How do you manage and organize your block libraries?

[Lablu Rahman]

I'm curious — what are your go-to CAD blocks or symbols you always reuse in your projects?

It could be furniture, doors, plumbing fixtures, annotation symbols — anything you find yourself using over and over again.

Would love to hear what others consider “must-have” blocks in their libraries.

 

[ReMark]

That would depend on what field you work in.  For me, working in the chemical engineering field, it was process piping and instrumentation symbols such as valves, pumps, filters, pressure gauges, flexible connectors, hose connectors, etc.  When I worked in the civil engineering field it was surveying symbols such as poles, hydrants, catch basins, manholes, trees, traffic signs, fences, mailboxes, water valve boxes, etc.

[Lablu Rahman]

4 hours ago, ReMark said:

That would depend on what field you work in.  For me, working in the chemical engineering field, it was process piping and instrumentation symbols such as valves, pumps, filters, pressure gauges, flexible connectors, hose connectors, etc.  When I worked in the civil engineering field it was surveying symbols such as poles, hydrants, catch basins, manholes, trees, traffic signs, fences, mailboxes, water valve boxes, etc.

 

Thank you so much for the detailed reply!

That’s very insightful — I can see how different fields have their own essential block types. I mostly work in the architectural and interior design space, so I often reuse furniture, doors, kitchen layouts, and sanitary blocks. But your examples from chemical and civil engineering are really helpful for understanding broader needs — especially the instrumentation and site symbols.

Appreciate you sharing!

[BIGAL]

Look at this pop menu. You can see the block sub sections in the menu. Nice thing about POP image menus is that you can have more than 20 blocks so next and previous works.

 

 

[CyberAngel]

I've done most of my time in civil, so it's infrastructure stuff like manholes, valves, hydrants, water meters, and sewer cleanouts. Hundreds and hundreds of meters and cleanouts.

[Lablu Rahman]

On 5/19/2025 at 6:35 PM, CyberAngel said:

I've done most of my time in civil, so it's infrastructure stuff like manholes, valves, hydrants, water meters, and sewer cleanouts. Hundreds and hundreds of meters and cleanouts.

 

Thanks a lot for sharing! That’s really insightful — I can see how those elements are essential in civil projects.

I’m currently expanding my CAD block library on PINCAD, and your comment just gave me some great ideas for new block sets — especially focused on manholes, hydrants, valves, and sewer cleanouts.

If you don’t mind me asking — are there specific styles or standards (like layer names, lineweights, or block scaling preferences) that you or your team prefer when using those types of blocks? I’d love to make the resources more helpful to professionals like you.

[Lablu Rahman]

I’ve been creating and organizing my own DWG block library. Just wondering how others keep theirs structured — by category, client, or project type?

[BIGAL]

You probably  dont need at this stage to keep making new posts, you could have added this question to either one of your other 2 posts.

 

My suggestion is in the pop menu in the other post.

[SLW210]

10 hours ago, BIGAL said:

You probably  dont need at this stage to keep making new posts, you could have added this question to either one of your other 2 posts.

 

My suggestion is in the pop menu in the other post.

 

I agree, I have merged your threads into one.

[CyberAngel]

22 hours ago, Lablu Rahman said:

 

Thanks a lot for sharing! That’s really insightful — I can see how those elements are essential in civil projects.

I’m currently expanding my CAD block library on PINCAD, and your comment just gave me some great ideas for new block sets — especially focused on manholes, hydrants, valves, and sewer cleanouts.

If you don’t mind me asking — are there specific styles or standards (like layer names, lineweights, or block scaling preferences) that you or your team prefer when using those types of blocks? I’d love to make the resources more helpful to professionals like you.

We have template files that include the proper layers and blocks with properties for both. The template also includes a legend with blocks at the usual scale. You copy one from the legend and drop it on the plan, and you're done.

 

It helps to have the insertion point for blocks defined at the point where surveyors will locate them. After you have the survey points, you can drag the blocks onto them. Quick and easy.

 

With Civil 3D, you can define structures with blocks. Same principle applies.