Block

Toolbar	Menu	Shortcut
Block Main Main1	Edit Blocks > Create Block Definition	Command ⌘ + B

Toolbar

Shortcut

Toolbar: Block | Main | Main1

Edit

Blocks >

Create Block Definition

The Block command defines a block object from the selected objects and replaces the selected objects with an instance of the block.

Using blocks lets you

Create parts libraries.
Update all instances by modifying the block definition.
Keep a smaller model size by using block instances instead of copying identical geometry.
Use the BlockManager command to view information about the blocks defined in the model.
Use the Insert command to place block instances into your model, which scales and rotates the instance.

Define a block in a model

Select the objects.
Pick a base point for the block.
This is the point around which the instance will be located, scaled, and rotated when it is inserted.
A block control point is placed at the base point of the block.
Type a name for the block definition.

Block Definition Properties

Name

The name of the block definition.

Description

Optional descriptive information.

Hyperlink

Adds hyperlink information to a block definition. This information can be retrieved with the Hyperlink command.

Description

A description of the URL.

URL

A web address. Click the address to open the page in the default browser.

Define a block by inserting another file into a model

Use the Insert command with the Insert as option set to Block Instance.
A block definition will be added to the model.

To redefine a block

Follow the steps for defining a block and re-use the same block name.

Note

Do not create blocks in a model that are named the same as the model itself.
When inserting a file with the Insert command, the file's ModelBasepoint will determine how the geometry is being located in the new file.

Block Instances and Layers

The properties of the geometry (curves, surfaces, etc.) that are contained in the block instance are controlled either by the layer properties or object properties of the geometry itself. Block instances that you insert to the model insert onto the current layer and can be moved to any other layer. There is no relationship between the block instance's layer and the geometry contained in the block. For example, the block geometry does not change to match the layer color onto which the block instance is inserted.

When the block contains objects on a specific layer, turning that layer off will turn off only the objects on that layer. However, if the layer the block instance is inserted on is turned off, all of the objects will disappear.

Locking Layers

When you lock a layer, only the layer that contains the insertion point of the block instance is locked. If a block has objects that are on the locked layer, but the block instance insertion point is not on that layer, the object itself is not locked because the controlling factor is the layer of the block insertion point.

Groups

Grouped objects will not maintain their grouped status inside a block.

Properties by parent

This option is only useful when creating blocks.

Before you make a block, assign objects color to By parent, then make the block and include the object.

The layer that is current when the block is inserted will control the color and visibility of the objects that were set to By parent.

If color is set By layer or By object, that color is maintained regardless of which layer was current when the block was inserted or the block reference layer.

Assign the object color to By parent in Properties has to happen before the block is made or after in the BlockEdit command.

If an object's properties are By parent, the object will continue to draw as if set to By layer. However, when the object is part of a block, it takes on the properties of the block instance (layer or property).

Linetypes are not supported in the By parent setting.

Example using Parent material

Set the material for Layer 1.
Draw a Sphere on Layer 1.
Select the sphere, and set its material property to Parent.
Use the Block command to turn the sphere into a block.
Set the material for Layer 2 to a different material.
Insert the block from step 4 on Layer 2.
The sphere will display the material assigned to Layer 2 because the block instance is on Layer 2, and the objects in the block are assigned their material By Parent.
Select the block instance, and set its material property to object.
The sphere will change to the object material.

For nested blocks: Blocks made of nested blocks that include objects set to the Parent material are not affected by further nesting.

BlockManager

Toolbar	Menu
Block	Edit Blocks > Block Manager

Toolbar

Toolbar: Block

Block

Edit

Blocks >

Block Manager

The BlockManager command manages the block definitions in the model.

Steps

In the Block Manager dialog box, set block properties.

Block Manager

Block Definitions

Name

Displays a list of block definitions in the model.

Link Status

Displays the status of block instances linked to external files.

Up to date

The block definition and link file match.

Linked file is older

The linked file is older than the block definition.

Linked file is newer

The linked file is newer than the block definition.

Linked file is different

The linked file and the block definition do not match.

Not linked

The block definition was not created by importing a file.

File not found

The file that was used to create the block definition cannot be found.

The missing block location is marked with a text dot object listing the missing block name.

