QCAD.org Forum

Ver. 3.18.1, OS：win7
Hello, I got a problem about changing the copy of block. After I copy & paste a block, trying to change the clone, then return to main drawing. I found that the original block also changed. I've tried to move the clone to other layer or change the properties of the clone but in vain. Can anybody told me how to solve this problem? Thanks!

Robin

If you select and copy a block in the main drawing, you are actually copying a "block reference". That's like a pointer to a block, not the actual block. A block reference to "MyBlock" basically tells QCAD "display block "MyBlock" here with a given scale, rotation, etc.". Copying a block reference just creates another reference to the very same block.

If you want to create a new, independent block, you have to copy the block, not the block reference. You can duplicate a block in the block list:
- View > Block List
- Right-click on the block and choose Copy Block
- QCAD creates a new block, with a new name and initially the same contents as the original block. You can now insert that new block and edit it, etc.

Thanks for your explanation. That is to say, if I want to create some blocks of little differences, I still have to create the same number of blocks, then edit them, right? It can't just like copying simple shapes and editing them directly, right?

Yes. You can only use the same block multiple times if you wish to display the exact same contents with perhaps a different scale, rotation and position. Colors of entities in blocks can also vary (attribute value "By Block").