QCAD.org Forum

Mac OS Sequoia
Qcad ver: 3.26.2.0

Have created some architectural drawing sheet as a block and now want to store them in a library for future use.

As I understand it you should:
Select the block you want to save in the Block List (on the right-hand panel).
Go to the main menu bar at the top:
Blocks → Save Block As...

Well when I go to the block list "save as". does not appear.

What am I doing wrong?

Martin Woy

Hi,

I am not aware of a tool that can save the contents of a block definition to a standalone DXF file or library item.
'Blocks' is not a menu item and 'Save Block As...' is not listed under the menu Block.
Nor is it listed in the context menu for the Block List.

You probably mean 'Create Library Item' (BT) ... QCAD Pro ... See online reference


That requires a selection of drawing entities.
Note that a Block definition as listed in the Block List is not a standalone drawing entity.
It is rather a named container for grouping drawing entities.
A Block Reference is itself a drawing entity that displays a virtual copy of the Block content at a position, in a certain scale, rotation and so on.

If you select a Block Reference based on for example 'Block 1' and store that as a library item called 'MyBlock 1' with BT ...
... The library item 'MyBlock 1.dxf' would hold 1 Block Reference and a block called 'Block 1' with its content.

Inserting the library item as block would list two blocks in the Block List: 'MyBlock 1' & 'Block 1' ...
... This would create a Block Reference in your new drawing based on 'MyBlock 1'.
... Itself nothing more than a single Block Reference based on 'Block 1'.


To avoid this stacked block construction:
- In the Block List select and edit the content of 'Block 1' (BE). (Here I would avoid 'Edit Block In-place')
- Select All (TA) drawing entities of the Block definition what may include Block References based on other Blocks.
- Create Library Item (BT) of selected entities.
- Indicate the original Block origin as reference for your library item block.
- Store this as library item with for example the same name as the listed Block.


PS: I would consider updating QCAD 3.26.2 (2021/04/15) to the recent stable release.

Regards,
CVH