For a description of the process Rhino 5.0 uses to locate files used by worksessions and linked instance definitions, see Rhino Wiki: File finding.

To resolve the issue

Click the Properties button to locate the missing block file, and then click the Update button to restore the missing block.
Or, click Delete to remove the link.

Link File Name

The name of the file that was imported to create the block definition.

Hidden and reference blocks

Model has <n> hidden and <n> reference block definitions.

Show hidden block definitions

Allows display of block names beginning with * (asterisk character).

Show nested reference block definitions

You can look at and modify the properties of nested linked blocks. However, any changes made to nested linked block settings are temporary and are never saved. To permanently change linked block settings, edit the model containing the linked block.

Description

Displays the description field of the block definition.

Embedded and linked blocks should

Always update

Updates externally linked blocks automatically each time the model is opened.

Prompt when update required

Prompts to update externally linked blocks.

When a file opens, the Block Definitions to Update dialog box prompts for action.

Never update

Never updates externally linked blocks and does not prompt.

Block preview image

Turns on a graphical preview of the block.

Preview image right-click menu
Wireframe	Sets the view to Wireframe display mode.
Shaded	Sets the view to Shaded display mode.
Rendered	Sets the view to Rendered display mode.
Top	Sets the view to World Top.
Bottom	Sets the view to World Bottom.
Left	Sets the view to World Left.
Right	Sets the view to World Right.
Back	Sets the view to World Back.
Perspective	Sets the view to World Perspective.

Buttons
Properties	Opens the Block Definition Properties dialog box. Block Definition Properties Block Definition Name The block name. File Name The external file name linked to the block definition. Browse Change the name or location of the external file. External File For a file inserted as block instance. Read linked blocks from this file Blocks linked to the file being inserted are also inserted. Block definition type Blocks linked to the file being inserted are always read as linked blocks, no matter what the Block definition type is. Embed Insert geometry into the current file. This will not update if the external file changes. Embed and link Insert geometry into the current file and maintain a link to the external file. Linked geometry can be updated when the external file changes. If the external file cannot be located, the geometry is still defined in the current file. Link Maintain only a link to the external file. Linked geometry is updated when the external file changes. If the external file cannot be located, the geometry will not appear in the current file. Blocks are saved with both absolute and relative paths. Layer Style Defines how layer names are organized Active Merges layers with the same names. Reference Creates a parent layer using the name of the linked file. Layers in the linked file appear as sub-layers under the parent layer. Description Type an optional description. Hyperlink Adds hyperlink information to a block definition. This information can be retrieved with the Hyperlink command. Description A description of the URL. URL A web address. Click the address to open the page in the default browser.
Export	Exports the blocks' component objects to a file.
Delete	Delete the selected block definitions and all instances of the block in the model. Block definitions nested in another block cannot be deleted.
Update	Redefines the block definition to match the original imported file. Use the information in the Link Status column to determine if the file needs to be updated. Block Definitions to Update This model contains blocks linked to external files that have changed. Select the block definitions to update Name Displays a list of block definitions in the model. Link Status Displays the status of block instances linked to external files. Link File Name The name of the file that was imported to create the block definition. Select All Selects all block definition names in the list. Clear All Clears all block definition names in the list from the selection. Update Later Updating the block definitions is postponed until you update manually or reopen the file. Update Now Updates all of the selected block definitions.
Used by	Lists block definitions that contain the selected block as a nested block.
Count	Counts the number of instances of the block in the model. Nested instances are included in the count.
Select	Selects and highlights block instances of the selected block definition name in the model. If block instances are selected before the Block Manager is opened, those block names will be selected in the Block Definition list.
Refresh	Refreshes the block list, updating the link status and block properties. This is useful when linked block references may have changed outside the current model.

BlockEdit

Toolbar	Menu
Block	Edit Blocks > Edit Block in Place

Toolbar

Toolbar: Block

Block

Edit

Blocks >

Edit Block in Place

The BlockEdit command allows selecting a block instance to change the block geometry and update the block definition.

Steps

Select a block instance to edit.
Or
Double-click a block instance.
The block geometry opens in the Rhino window. All other objects are locked.
You can now edit the geometry in the block using any editing techniques.
When all changes are complete, click OK.

