6 - Blocks, Hatching, Patterns

BLOCKS

The process of grouping entities together to become one unit.

Group

• Group objects together to become one unit

• Once grouped, cannot be retrieved / inserted

Block

• Join objects together and store it in current file’s block reference table

• Cannot be retrieved / used in different file

WBlock

• Write a drawing file from selected objects

• Can be retrieved in any current drawing file

Save

Save current drawing

Insert

Import a template created using BLOCK / WBLOCK / SAVE commands

MInsert

• Multiple insert

• Imports a template and array rectangularly

Explode

Ungroup inserted templates

Purge

Deleted unused templates from block reference table

Rename

Change name of template in block reference table

ATTDEF or DDATTDEF

Attributes

Attributes

Informal text associated with a block

Invinsible

specifies that attribute values won’t appear when block inserted

Constant

gives attribute a fixed value for block insertion

Verify

prompts attribute value twice

Presets

sets the attributes to its default value when block inserted

Hatch (Hatch)

• Line patterns, solid fill, or gradient are used to fill closed area

• Acts as one unit (unless exploded)

• More modern tools and real-time previews

• Not to Scale (has to be scaled)

BHatch (BHatch)

• Used to create hatches based on the boundary (area enclosed by objects)

• Older version of the hatch command

• Pick point selecting area

Predefined (standard)

Built-in patterns inside AutoCAD

User-defined

• Simple hatch patterns made of parallel or crossed lines

• Own angle and spacing

Custom (PAT files)

Imported hatch patterns

Solid Fill

Single colour fill with no pattern

Gradient Fill

Smooth colour transition between two colours

ANSI31

Represents

Steel

ANSI31

Typical Use:

Section lines for metal parts

AR-CONC

Represents

Concrete

AR-CONC

Typical Use:

Walls, slabs, columns

AR-B816 / AR-B88

Represents:

Brick

AR-B816 / AR-B88

Typical Use:

Masonry or brick walls

GRAVEL

Represents:

Gravel / Aggregate

GRAVEL

Typical Use:

Site plans or paving

EARTH

Represents

Soil

EARTH

Ground in sections

ANSI37

Represents:

Insulation

ANSI37

Typical Use:

Building sections

SOLID

Represents

Filled area

SOLID

Typical Use

Highlighting / color coding

HONEY

Represents:

Honeycomb

HONEY

Typical use:

Lightweight materials or filler

SAND

Represents

Sand or soil

SAND

Typical Use:

Landscape or civil details

HATCH PROPERTIES

Adjust hatch’s appearance and behavior through the properties palette or hatch editor.

HATCH PROPERTIES

This controls look, behavior, and placement of pattern fills.

Pattern

The type of fill used (pattern, solid fill, gradient)

Angle

Rotates the hatch pattern by a specified angle

Scale

Controls the spacing or size of the hatch pattern

Color

Sets the color of the hatch pattern

Transparency

Controls how see-through the hatch appears Make background fills lighting

Associative

On = hatch updates automatically if boundary changes

Annotative

Allows hatch to scale automatically with annotation scale

Boundary

Defines the area enclosed by objects or points that the hatch fills

Origin

Sets the starting point of the hatch pattern

Layer

Assigns the hatch to a specific drawing layer