Creating and Utilizing Custom Blocks in DraftSight: A Comprehensive Guide to Mirroring Activities

Creating and Utilizing Custom Blocks in DraftSight: A Comprehensive Guide to Mirroring Activities

The ability to create custom blocks is a feature of DraftSight that not only enhances your productivity but also allows for a more efficient design process. One of the most popular activities within custom blocks is the ability to mirror a block’s entities about a defined axis. This guide will walk you through the process of adding a vertical and a horizontal flip element to a standard plan view door block.

Adding Mirror Elements to a Block

To start, select the block and right-click to display the pop-up menu, then select "Edit Block". This will bring you to the Block Editor, which has its own dedicated background color for easy identification. You'll also notice an extra contextual ribbon tab entitled "Edit Block", which houses all the tools you need for this task.

The first step to adding the mirroring capability is to add an element. All available elements are found in the Element dropdown in the ribbon. Select "Mirror".

You'll be prompted to select the base point of the mirror axis. This is an important step, as it will dictate the placement of your arrow grip. After selecting the base point, you'll be asked to specify the endpoint of the mirror axis. For a horizontal mirror, you'll want to select a point to the right of your base point.

Labeling and Defining Your Element

Next, you'll need to specify the location of the label for your element. This label is not visible to the user but is important for anyone who might edit the block in the future. Therefore, it's good practice to place it near the grip or other element definitions.

Finally, you'll be asked to specify the grip count. This can only be 0 or 1 - 0 will not yield a grip, and 1 will. Once your element is defined, it will show up as a yellow box with an exclamation point inside, indicating that you still need to define its activity.

Assigning Mirror Activities to Your Element

Defining activities for your element is straightforward. In the Activities panel next to the Elements panel in the ribbon, expand the icon to display all available activities. Select "Mirror".

You'll be asked to specify the element currently displayed as the yellow warning. Select it, and then you'll be asked to specify the selection set for the activity. Once this is done, your task of defining mirror activities is complete!

Testing Your Block Activities

After defining both mirror activities, it's time to test them. DraftSight has a Test Block tool that you can use to switch your interface into test mode. Here, you can interact with your block and check its functionality. Once you're satisfied with the result, you can save your work, and the block editor will close.

Conclusion

Defining mirror points in Custom Blocks in DraftSight is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your drafting and design work. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll be able to efficiently create and utilize custom blocks in your projects. If you're looking for powerful and intuitive CAD software, consider DraftSight. And for more information about the newest and most advanced design software technology, don't hesitate to contact our sales team at NOVEDGE.