Create block from selection
Purpose
Combines the selected elements — with their dimensions and hatches — into a new block definition and replaces the selection by one block instance. Context: Blocks.
Access
- Panel Blocks: button 🧩 Create block from selection (1 in the picture at Blocks).
- Right-click on the selected elements → 🧩 Create block (1 in the picture).
- Command search : type Create block.
The command has no button in the ribbon or the classic toolbar; the block commands live in the section Blocks of the panel on the right, in the right-click menu and in the command search.
Procedure
- Select the elements with Select; dimensions, hatches and instances of other blocks may be part of it.
- Start the command. An input field Block name: appears at the base point, preset with Block.
- Type the name and confirm with Enter or ✓. The status line reports Block "Name" created — n element(s) · n dimensions · n hatches.
Without a selection the command switches to post-selection: the program asks you to select the elements first and continues after confirmation.
Options and rules
- Base point: the gizmo pivot, if set; otherwise the gizmo position, if visible; otherwise the centre of the selection. It becomes the origin of the definition and the insertion point (Base point).
- Name: if the name is already taken, the program appends a number (Block 2).
- Dimensions: explicitly selected dimensions and all dimensions whose references lie completely within the selection move into the definition.
- Hatches: only explicitly selected ones.
- BOM data: the designation is preset with the block name, the unit with Stk (BOM data).
- The new instance lies where the selection was, is selected and lies on the instance's layer; the definition appears in the section Blocks.
Keys
| Key | Effect |
|---|---|
| Enter | confirm the name |
| Esc | cancel the input — no block is created |
The command has no shortcut.
Related commands
- Edit block — change the definition later
- Block manager — all definitions in a tree
- Explode — dissolve an instance back into elements
- Save standard part from selection — the selection as a file for the library