Adding Multiple Blocks

Blocks can also be added in multiple selections with the unique and powerful Add Batch feature. Use this method to create a complete category listing from a set of blocks stored anywhere on disk (local and network drives).

• Select the Add Batch button under Block Descriptions from the main display.
• From the Add Batch dialog the following options are available, according to preference:
  • Include sub-folders
    
  • Create categories from sub-folder names
    
  • Ignore duplicate-named blocks
    
  • Ignore illegally-named blocks

The Advanced section of the dialog also provides a range of options for creating 3D wireframe or photo-realistic libraries. These are available by picking the Create 3D Library tick box:

• Wireframe (hidden lines removed)
  
• Render Photo Real
• Define Viewpoint
  
• Utilise existing Bitmap files

Selecting the Wireframe (hidden lines removed) option will create wireframe preview images of all blocks (containing 3D objects) encountered during the Add Batch operation. The Render Photo Real option will create photo-realistic or realistically shaded images using the AutoCAD Render command. In both cases, the viewpoint location used to display each block will be the value specified within the Define Viewpoint text box.

Note in order to include materials (optional) for use during the Render Photo Real process: From the standard AutoCAD menu, select Tools, Preferences, Files and amend the Texture Maps Search Path to include the folder where the relevant drawings and associated material TGA files are located.

Choose the Utilise existing Bitmap files option if you prefer the Add Batch operation to use existing, manually created, Bitmap images. This enables you to define each 3D object’s unique viewpoint and therefore obtain the very best rendered image. The BMP extension files must be located within the same folder, and share the same filename, as the associated DWG blocks. Use the standard AutoCAD Render command to create the Bitmaps, with the following settings:

• Set the Render Type to Photo Real and the File Type to BMP.
  
• The User Defined Size (image size) is X=216 and Y=137 with the default Aspect Ratio of 1.0.
  
• The recommended Colour setting is 8 Bits (256 colours).

Note that, due to certain restrictions with the standard AutoCAD Render command, the Render Photo Real automated feature is only available under AutoCAD 14. In order to create rendered libraries with AutoCAD 2000, 2000i or 2002, you will need to use the Utilise existing Bitmap files option explained above. If you wish to build 3D libraries under AutoCAD LT, use the Wireframe option.

3 Next, click on the Browse button to select the folder containing the relevant blocks. Note, if the Include sub-folders option has been specified, blocks contained within any sub-folders will also be added. In addition, selecting the Create categories from sub-folder names option means that new categories will be created, containing the contents of each sub-folder.

You can also create photo-realistic rendered preview images (thumbnails) of your 3D blocks by selecting the Render preview option and defining the viewpoint setting to be applied.

Returning to the main Add Batch dialog, click on OK to proceed.

Please wait while the blocks are now processed and added to the database. Once this operation is complete, the main Block Manager dialog displays the current category and new block entries.

To rename an existing block description, pick the chosen description from the Block Descriptions box and click on the Rename button shown below. Next, enter the proposed new block title within the text box and choose OK to accept this description.

Similarly, to delete an existing block description, pick the chosen description from the Block Descriptions box and click on the Delete button shown below. Next, to confirm your wish to remove this description, click on the OK button shown or Cancel to exit.