Autodesk AUTOSKETCH 8, User Manual

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Chapter 14 Symbols
A symbol is a group of entities that AutoSketch treats as a single entity. You
can save drawing time and establish a uniform look using symbols.
AutoSketch responds faster and uses less storage space if you use symbols
rather than repeatedly copying entities.
AutoSketch stores the information it needs to draw a symbol once, regardless
of how many times you use the symbol in the drawing. The symbol definition
contains all of the information needed to place a symbol, including its geom-
etry, graphic properties, and default database fields. Each time you place a
symbol, AutoSketch records a symbol instance. A symbol instance marks the
location to insert the image contained in the definition.
While you can assign database information to most entity types, symbols are
the only entity types that can contain database values before you place them.
By creating symbols with default values specified for the type of information
you want to track in your drawing, you can use symbols as building blocks
for your drawing database. For information on storing database fields in
symbols, see
“Creating Symbol Definitions” on page 173 .
A drawing created with symbols is easier to update and maintain than one
without symbols. For example, assume you have a drawing of an office floor-
plan with many identical doors. With symbols, if you decide to redesign the
doors, you need only edit one door and redefine the symbol. All instances of
the symbol are then automatically updated.
Placing a Symbol
AutoSketch provides two methods to place symbols in your drawing. You can
place a symbol by:
■
Entering the basepoint of the symbol
■
Entering two points to align the symbol.
You do not have to use the same snap or lock modifier for both points. That
is, you could use Gridpoint snap for one point and Relative snap for the
other. You can choose the symbol to place at these points using the Content
Librarian.
The Content Librarian allows you to place symbols in a drawing by dragging-
and-dropping a graphic representation of the symbol. You can change which
symbols are available by clicking the drop-down list box and selecting a new
symbol library. Also, you can browse for libraries through the Open Symbol
Library dialog box, which appears when you click the Open Library button,
or click Symbol, Change Library on the Draw menu.