AutoCAD WBLOCK Command: Save a Block to a DWG File
Writes a block, selected objects or the entire drawing to a new DWG file.
- Command
- WBLOCK
- Aliases
- W
- English name
- Write Block
The AutoCAD WBLOCK command writes a block definition, selected objects or the entire drawing to a separate DWG file on disk. Blocks made with BLOCK live only in their drawing; WBLOCK turns them into standalone files you can use in other projects.
In the Write Block dialog you first choose the source: Block writes an existing block definition, Entire drawing writes the whole drawing, and Objects writes the objects you select. With Objects you also set the base point and decide whether the objects stay in the drawing.
Because Entire drawing leaves unused definitions behind, it is a well-known way to clean up heavy or problematic drawings.
How to use it
- Type WBLOCK or W and press Enter.
- Under Source, choose Block, Entire drawing or Objects.
- For Objects, pick the base point, select the objects and choose Retain, Convert to block or Delete from drawing.
- Under Destination, enter the file name and folder and set Insert units if needed.
- Click OK to write the file.
Options
- Block
- Writes an existing block definition chosen from the list.
- Entire drawing
- Writes the whole current drawing to a new file, without unused definitions.
- Objects
- Writes the selected objects with the base point you specify.
- Retain / Convert to block / Delete from drawing
- Decides what happens to the selected objects when the source is Objects.
- Destination
- File name, location and insert units of the new DWG file.
Notes and tips
- To build a block library, write each block to its own file with WBLOCK and keep them in one folder; insert them with INSERT.
- The base point of the new file is the reference point used when inserting it, so choose a meaningful one.
- After using Entire drawing, check that layer states and layouts came across the way you expect.