multiple blocks at a time to the Land F/X database, use the Sync feature in the Data Management function.