Dynamic blocks

If you come from an AutoCAD® design environment, you may be familiar with Dynamic Blocks. You may also be familiar with 2D parametric constraints. They are two different functionalities that somewhat overlap.

If you insert AutoCAD dynamic blocks into your BricsCAD drawing, you can, in most cases, edit those block instances. You cannot, however, create or edit dynamic block definitions in BricsCAD. Instead of offering dynamic block functionality, BricsCAD focuses entirely on parametrics. It allows you to create both 2D and 3D block definitions using the same set of tools and workflow. If you’ve never worked with parametric constraints, they may sound scary. But, they’re quite intuitive and logical. And, incredibly powerful!

BricsCAD partly supports dynamic blocks, you can:

  • insert dynamic blocks from your existing dynamic blocks libraries.
  • edit the custom properties in the Properties panel.
  • grip edit dynamic blocks.

Editing dynamic blocks

  1. Select the dynamic block in the drawing.

    The properties of the selected block are displayed in the Properties panel.



  2. Under Parameters, edit the properties needed.

    The dynamic block is updated automatically.



Grip editing dynamic blocks

  1. Select the dynamic block in the drawing.

    The following grip types are displayed:

    • Point
    • XY
    • Linear
    • Polar
    • Rotation
    • Flip
    • Visibility
  2. Drag a grip to edit the block.

    In the example below:

    • Rotate the block (1): drag the grip to rotate the block dynamically or type a value in the dynamic entry field.
    • Show/hide entities (2): click to select an option.
    • Flip (3): click to mirror the block
    • Edit the length (4): select the grip to dynamically edit the length or type a value in the dynamic entry field.