Making a block vs. copy in as a block...what is better and why

[KROB1234]

Hi,

Can anyone help me or come up with a logical argument to why a CAD user should not copy and paste as a block?

I work at an interior design firm and these people are all over that command. I think its ridiculous and they need to take the time and name the blocks. Does this slow down the drawing? Is it bad for the drawing?

Thank you

K

[tzframpton]

Hi,

Can anyone help me or come up with a logical argument to why a CAD user should not copy and paste as a block?

I work at an interior design firm and these people are all over that command. I think its ridiculous and they need to take the time and name the blocks. Does this slow down the drawing? Is it bad for the drawing?

Thank you

K

Depends. When I want a quick block, then yes I "Paste as Block" all the time. It's quick, painless, easy, etc. However when it's a block that I want to keep reference of, then yes I name it. I only do this with the intent of possibly editing it at a later time.

 

Nothing wrong with it at all. Just personal preference, really.

[Strix]

can the copy/paste version keep a tally of itself?

 

you can interrogate a drawing to effectively produce a parts list, so if you go using unnamed blocks you upset this facility

 

there are so many ways of doing things in AutoCAD that the best advice is always to work the way the rest of your office does. Nothing slows down progress quite like opening up a drawing and it doesn't behave as you expected it to!

[tzframpton]

can the copy/paste version keep a tally of itself?

It gives the block a name/number starting with A$C[XXXXXXXXX].

[Strix]

doesn't it invent a new number when you copy it again though Styk?

[tzframpton]

Not if you use the COPY command

[BIGAL]

Just a side issue I try and get my guys to remove ac$ blocks, often they are large chunks of another DWG and have been exploded and bits pulled out of them, what I am getting at its a bit of housekeeping every block is in your drawing even after erasing it as a visible object. I inserted a block from a consultant drawing and a complete drawing appeared.

[YZ]

The only time I use PASTE AS BLOCK is if I know I will explode it soon anyway.

 

For example if I want to dump something in correct position on top of model, then move the new block off to the side and edit, say, the colours in a certain way without upseting the rest of my model, then move it all back. To me that is what PASTE AS BLOCK is best for. The messy name will be purged out before dispatch.

 

But my reasoning for keeping sensibly named blocks on our drawings is for marketing. If a consultant who knows anything about AutoCAD down the line of a project picks up our drawing, they can readily see if we are worth our salt just by investigating the dwg. I know I certainly check them out.

 

And one of the key ways in my mind is how streamlined and user friendly they built a dwg, including block references.

 

But if the drawing is staying internal, then just whatever. I agree with Strix that above all, your dept standards take priority.