Working with blocks and codes

CivilCAD software allows for the display of coordinates within a project drawing using predefined blocks.

After installing the software, you can find the libraries containing the software's blocks under the installation directory in the 'Codes' folder. The main libraries we will work with are 'MainHeb,' which contains blocks in Hebrew, and 'Main,' which contains the same blocks in English. If we access the 'Codes' directory through the file explorer, we can see that each block library also includes DWT files with the same name. For example, the 'MainHeb' library has a file named 'MainHeb.dwt.' These files define all the blocks of the library (see 'Working with Codes' in this chapter).

The directory is located at the default path: C:\User\MyDocuments\CivilCAD\Codes. This folder contains several sets of codes used by surveyors to mark specific coordinate features using blocks.

To select a suitable set, right-click on 'Topography coordinates → Codes.' A code window will open on the right. Click the 'Open set' button and choose the code set that fits your needs. You can also create a custom code set.

Creating a Custom Code Set

You should create the set within the Prototype project.

1. Open the Prototype project and right-click on 'Topography coordinates → Codes.'

2. Click on the 'New Set' button (top right of the window), enter a name for the new set, and click 'OK,' or click 'Open set' and select a set from the list to add codes to an existing set.

3. Click on the 'New Block' button (bottom right of the window) to create a new block with a code.

4. Enter a desired name for the block with the new code and click 'Browse file name' to choose the DWG file for the block.

5. Click 'Set the changes to the block' to save the settings.

6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each block with a code.

After creating all the blocks, open each block's DWG file in ACAD and save it as a DXF file in the oldest version possible.

Both the DWG and DXF files of the block must be located in the same directory.

Operations in the Codes Window

- New Set: Opens a new block library. Clicking this button will display a window with the names of existing libraries. Enter the new library name next to 'New set' and click 'OK.' The libraries are located in the 'CODES' directory, which by default is at:

C:\User\MyDocuments\CivilCAD\Codes

- Erase set: Clicking this button and then selecting the library from the dropdown list will permanently delete the library from the list and the 'Codes' directory.

- Open set: Opens an existing block library. Clicking this button will display a list of existing libraries in a new window. After selecting the library, click 'OK.'

- Set block as default: After selecting the block from the block list, clicking this button will set the chosen block as the default block. This block will be assigned to coordinates without a defined code in the coordinates list.

- Preview: Displays a preview of the block. Clicking this button will load the block into the graphic environment and display it on the screen. This action deletes the existing drawing, so you must click 'Refresh all' afterward. Note that this action will only restore layers related to CivilCAD 10.

- Browse file name: Selects a block file from the block directory. To choose a new block and add it to the library, open this window and select the desired block. The block's file name will automatically appear in the text field.

- New Block: Defines a new block. To select a block from the list, open the block list window by clicking '...' After selecting the block from the list, the file name will appear next to 'File-name.' Enter the block's name next to 'Blocks-name,' and enter the layer name next to 'Layer.' Use the same layer for all blocks in the same library. Enter the code number chosen for the new block next to 'Code.' This is the code you will enter in the coordinates list to use this block. After defining all the data for the new block, click it, and it will be added to the code list at the top of this window.

- Erase block: Removes a block from the library. This button removes the block from the block list but does not delete its file from the directory to which it belongs, so you can restore it to the list later.

Defining Colors in the Template File

Another advantage of working on a project with blocks in CivilCAD software is the ability to define colors in layers created by the software in advance. For further details, see the chapter on 'Working with CAD Standard.'