You can access the block definition via any instance of that block. The block definition is stored in the magical ether of your drawing file. A copy of a block is know as an ‘instance’ of a block definition. A block ‘ Definition’ and a block ‘ Instance’. Unlike groups you cannot change the geometry in one block without changing all the copies of that block.* Block Definitions and InstancesĪutoCAD Blocks have two parts. Unlike AutoCAD’s Groups If you change the geometry that is contained within a block all copies of that block will also update. The command BURST from Express Tools keeps visual fidelity and also the entered values of variable attributes from the respective block reference.AutoCAD blocks are a way of collecting geometry together into one object which you can use repeatedly in your drawings.The command XPLODE with its option 'Inherit' will keep properties of the block reference - it will change it visually (except attribute values).The command ExplodeIP ('inherit properties', from the ExplodeIP utility - see Download) sets the properties of exploded objects to the layer properties of the layer which hosted the given block reference.The command EXPLODE explodes the block reference to its original definition (definition entities).

The following picture illustrates different methods of exploding a block with attributes, created in multiple layers and inserted into a layer with preset color (blue): Als the block appearance may change (color, linetype, transparency) depending on the method used to set properties (bylayer, byblock). If your block has variable attributes, this standard explode will loose their values - they are replaced with attribute definitions - AttDef. When exploding blocks (block references) inserted in an AutoCAD DWG drawing you will get by default the original block definition. Four methods for exploding blocks in AutoCAD.

Can you explode a block in autocad