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By default, when you create a block, the Insertion Point panel of the PropertyManager does not expand. If you expand this panel, the blue Origin symbol represents the insertion point that is attached to the cursor during block insertion, as shown in Figure 16.15. The angled line hanging off the left side of the block is the leader attachment point for the block. You can also drag this line around the block and snap it to sketch geometry. By default, this block does not use a leader, but if one is required, then you can select it when you place the block.

Cross-Reference

Sketch blocks are covered in some detail in Chapter 3. This chapter is limited to a discussion of blocks that may be found on drawings rather than those used in model sketches or layouts.

FIGURE 16.15

Creating a block

Editing blocks

Although you do not have many options when creating blocks, many more options become available when you edit them. You can access editing options for a block from four locations:

• The Edit Block toolbar button on the Blocks toolbar

• The Edit button in the Block PropertyManager

• Choosing Tools⇒Block⇒Edit from the menus

• From the RMB menu of the block in the Blocks folder in the drawing FeatureManager

The standard edit function gives you access to the sketch and note elements that make up the block.

• Add/Remove Entities. While you are editing the block, the Add/Remove Entities button on the Blocks toolbar becomes available. This enables you to add or remove sketch or note entities from the block definition.

• Rebuild. Rebuild Blocks reapplies sketch relations within the block, without exiting Edit Block mode.

• Explode. Explode is available when you are not editing the block, but when it is selected. Explode returns the contents of that particular instance of the block to the drawing, removing them from the block. This removes any leaders that are attached to the block, as well as sketch relations. This is not technically an edit option, but it certainly does change things.

Using Symbols

SolidWorks symbols are different from symbols that are a part of a font family. SolidWorks symbols fall into several categories, including weld, surface finish, hole, modifying symbols, GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing), and several flag symbols. You can also construct custom symbols.

Using symbols in notes and dimensions

You can use symbols in notes and dimensions. They also are an intrinsic part of weld symbols and surface finish symbols. Hole Callouts use symbols extensively, as do GD&T frames.

Figure 16.16 shows the Text Format panel from the Note PropertyManager and the Dimension Text panel from the Dimension PropertyManager. Both of these interfaces give you access to thesymbol library.

FIGURE 16.16

Accessing symbols and the symbol library

Creating custom symbols

You can create custom symbols in SolidWorks, but creating them may not be as simple as you expect. In the lang\english subfolder of the SolidWorks installation directory is a file called Gtol.sym. This file stores the representations of all the SolidWorks symbols. It is also where you can create symbols of your own. You can edit the file in Notepad.

Be warned, however. Unless you enjoy writing scripts for the command line, or you are a fan of DOS 5.0, you may not want to create custom symbol projects. The format for creating symbols is simple enough, but it is what you might call somewhat arcane. It is effective at creating line-art symbols that can be used with text and can even be used to contain text. If you are a little inventive with this, you can create interesting shapes that integrate with your notes and dimensions.

Keep in mind that this topic does not appear in the Help files, but all the instructions you need are inside the file itself. You may have to experiment a little to discover what the rules are in terms of making shapes outside of the limits of the 1X1 matrix. It is probably easier to create the geometry using Blocks functionality, but blocks cannot