Block Libraries
Block libraries are collections of Block definitions stored in the Cloud.
You can use predefined block libraries provided with the applications or group your own Block definitions into block libraries and share them with your colleagues. You can create new block libraries and upload Block definitions. You must save each Block definition in a separate drawing (DWG file).
Once you have created a block library, you can use it in the application. If necessary, you can share it with your colleagues.
All block libraries are stored on the default cloud service. You can access them from the Block Library Manager.
The Block Library Manager lists all available block libraries. You can access the Block Library Manager from the Trinity Block Libraries palette.
The BLOCKLIBRARY command displays the Trinity Block Library palette.
The Trinity Block Library Palette
All block libraries are accessible from the Trinity Block Libraries palette. At any time, you can insert Blocks into your drawing.
From the Trinity Block Library palette, you can:
Access the Block Library Manager
Display Blocks from a specified block library
Insert Blocks from the current block library into the active drawing
Delete Blocks from the current block library
Search a Block in the current block library
Control the display of Blocks in the Trinity Block Library palette.
Use the BLOCKLIBRARY command to display the Trinity Block Libraries palette.
Toolbar
Use the buttons on the toolbar at the top of the Trinity Block Library palette to access and use Blocks from your block libraries.
Block library drop-down list: Displays available block libraries.
Insert
: Lets you insert the specified Block in the graphics area.
Delete
: Deletes the specified Block.
Open block library
: Opens the Block Library Manager.
Displays a file selection dialog box for choosing a drawing file or one of its Block definitions to insert into the current drawing as a Block.
Display options
: Click the arrow to select one of these display modes:
Display thumbnails and captions
Display only thumbnails
The Sort by option lets you display the Blocks in an ascending or descending order according to the drawing name.
Refresh
: Refreshes the list of available block libraries and the gallery. For example, if new Blocks were added externally to the current block library, they will be displayed in the gallery.
Search filed
Lets you filter the Blocks displayed in the gallery by specifying a part of their name. When you are typing a string, the gallery filters the Blocks from the specified block library and displays only Blocks that contain the specified sequence of characters in their name. Filtering based on the Block name is always case insensitive.
To remove the active filter, click Close on the right side of the search field.
Block gallery
Displays thumbnails for each Block from the block library. Thumbnails update when you modify and save the Block. Optionally, you can display captions for thumbnails.
Right-clicking a thumbnail displays a menu with the following options:
Insert. Inserts the specified Block as if you used the InsertBlock command.
Delete. Deletes the specified Block from the block library.
To insert a Block from the Trinity Block Library palette:
Do one of the following:
Drag a Block into the active drawing.
Right-click a Block and select Insert from the context menu.
Adding New Libraries
You can use predefined block libraries provided with the applications or group your own block definitions into block libraries and share them with your colleagues. You can create new block libraries and load block definitions. You must save each block definition in a separate drawing (DWG file).
Once you have created a block library, you can use it in the application. If necessary, you can share it with your colleagues.
Trinity Block Library
All block libraries are stored in the default cloud service and will be accessible to ARES Commander, ARES Kudo, and ARES Touch. You can access them in the Block Library Manager.
The Block Library Manager lists all available block libraries. You can access the Block Library Manager from the Trinity Block Libraries palette.
The BlockLibrary command displays the Trinity Block Library palette.
You can define your own block libraries in addition to the predefined ones.
The workflow for defining a custom block library includes the following steps:
Save your block definitions in separate drawings.
Create a block library.
Upload drawings to the block library.
Once you have created a block library, you can use it in the application. If necessary, you can share it with your colleagues.
To create a block library:
Note: Before you begin, make sure you have saved your block definitions in separate drawings.
In the Trinity Block Library palette, click
The Block Library Manager opens in a web browser window. Available block libraries are listed under Trinity Block Library.
Click Create new block library
In the Create new block library dialog box, specify the name of the block library.
To make the block library available to all your colleagues, enable Is organization library.
Click Create.
The block library appears in the list. You can add blocks.
To add Blocks to a block library:
Note: You can only add Blocks to block libraries that you have created.
In the Trinity Block Library palette, click Open Block Library
The Block Library Manager opens in a web browser window.
In Trinity Block Library, click the block library to which you want to add Blocks.
Click Upload New Block
Navigate to the folder where you stored your Blocks.
Select the drawings in which you saved the Block definitions and click Open.
The designs will appear in the list and will be available in the Trinity Block Library palette when you upload the block library.
Another option to upload your designs is:
Log in to your ARES Kudo account.
In the top right corner of the page, go to Resources.
In the menu on the left of the page, click on "Trinity Block Library".
Click on "New Library".
Select "Is Organization Library", if other users are going to use the content of the Library.
Click on the Library icon to enter the folder, then use the "Upload New Block" option
Another option, if you only need to have your Block Libraries available locally, is to use the Design Resources functionality. With this functionality, you can easily access your Blocks, but also other resources used in your drawings.
The Design Resources functionality in ARES Commander allows you to access and reuse resources from other drawings on your computer or network.
Here is an overview of its features:
Accessing Design Resources:
- Open the Design Resources palette by typing `DesignResources` or using the `Tools > Design Resources` menu option.
- Alternatively, press `Ctrl + 2` to toggle the palette.
Palette structure:
- Computer tab: Displays resources from your computer or connected network locations.
- Open Files tab: Shows the contents of currently open drawings.
- The palette includes sections for browsing resources, viewing content, and previewing items.
Supported resources:
- You can browse and import Blocks, Layers, Line Styles, Dimension Styles, Text Styles, Table Styles, Reference drawings, and Layout Sheets.
Using Resources:
- Drag and drop items such as Blocks or Layers directly into your drawing.
- Copy and paste resources from other drawings.
- Insert blocks or attach references from other drawings.
Creating tool palettes:
- You can create a tool palette for blocks in a folder or drawing using the Design Resources palette. This helps you organize and quickly access frequently used blocks.
Navigation and Favorites:
- Navigate through folders and files using the tree view.
- Add frequently used resources to the Favorites folder for quick access.
For a visual guide, you can explore the Design Resources video available on the ARES Commander YouTube channel: Design Resources Video.