-INSERT command

Inserts blocks through prompts in the Command line.

BricsCAD Shape; BricsCAD Lite; BricsCAD Pro; BricsCAD Mechanical; BricsCAD BIM

Alias: -I

Description

Inserts blocks through prompts in the Command line. It also prompts for attribute values, if any are part of the block definition.

Method

Specify the name of the block to insert or press Enter to accept the name of the previously inserted block and specify the insertion point, the scale factor, the rotation angle for the inserted block. BricsCAD prompts in the Command line the block inserted units, for example Units: Millimeters.

Note: The current drawing can be inserted as a block by typing the drawing name as block name.
Note: If the block contains attributes, the value of the ATTDIA (Attribute Dialog) system variable determines whether you are prompted in the Command line to set the attributes (ATTDIA=0) or through the Edit Attributes dialog box (ATTDIA=1).

Options within the command

? to list blocks in drawing
Lists the names of all blocks in the current drawing.
Enter part of a name to view the names of certain blocks. You can use wildcards like ? for an individual character and * for all characters.
Note: If necessary, press F2 key to view the full list; see TEXTSCR command. You must restart the -INSERT command to insert the block.
~ to open the file dialog
Displays the Insert Block dialog box. Choose a DWG or DXF file and open it.
Select insertion point
Allows you to specify the X, Y and Z coordinates or pick a point for the block's insertion point (1). The Z coordinate is typically left at 0 for 2D blocks.
Corner
Indicates the size of the block by specifying a second corner of a rectangle. The insertion point is the first corner.
Note: Blocks can be edited directly through grips.
Edit inserted entity
Allows you to change the parameter expressions for the inserted entity.
FINISH
Finishes the editing of individual parameters.
SMART insert
Allows you to connect a Piping standard part to an existing Piping standard part. It automatically creates appropriate 3D constraints between the two parts and copies expressions for the parameters of the existing part to the new part.
Rotate component
Specifies the rotation angle (2) of the block about its insertion point (1), starting with the x-axis as 0 degrees:
  • Positive angles: rotates the block counter-clockwise.
  • Negative angles: rotates the block clockwise.
set Base point
Allows you to change the base point for the inserted entity.
Note: The default value is <0,0,0>.
insertion Type
Specifies the insertion type.
Local
Inserts the block as local component.
External
Inserts the block as external reference.
Flip
Allows you to flip the direction for the inserted entity.
Multiple
Allows you to insert multiple copies of the same entity by specifying an insertion point for each instance or creating an Array.
Note: Continue inserting entities until you press Enter to end the command.
Array
Allows you to create an associative array of the inserted entity by specifying the base point, distance between columns, distance between rows, and end point of the array.
Direction
Allows you to select an existing axial entity to define the direction.
2Points
Selects two points to define the direction.
Xaxis
Selects the X axis as direction.
Yaxis
Selects the Y axis as direction.
Single row
Distributes entity copies into a single row.
Rectangular
Distributes entity copies into any number of rows.
Base point
Allows you to specify a new base point for the array.
Columns
Specifies the number of the columns.
Rows
Specifies the number of the rows.
Placement
Sets the distance between columns.
Accept
Accepts the resulting array.
Scale
Scales the block:
  • Values larger than 1 - make the block larger.
  • 1 - inserts the block at actual size.
  • Values smaller than 1 - make the block smaller.
  • Values less than zero - flip the block, like mirroring it.
X scale
Specifies the scale factor along the X axis (2). Enter a negative value to mirror the block about the Y axis.
Y scale
Specifies the scale factor along the Y axis (1). Enter a negative value to mirror the block about the X axis.
Z scale
Specifies the scale factor along the Z axis.