Sheet Tools - Block Index

Last updated: 2021-06-29

Overview

The Block Index Tool imports a DWG block file and creates a file of printable layout grids containing representations of each block in the drawing.

Usage

Requirement: When launching the tool, the current drawing file should be a blank drawing, or a drawing that contains layouts previously created by the Block Index that need to be updated.

WisDOT Sheets tab > Sheet Creation panel > Sheet Tools dropdown > Block Index

The tool can also be accessed from the command line: BLOCKINDEXCREATE.

Sheet setup

New sheet layouts containing block index grids will be created.

Rows

Enter the number of rows for the block index grid.

Columns

Enter the number of columns for the block index grid.

Page size

Select the desired page size for the layout.

Show insertion point

When the checkbox is toggled on, an "X" will be placed for each block to identify the insertion point.

Show all visibility states

When the checkbox is toggled on, all visibility states for any dynamic blocks in the drawing file will be created in the block index grid. When the checkbox is toggled off only the default state for each dynamic block will be created in the block index grid.

Block drawing name

Select the name of a drawing file containing blocks to be indexed.

Warning: The Block Index tool cannot be run on a drawing that is currently open. Please close the block drawing file to run the tool.

Create

Warning: This tool will delete all existing layouts in a drawing.

Clicking the Create button will start the process. New layouts will be generated creating pages for the index. Layouts will be named using the name of the selected drawing file followed by a four-digit page number.

Tip: When completed, if a displayed layout does not appear to be oriented properly, select a different layout tab or the model space tab, then select the previous layout tab to regenerate the display.

Tip: The Block Index page text is generated using the text style that is set current in the drawing. To control the size and display of the text, set a desired text style current before running the Block Index Tool.