Topic: Locking a Block

[Krushert]

YES  once a block is made; using the BLOCK command that block should be INSERTED always, and NEVER copied.
the copy and paste as block function should always be avoided...and yes copying that pasted as block STILL bloats the file and creates yet more unnamed blocks...both BAD cad habits to engage in.
As I am oft reminded; Just because you can, never means one should do anything.
Yes one can copy, and paste as block...however it creates unnamed blocks which autocad really doesn't like much at all.

Okay you still have not sold me on why I should not copy a block from one file and paste into other file.  I need the nitty and gritty details on how and why it bloats the file. 

[craigr]

To carry this further....

I have all of these 'Anonymous' blocks within the dwg. Is there an easy way to rename them?

I did a search on this forum about it and seen where someone mentioned creating a routine to do it, so I am guessing it isn't easy.

[Bob Wahr]

You could use the RENAME command.  If you insert them to begin with instead of copy/pasting, you will no longer have that problem though.

[Kerry]

< .. >

Yes one can copy, and paste as block...however it creates unnamed blocks which autocad really doesn't like much at all.

AutoCAD doesn't care if you use anonymous blocks, just grumpy old CAD people do

And anyone trying to extract from attributes from named blocks ....  
And anyone attempting to do a block count of named blocks.

Copy is not an issue.
Paste as block can be.

[danallen]

I think we are confusing unnamed blocks (*D1411)  vs anonymous blocks (A$C67ED2DB0) . I've only experienced unnamed blocks when getting DWG files imported from other programs and are nasty as they can't be renamed only exploded except with programs. (except the ones AutoCAD creates with dimensions but they have never gotten in my way). Anonymous blocks behave just like named blocks, except the names are meaningless. AutoCAD even treats anonymous blocks the same as "defined" or "user" when listed using -block > ? command.

And anyone trying to extract from attributes from named blocks ....  
And anyone attempting to do a block count of named blocks.

Copy is not an issue.
Paste as block can be.