The DDINSERT command lets you create a block instance or a group of block instances in a rectangular or circular array pattern, providing the same functions as those provided by INSERT, MINSERT and RINSERT commands. However, unlike these INSERT, MINSERT and RINSERT commands, which require you to give the parameters step by step from the command line, DDINSERT lets you setup these parameters from a GUI dialogue window, as shown below, and create the block instance at one single click of button.

A block instance is a reference to a predefined drawing block. It can be scaled and rotated as required, and inserted at any designated position in the drawing. It can be made as a reference either to an existing Block in the current drawing or to an external drawing in WRK/DWG format. Yet, in the latter case, the external drawing is loaded and grouped as a Block with a specified reference name, before the block instance is made.

A group of block instances in rectangular or circular array pattern is not really an array of block instances, but a single entity containing multiple block instance references and called a multiple block instance. The informations related to the rectangular or circular patterns are part of that entity.

The operation of DDINSERT is simple. Setup the required parameters and then click the [Create] button to complete the job. The following describes the details of these screen items from the dialogue window.

Block Name

This is a combo-box entry field specifying the name of the block to reference. If you pick it by its drop-down button, you can select the block name from the list of existing blocks in the drawing. If you pick it by its entry field, you will be asked to enter the block name directly into the field. You will also be asked to enter the name directly, if you have selected the <Drawing> entry from the drop-down list.

If the block name entered in this field does not exist in the drawing, it must be an external drawing insertion. DDINSERT will automatically search for the drawing file of the same name from the search paths as the file to insert. If it can not be found, you will be asked to specify it explicitly via the pop-up file window.

File Name

This is a data field containing the full path name of the drawing file to insert. Pick at this field and you will be asked to select the drawing file to insert via the pop-up file window. To remove the setting of this drawing file, you will have to cancel the pop-up file window.

The default block name used for the drawing file to insert will be the name of the file. However, if you have already specified an existing block name to reference, this would cause that existing block be redefined by the external drawing when the block instance is created. DDINSERT will ask you to confirm this when this situation happens. If your confirmation is negative, DDINSERT will automatically reset the block name to the default.

Exploded

This is an option check box. Check this option if you want the block instance be exploded automatically as if the insertion were a copy of the original block definition instead of a reference to it. Note that if the insertion is from an external drawing, then no new block definition will be created if this option is enabled.

Multiple

This is an option check box as well as a group title. Check this option if you are going to create a multiple block instance. There are two type of multiple block instance; namely, they are

• Rectangular     The group of block instances are in rectangular array pattern.
• Circular     The group of block instances are in circular array pattern.

You can click the corresponding radio button from this group to select the type of multiple block instance to create.

Command line parameters

This is an option check box. Check this option if you are going to supply all the required parameters from the command line at the creation of the block instance. See INSERT, MINSERT, RINSERT for the respective command line operation procedure.

If this option is enabled, all the parameters from "Insertion Basic", "Rectangular Array" and "Circular Array" group will be disabled. DDINSERT will let you follow the command prompt to supply these required parameters when you click the [Create] button.

Insertion Basic Group

The Insertion Basic group contains basic parameters for the block instance creation:

• Pos.     Two value entry fields with a drop-down button, specifying the X and Y coordinates of the basic insertion point, respectively. The basic insertion point is where the block instance will be inserted. You may click the drop-down button to designate the point from the drawing screen. This point is also the base insertion point of the block instance from a rectangular or circular array.
• Scale     Two value entry fields specifying the scale factor of the block instance in the X and Y direction, respectively.
• Angle     A value entry field specifying the rotation angle of the block instance with respect to the X-axis direction in units of degrees.

Rectangular Array Group

The Rectangular Array group contains additional parameters to those from the Insertion Basic group for the multiple block instance to be created in rectangular array pattern:

• Column     An integer entry field specifying the number of columns of the rectangular array.
• Row     An integer entry field specifying the number of rows of the rectangular array.
• Space     Two value entry fields specifying the space between columns and rows in drawing unit, respectively.
• Angle     A value entry field specifying the base angle of the array with respect to the X-axis direction in units of degrees.

Circular Array Group

The Circular Array group contains additional parameters to those from the Insertion Basic group for the multiple block instance to be created in circular array pattern:

• Center     Two value entry fields with a drop-down button, specifying the X and Y coordinates of the circular array center, respectively. You may click the drop-down button to designate the center point from the drawing screen.
• Radius     A value entry field specifying the radius of the circular array, which is the distance between the array center to the insertion point of the first block instance from the array.
• Start     A value entry field specifying the starting angle of the first block instance from the array with respect to the array center in units of degrees.
• Span     A value entry field specifying the spanning angle of the circular array with respect to the array center in units of degrees.
• Count     An integer entry field specifying the number of block instance elements will be in the circular array.
• Rotated     An option check box specifying whether to rotate each of the block instance element such that the relative orientation of the block instance with respect to the array center is constant. If this option is not enabled, each block instance element of the circular array will have the same absolute orientation with respect to the X-axis. However, if it is enabled, each element will have the same relative orientation with respect to the array center, thought the absolute orientations are different.

The [Sample] Button

You may click this button to sample an existing block instance from the drawing to setup the current parameters for the new block instance to create. You will be asked to pick up the block instance by the prompt:

Please select the block instance text to sample:

Note that all the parameters will be updated by the block instance you have picked from the drawing except the basic insertion point.

The [Create] Button

After you have setup proper parameter values, you may click this button to create the block instance. If you have checked the "Command line parameters" option, you will be asked to supply the required parameters by the command prompts from the command area. See also INSERT, MINSERT and RINSERT for details.

Other Buttons

You may press the [Help] button to see the helping text. Press the [Cancel] button to end DDINSERT immediately. Pressing <ESC> key also quits DDINSERT.

Special Notes: