INSERT command

Inserts blocks into the current drawing.

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

Icon:

Alias: DDINSERT, I

Description

Opens the Insert Block dialog box to insert a block instance from a block definition. The block definition may exist in the current drawing or as an external file.

  1. Name
  2. Browse
  3. Path
  4. Insert external reference
  5. Insertion Point
  6. Scale
  7. Rotation
  8. Block preview
  9. Block unit
  10. Advanced settings

Name

Specifies the name of the block to insert, whose definition exists in the drawing, or the name of the file to insert as a block.

Note: Click the drop-down button to display the available blocks. It shows internal and external block types, with icons indicating each block's type.

Browse

Opens the Select Drawing File dialog box that allows you to select a DWG or DXF file from your computer or network.

Path

Displays the path to the file to insert as a block.

Insert external reference

Toggles whether the block is inserted as a local or external reference.

Insertion Point

Specifies the insertion point of the block in the drawing.

Specify On-screen
Allows you to dynamically select the insertion point of the block in the current drawing.

Scale

Scales the block.

Specify On-screen
Allows you to dynamically scale the block in the current drawing.
Input coordinates
Defines the scaling of the block.
X
Allows you to specify the scale factor along the X axis. Enter a negative value to mirror the block about the Y axis.
Y
Allows you to specify the scale factor along the Y axis. Enter a negative value to mirror the block about the X axis.
Z
Allows you to specify the scale factor along the Z axis.
Note:
  • 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.
Uniform scale
Toggles whether the same scale factor is used for all axes.
Note: This option is enabled by default when inserting blocks created with the Scale uniformity option enabled (see the BLOCK command article).

Rotation

Specifies the rotation angle of the block about its insertion point, starting with the X-axis as 0 degrees.

Note: Positive angles rotate the block counter-clockwise and negative angles rotate the block clockwise.
Specify On-screen
Allows you to dynamically rotate the block in the current drawing.

Block preview

Displays a preview of the block.

Block unit

Controls the automatic scaling of the block with respect to the INSUNITS and INSUNITSSCALING system variables of the current drawing.

Advanced settings

Displays the available advanced settings, depending on the type of insert.

Explode
Toggles whether to explode the inserted block.
Insert BIM Component
Toggles whether to insert the block as a BIM Component.
Note:
  • The Insert BIM Component option is available only if an external BIM component block is selected for insertion.
  • This option is available for a BricsCAD BIM license. If you are using a BricsCAD Pro or a BricsCAD Mechanical license, the option becomes Insert feature.
Insert feature
Toggles whether to insert the block as feature.
Note:
  • The Insert feature option is available if an external mechanical component block is selected for insertion.
  • BricsCAD Pro or higher is required for this option.
Use reference curves for insert
Toggles whether reference curves are used for insert.
Note:
  • The Use reference curves for insert option is only available if the selected drawing contains reference curves. See also the Fuzzy insert guided workflow article.
  • BricsCAD Pro or higher is required for this option.
Use reference point for insert
Toggles whether a reference point is used for insert.
Note:
  • The Use reference point for insert option is only available if the selected DWG file contains a detail with guide curves. Details with guide curves can be created using the COPYGUIDED and MOVEGUIDED commands.
  • It is available only when the Use reference curves for insert option is enabled. Otherwise, the option becomes gray out.
  • BricsCAD Pro or higher is required for this option.
Insert Sheet Metal Form Feature
Toggles whether to insert sheet metal form feature.
Note:
  • The Insert Sheet Metal Form Feature option is available only if a sheet metal form features block is selected for insertion and the Model Space contains SM flanges.
  • This option is available for a BricsCAD Pro license or higher.
Insert as anchor
Anchors a block to a face of a solid. This anchor links the block to the face. The block will stay on the face when the host solid is moved or edited.
Note: BIMANCHOR is an experimental feature. Use the MANAGEEXPERIMENTALFEATURES command to enable or disable experimental features.

Options within the command

When the Insertion Point > Specify On-screen option in the Insert Block dialog box is enabled, the following options appear in the Command line.

Edit inserted entity
Enables you to change the parameter expressions for the inserted entity. Continue editing individual parameters until you press FINISH to end the option. This option is also available in the Hot Key Assistant.
Enter parameter name
Specifies the name of the parameter.
Enter expression
Specifies the expression for the parameter.
FINISH
Finishes the editing of individual parameters.
SMART insert
Enables 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. This option is also available in the Hot Key Assistant.
Rotate component
Allows you to change the rotation angle for the inserted entity.
set Base point
Allows you to change the base point for the inserted entity.
Note: By default is <0,0,0>.
Name
Allows you to change the component insert name.
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 you to insert multiple copies of the same entity by specifying an insertion point for each instance.
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.
Zaxis
Selects the Z axis as direction.
Object
Allows you to select an axial entity.
Last
Uses the previous axis.
View
Allows you to specify a point on view 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.
Columns
Specifies the number of the columns.
Rows
Specifies the number of the rows.
Placement
Sets the distance between the entities.
Accept
Accepts the resulting array.
Scale
Allows you to scale the inserted block.
Change target 3d solids
Allows you to apply the inserted entity to existing 3D solids in the current drawing.
Select target 3D solids
Selects the target 3D solids.
cleaR
Clears the selection set to ensure no solids are affected by the inserted entity.
Select all affected 3d solids
All solids intersecting or touching solids in the BC_SUBTRACT and BC_UNITE layers of the inserted entity are affected.