Command-line options
PromptToEditLinkedBlocks	Linked blocks are not stored in the Rhino file, but are a connection to an external model. To edit linked blocks, Rhino opens the external model in a separate instance of Rhino. The current editing session is paused until the external file is locked. Yes Prompts to open a linked block. No Opens the linked block without prompting. In the Edit Linked Block dialog box, checking the Don't ask this question again... box automatically sets the PromptToEditLinkedBlocks to No.

Command-line options

PromptToEditLinkedBlocks

Linked blocks are not stored in the Rhino file, but are a connection to an external model. To edit linked blocks, Rhino opens the external model in a separate instance of Rhino. The current editing session is paused until the external file is locked.

Yes

Prompts to open a linked block.

No

Opens the linked block without prompting.

In the Edit Linked Block dialog box, checking the Don't ask this question again... box automatically sets the PromptToEditLinkedBlocks to No.

Block Edit options

The Block Edit dialog box displays the block name and a list of any blocks nested in it.

Add Object

Adds selected objects to the block definition. If the selected object is a block, this becomes a nested block and will display in the tree the next time the BlockEdit command is run.

The object added is copied to the block definition and the original object remains in the model.

Remove Object

Removes selected objects from the block definition.

When the block is updated, the removed objects are added to the model as separate individual objects.

Set Base Point

Repositions the block insertion point.

When the block is updated, the block instance will shift so the new insertion point is placed at the block insertion location.

Notes

Hidden or locked objects are not supported in block definitions. therefore, a warning dialog will appear if you have locked or hidden objects giving you the option to leave objects hidden or locked and remove them from the block definition or to show and or unlock the objects to make further edits.
Linked blocks in use by another user cannot be edited.

ReplaceBlock

Toolbar	Menu
Block	Not on menus.

Toolbar

Toolbar: Block

Block

Not on menus.

The ReplaceBlock command redefines selected block instances with a different block definition.

Steps

Select block instances to change and press Enter.
If you select one of several instances in the model, a command-line message displays the number of additional instances in the model.
Select a block instance that uses the desired block definition.
Or select a block definition from the list.

Command-line options
SelectFromBlockDefinitionList	Displays a list of block definitions in the model to select from.
All	Selects all instances of the current block definition including unselected, hidden, and locked instances.
None	Selects no additional instances. Only the selected instances will be changed. Or Select a block from the definition list.

Command-line options

SelectFromBlockDefinitionList

Displays a list of block definitions in the model to select from.

All

Selects all instances of the current block definition including unselected, hidden, and locked instances.

None

Selects no additional instances. Only the selected instances will be changed.

Select a block from the definition list.

CopyLinkedBlockDefinition

The CopyLinkedBlockDefinition copies a linked block with Reference style layers.

To create your own example:

Create a simple file called BlockDef.3dm that will be used as a block definition.
Start a new model called "FancyModel.3dm".
Use the Insert command to create a linked block definition with "reference style" layers.
Name this block "A".
Run the CopyLinkedBlockDefinition command and copy "A" to new block named "B".
Run the CopyLinkedBlockDefinition command and copy "A" to new block named "C".
Adjust the layer settings for the three blocks.
Run BlockManager and see that you have three linked blocks that reference the same "BlockDef.3dm".

Block

Using blocks lets you

Define a block in a model

Name

Description

Hyperlink

Description

URL

Define a block by inserting another file into a model

To redefine a block

Note

Block Instances and Layers

Locking Layers

Groups

Properties by parent

Example using Parent material

BlockManager

Steps

Block Definitions

Name

Link Status

Up to date

Linked file is older

Linked file is newer

Linked file is different

Not linked

File not found

To resolve the issue

Link File Name

Hidden and reference blocks

Show hidden block definitions

Show nested reference block definitions

Description

Embedded and linked blocks should

Always update

Prompt when update required

Never update

Block preview image

Block Definition Name

File Name

Browse

External File

Read linked blocks from this file

Block definition type

Embed

Embed and link

Link

Layer Style

Active

Reference

Description

Hyperlink

Description

URL

Select the block definitions to update

Name

Link Status

Link File Name

Select All

Clear All

Update Later

Update Now

BlockEdit

Steps

Yes

No

Add Object

Remove Object

Set Base Point

Notes

ReplaceBlock

Steps

CopyLinkedBlockDefinition

To create your own example:

See also