WARNING Before you explode the attribute...

In the book Mastering AutoCAD 2006, Chapter 13, Using Attributes, there is this warning! WARNING Before you explode the attribute block copy, be sure that it is at a 1-to-1 scale.

What's up with that? Can I get a list of all the blocks in a drawing outside of the Block attribute manager, and how do I locate this 1-to-1 thing?

Does it say why? I don't like exploding blocks in the first place but sometimes you just have to. I can't say I've seen any problems.

I deal with allot of blocks on a daily basis and I have gotten into the habit of bursting blocks with attributes if you need to edit it because exploding them could cause other undesired problems. Just to throw my two cents in there.

Explode a block that has attributes attached and you'll see all the "tags". Could get messy. Do it at your own peril.

using the BURST command breaks up the block just like Explode but does not give the messy attributes tags.

If you need to edit the block why not use refedit or the block editor?

From the book:

The following steps describe how to update attribute blocks:

1. Before you use the command to redefine an attribute block, you must first create the objects and attribute definitions that are going to make up the new replacement block. The simplest way to do this is to explode a copy of the attribute block you want to update. This insures that you have the same attribute definitions in the updated block.

2. Make your changes to the exploded attribute block.

WARNING ...

3. Type Attredef [enter]

4. At the Enter name of block you wish to redefine: prompt, enter the appropriate name.

5. At the Select objects for new block: prompt, select all the objects, including the attribute definitions, you want to include in the revised attribute block.

6. At the Insertion base point of a new block: prompt, pick the same location used for the original block.

methinks that book was written in haste. As you are using 2006 (and so says the book) I would use BEDIT instead. You can "saveas" if you want to create a new block similar to your old one or you can just redefine all your existing blocks, all without exploding anything.

Don't forget to ATTSYNC if you change a block with attributes though.