AutoCAD Features: Creating a title block

AutoCAD Features: Creating a title block

Working on any project can result in an accumulation of several CAD drawings. For the recipient of these drawings to understand the information on them, title blocks are used when plotting (printing). The information they can display is, but is not limited to – the current project, date of issue and the scale.

In your drawing click the layout tab. Before setting up the title block it is advisable to make a new layer and assigning all elements of the title block to this layer. Set this layer to current.

Go to the ‘Layout’ on the top ribbon and got to the ‘Page Setup’.

This will open the page setup manager. Select the sheet you wish to setup and click ‘Modify’ to open the Page Setup dialogue box.

Under Paper size, select the correct size sheet you wish to use and select the drawing orientation. Click OK.

Select the ‘Home’ tab on the top ribbon and using the draw tools, draw the frame and sections that will hold the information.

It is important to ensure the frame sits within Select the ‘Home’ tab on the top ribbon and using the draw tools, draw the frame and sections that will hold the information. The dotted box already on the layout sheet and anything outside that will not be plotted. By placing attributes in your title block, you can facilitate the entering of the text. You can also use fields within the attributes command, to automate some of the text entries such as the date and scale. To do this type ‘ATTDEF’ into the command line or click the Define Attributes icon .


Under ‘Mode’ you have the following options –This will open the attributes definition dialogue box.

Invisible: The attribute values will not be printed or displayed once inserted sheet.

Constant: This allows an attribute to be inserted with a fixable value. This can be used for information that will never be changed.

Verify: This option will prompt verification that the value of the attribute entered is right when the block is inserted.

Pre-set: The attribute is then set to its default value without a prompt when the block is inserted. The pre-set option only applies when prompts for the attribute values are set to be displayed at the Command prompt (ATTDIA is set to 0).

Lock Position: The lock position locks the attributes location. If unlocked, multiline attributes can be resized and the attribute can be moved using grip editing.

Multiple-Lines: This allows an attribute to contain text with multiple lines and allows you to determine a boundary for that attribute.

Tick the ‘Specify on screen’ box to allow you to choose where this attribute will be located or enter in coordinates.

Under ‘Attribute’, fill in the following information:

Tag: Name the attribute using any characters without spaces.

Default: This specifies the default attribute value. Prompt – Enter a description of the type of information needed. If you select the constant mode section, this option will not be available.

Insert the Field Button: Click the icon to the right of this box to open the Field dialogue box. Field category allows you to filter the type of field names. Under Field names, select the one required, for example, scale.

In the format box select how you wish the scale to be displayed. Click OK

Back in the attributes definition dialogue box

Under Text Settings you can define the following:

Justification: This specifies the position of the content.

Style of Text: Allows you to select a more defined style of text. Text styles that are currently loaded will also be displayed here.

Annotative: Defines this attribute as annotative. If ticked, the orientation of the block will match the attribute.

Text Height: Defines the text height. A value can be entered, or a height can be specified on the sheet by clicking the icon to the right of the window. The box this text will be displayed in can be used as a guide. If a style of text with a fixed height is selected, any value other than 0, and if the Align option in the list of Justification is selected, the option for height will not available.

Rotation: A rotation angle can be entered, or it can be specified on the sheet by clicking the icon to the right of the window. If the options Fit or Align are selected in the list of Justification, this rotation option will not be accessible.

The Boundary Width: A maximum length of the text lines in a multiple-line attribute only can be specified here. This option is not available for single-line attributes.

The Align Previous and Below Attribute Definition: The tag will be placed directly underneath the previously defined attribute. This is only available when defining a second or more attributes.

Continue these steps for each tag you need for the block.

To allow you to insert the title block to future drawings you need to create a block. Go to the ‘Insert’ tab on the top ribbon and click ‘Create Block’. In the drop-down menu click ‘Write Block’ to open the Block Definition dialogue box.

Select Objects, then under Base point either enter coordinates or select pick point to allow you to pick a point on the title block. Next, under Objects, you can either choose the Select objects option or Quick Select. If you have several objects in your drawing this will allow you to quick select the title block by filtering through colour, layer, line type, etc.

Once the title block has been selected click enter and choose where you would like it to be stored on your PC. Inserting units allows you to specify the units to allow for automatic scaling if the block is inserted to a drawing that uses different units. Click unitless if you do not want this. Click OK.

In the new drawing, in the layout space, go to the Layout tab on the top ribbon and under Block click Insert, and ‘Blocks from other drawings.’

Blog

The Complete Autodesk Software List - All 112 Autodesk Products in one list

30 September 2024

Have you ever wondered how many product titles Autodesk has in its design software portfolio? Well its 112 at this point in time, but with the continuous acquisitions this number is ever increasing. The design, Digital Prototyping, Building information modelling (BIM) etc……. tools created by Autodesk cover  multiple industry sectors and are used by over 10 million users in more than 185 countries. That’s pretty incredible!

Learn more