BLOCKIFY command

Converts identical set of entities (2D or 3D) to block references.

BricsCAD Lite; BricsCAD Pro; BricsCAD Mechanical; BricsCAD BIM

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Description

Searches the drawing for an identical set of entities (2D or 3D) and replaces them with block references.

Method

There are four methods to use the BLOCKIFY command:

  • Convert 2D and 3D entities to blocks.
  • Convert equally shaped solids to blocks.
  • Find collections.
  • Match existing blocks.
Note: To replace block patterns by arrays of entities, use the ARRAYDETECT command.

If a selection set is active when launching the command, the current settings of the BLOCKIFYMODE and BLOCKIFYTOLERANCE system variables are used for running the command.

If no selection set is active when launching the command, the Command Context panel opens:

  1. Blockifymode settings
  2. Tolerance
Blockifymode settings
Shows all the settings available in BLOCKIFYMODE system variable with their current state and lets you modify them:
Search entire drawing
Use the entire drawing as search space.
Use default insertion point
Let the application automatically assign the insertion point when creating new block definitions.
Use default block name
Use the default block name as specified in settings.
Compare geometry only
Ignore color, layer, line type, scale, weight and thickness, transparency, plot style and material properties when comparing entities.
Convert unique solids
Convert solids to blocks when they occur only once.
Show preview
View the matches in the drawing and select the matches you want to replace with block references.
Tolerance
Allows you to modify the current value of the BLOCKIFYTOLERANCE system variable that specifies the relative tolerance for determining whether two entities are equal.
Note: Changing the settings in the Command Context panel modifies the values of the BLOCKIFYMODE and/or the BLOCKIFYTOLERANCE system variables.

Options within the command

match Equal solids
Searches the drawing (or the selection) for equally shaped solids and replaces them with newly created block definitions. In case a solid matches an existing block definition, the replacing block reference points to that block definition.
Note: This option is not available in the Lite license level.
Specify block name or <ENTER to use default name>

Specify a block name or use the default name. If you choose to use the default name, block definitions with names like Block, Block1, Block2 etc. are created.

Note: If BLOCKIFY is used on BIM entities, it checks the BIM Name property of all equal-shaped BIM classified solids and tries to find the longest common substring to use it as the name of the block definitions.
find Collections

Identifies collections and eventually nested blocks are created. This option opens the Find Collections panel.

Note:
  • This option only works on block references. If the model also contains other entities, these will not be taken into consideration.
  • With a large number of input entities, calculating all possible collections can take a long time. Press the Esc key to cancel the calculation at any time, and choose from the collections found so far.
Maximum gap

Increases the allowed gap between entities to find a more complex collection.

For example: if a drawing contains multiple block references of desks and chairs, you can find a collection of both elements by setting the maximum gap between a desk and a chair.

Recalculate
Recalculates the collections based on the new maximum gap.
Collections

Displays the found collections.

Note: A message is displayed if the model contains overlapping collections. Overlapping collections are collections that have at least one solid in common. These collections are highlighted if the Highlight overlapping collections option is ticked.
Details
Tick the Show option to highlight one collection at a time and cycle through them by using the arrows. Use the zoom in button to extend the view to the shown collection.
Remove
Removes the current collections.
Reset

Resets to the initially found collections, by re-adding any collections that were removed.

Note: After creating a block reference, the collections are recalculated, taking into account the newly created block reference. The solids that are part of the newly created block reference could previously appear in a different collection, but now they are part of a single block reference and always have to appear together. This can decrease the choices for creating more collections.
match existing Blocks
Searches the drawing (or the selection) for 2D geometry matching existing block definitions.
selection options (?)
Lets you choose one of the listed methods to add entities to the selection set.