By Martin Phelps
“Exploded Blocks” in the “Count” List
Continuing with the “Count” command, another useful function is that the “Count” can identify “Blocks” that have been “Exploded”. The “Blocks” in the drawing below have all been created on “Layer 0” and placed on to another “Layer” and therefore will take on the “Properties” of that “Layer”, in this case the “Colour” red. Once the “Block” is exploded the objects that comprise the “Block” are returned “Layer 0” and now take on its “Properties” including “Colour” which is normally set to white, as shown in Figure 1.
Once the “Block” has been “Exploded” and the “Count Tool Pallet” opened, the number of that type of “Block” will be reduced by the number of “Exploded Blocks”, also a yellow triangle with a black exclamation mark is displayed in the named “Block” row, as shown in Figure 2.
Selecting the yellow Triangle will open the “Count Error Report” pallet, the items that are still “Blocks” are highlighted in “Green”. Any “Block” that has been “Exploded” is shown in “Red”, the “Error Report” also indicates the “Block” has been “Exploded” as shown in Figure 3.
Note: - Using the arrows in the “Count” tool bar will only cycle through the remaining “Blocks”.
If more than one “Block” has been “Exploded” they will all be listed in the “Count Error Report” rollout in the “Count” pallet. If one of the “Exploded Blocks” are selected, AutoCAD will “Zoom” to the “Extents” of the objects that made up the “Block”, as shown in Figure 4.
Note: - Even if the objects that comprise the “Exploded Block” are transferred to another layer, providing the form is the same as the original block, they will still be displayed in the “Count Error Report” list.