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| − | This page lists some concepts in AutoCAD which are part of the DWG file formats structure. This page is intended to collect questions and clarification about these concepts. Please keep the list in alphabetical order
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| − | = Entities =
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| − | Entities are things that appear in the drawing. Things you see, can select and manipulate. Entities include lines, circles, arcs, text, etc.
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| − | = Viewports =
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| − | = Model Space / Paper Space =
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| − | ''Model Space'' and ''Paper Space'' are tabbed views in AutoCAD. When in ''Model Space'' a user is typically working on the drawing or model, concepts like scales and other print-related information are simply not relevant. When switched to the ''Paper Space'' tab the drawing / model should appear in a ''Viewport'' on a ''Sheet''. Here concepts like scale, line styles and other print related information is set and in some cases seen. For example in ''Paper Space'' it is possible to see the results of line styles on the screen without making a print preview.
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| − | = Viewports =
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| − | When in ''Paper Space'' the drawing is conceptually placed behind the ''Sheet'' of paper. By creating ''Viewports'' we can grab the drawing, scale it and place it on the ''Sheet''. By this method we can show different parts of a drawing on the same ''Sheet'', or the same part of the drawing at different scales.
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| − | = Blocks =
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| − | The following is a description of 'Blocks' from a CAD user's perspective. It is important to understand that when a CAD user says "block", they usually are talking about an insert of a block definition.
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| − | ''Blocks'' are a way of grouping lines/curves, many programs do similar things and call the result a group (a group is something different in AutoCAD. A ''Block'' in AutoCAD is a collection of objects (parametric lines) 'glued' together. When a block is ''Exploded'' all the contained lines lose their connections to each other. This means for example that a polyline is broken into its constituent pieces when exploded.
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| − | Blocks can contain other blocks, when a block is exploded sub blocks are not and need to be exploded separately.
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| − | There is a strong trade in Blocks and Dynamic Blocks, some manufacturers provide such Blocks for free on their websites.
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| − | There are additional explanations at the [http://www.autocadcentral.com autocadcentral.com] website in [http://www.autocadcentral.com/Tutorials/Lesson%2012/lesson12.htm Lesson 12 of 12 - Blocks].
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| − | = Block (definition) =
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| − | A block in the dwg file is a grouping of entities. It is really a block definition. As an example, a user may draw a chair with lines and arcs and then create a block definition called chair. This creates a block in the dwg file. Then the user "inserts a block" several times into his drawing. This creates insert entities. Each insert may have different location, rotation and various other properties. Each insert always references a block definition that is to be drawn at the insert location.
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| − | = Dynamic Blocks =
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| − | Dynamic Blocks are a special type of block which has some parametric variables. For example a window which can be stretched to fit one of several pre determined sizes 1200x1200, 900x1200 or 600x1200. These block can be quite complex with a lot of variables.
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| − | There is a strong trade in Blocks and Dynamic Blocks, some manufacturers provide such Blocks for free on their websites.
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| − | There are more resources to understanding Dynamic Blocks on the [http://resources.autodesk.com resources.autodesk.com] website at [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fresources.autodesk.com%2Ffiles%2Fautocad%2Fwhitepapers%2FAutoCAD_2006_Dynamic_Blocks_Part_3.pdf&ei=_7JSTKuLKdiG4gaj3az-Ag&usg=AFQjCNFbbvihAbtZ5xEuloCQmkFHPoSHjA&sig2=SKirNVqSGQ4YWvodkYjwYg AutoCAD_2006_Dynamic_Blocks_Part_3 (PDF)].
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| − | = Inserts =
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| − | An insert is a block reference. When an insert is displayed, the block that it references is drawn using the insert's location, rotation, scale and other properties.
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