Controlling Color and Linetype Properties in Blocks

Generally when you insert a block, the color and linetype of objects in the block retain their original settings regardless of the current color and linetype settings in the drawing. However, you can create blocks with objects that inherit the current color and linetype settings. These objects have floating color or linetype properties.

You have three choices for how the color and linetype properties of objects are treated when a block reference is inserted.

• Objects in the block do not inherit color and linetype properties from the current settings. The color and linetype properties of objects in the block do not change regardless of the current settings.

  For this choice, it is recommended that you set the layer, color, and linetype properties individually for each object in the block definition: do not use BYBLOCK or BYLAYER color and linetype settings when creating these objects.
  

• Objects in the block inherit color and linetype properties from the color and linetype assigned to the current layer only.
  For this choice, before you create objects to be included in the block definition, set the current layer to 0, and set the current color and linetype to BYLAYER.
  
• Objects inherit color and linetype properties from the current color and linetype that you have set explicitly, that is, that you have set to override the color or linetype assigned to the current layer. If you have not explicitly set the color or linetype, then the color and linetype properties are inherited from the color and linetype assigned to the current layer.

  For this choice, before you create objects to be included in the block definition. set the current color or linetype to BYBLOCK.

Example: Controlling Color and Linetype Properties in Blocks

Floating properties also apply to nested blocks when the nested block references and the objects they contain use the settings required for floating properties.