Autocad Block Attributes

To create an autocad attribute, you first create an attribute definition, which stores the characteristics of the attribute.

The characteristics include the tag, which is a name that identifies the attribute, the prompt displayed when you insert the block, value information, text formatting, location within the block, and any optional modes (Invisible, Constant, Verify, Preset, Lock Position, and Multiple Lines).
If you plan to extract the attribute information for use in a parts list, you may want to keep a list of the attribute tags you have created. You will need this tag information later when you create the attribute template file.

Attribute modes control the behavior of attributes in blocks. For example, you can control

• Whether an attribute is visible or invisible in the drawing
• Whether an attribute has a constant value, such as a part number
• Whether the attribute can be moved relative to the rest of the block
• Whether the attribute is a single-line attribute or a multiple-line attribute

If an attribute has a constant value, you will not be prompted for its value when you insert the block. If an attribute has a variable value, such as the asset number of a computer, you will be prompted when you insert the block.

autocad block definition

If you need to modify one or more objects within a block separately, you can disassemble, or explode, the block reference into its component objects. After making the changes, you can

* Create a new autocad block definition
* Redefine the existing block definition
* Leave the component objects uncombined for other uses

You can automatically explode block references as you insert them by selecting the Explode option in the Insert dialog box.
To explode a block reference

1. Click Home tabModify panelExplode. At the Command prompt, enter explode.
2. Select the block to explode. Press Enter.

The block reference is disassembled into its component objects; however, the block definition still exists in the drawing for insertion later.

To control properties while you explode an object

1. Enter xplode.
2. Select the objects to be exploded.
3. If you selected more than one object, enter i to control properties for individual objects, or enter g to control properties for all the selected objects.
4. Enter an option for a property you want to change.

The property is applied to the compound object and the prompt is redisplayed.
5. Enter another option, or enter e to explode the selected objects.

The selected objects are exploded and the properties you specified are applied to the component objects.