INSERT Command

Places a named block or drawing in the current drawing

Command line: insert

Block name (or ?) <current>: Enter a name, enter ? or ~, or press ENTER

Specify the block name. If you enter a block name without a path name or drive letter, AutoCAD LT searches for a currently defined block by that name. If no such block definition exists in the current drawing, AutoCAD LT searches the library path for a file of the same name. If AutoCAD LT finds such a file, the file name is used for the block name when AutoCAD LT inserts the block. AutoCAD LT uses the same block definition for subsequent insertions of that block.

If you load a file as a block, you can give the block a new name:

Block name (or ?) <current>: block name=file name

The name of the last block inserted during the editing session appears as the current block.

Insertion point: Specify a point or enter an insertion point

Insertion Point Options

The insertion point options preset the scale and rotation of a block before you specify its position. This is useful when you are dragging a block, when you normally use a scale factor of 1 and a rotation of 0.

• Scale. Sets the scale factor for the X, Y, and Z axes. The scale for the Z axis is the absolute value of the specified scale factor.
• Xscale. Sets the X scale factor.
• Yscale. Sets the Y scale factor.
• Zscale. Sets the Z scale factor.
• Rotate. Sets the rotation angle.
• PScale. Sets the scale factor for the X, Y, and Z axes of a block that is to be dragged into position.
• PXscale. Sets the scale factor for the X axis of a block that is to be dragged into position.
• PYscale. Sets the scale factor for the Y axis of a block that is to be dragged into position.
• PZscale. Sets the scale factor for the Z axis of a block that is to be dragged into position.
• PRotate. Sets the rotation angle of the block as it is dragged into position.

After you specify a point or enter an option at the Insertion point prompt, AutoCAD LT prompts as follows:

X scale factor <1> / Corner / XYZ: Enter a value or an option, or press ENTER to confirm an X scale factor of 1

Draws a copy of the block with its base point at the specified insertion point and AutoCAD LT rotates the block by the rotation angle, using the insertion point as the center of rotation.

X scale factor (INSERT)

Multiplies the X dimensions of the block by the scale factor supplied.

Y scale factor <default=X>: Specify a scale or press ENTER
Rotation angle <0>: Specify an angle or press ENTER

Corner (INSERT)

Defines the X and Y scales at the same time, using the insertion point and another point as the corners of a box. The X and Y dimensions of the box become the X and Y scale factors.

The insertion point is the first corner.

Other corner: Specify a point
Rotation angle <0>: Specify an angle or press ENTER

XYZ (INSERT)

Scales the block in all three dimensions.

X scale factor <1> / Corner: Specify a scale, enter c, or press ENTER

? List Block Names

Entering ? lists the currently defined block definitions in the drawing. Entering a tilde (~) displays the Select Drawing File dialog box. Preceding the name of the block with an asterisk (*) separates the block's objects during insertion. Use the EXPLODE command to separate the objects in a block after it has been inserted.

Related Commands: BASE specifies a base insertion point in drawings that will be inserted as blocks into other drawings. BLOCK creates a named set of objects that can be inserted into a drawing. DDINSERT inserts a block into a drawing by use of a dialog box. EXPLODE separates the objects in a block. WBLOCK creates a drawing from a block. XREF attaches a drawing to the current drawing and reflects updates made to the attached drawing.
System Variables: INSNAME stores the current block name used by the DDINSERT and INSERT commands.