Creating and Using Tools from Tool Palettes

You can create new tools on a tool palette using the following methods:

• Dragging specified entities from the graphics area onto the palette

  You can create tools from the following entities:

  • Geometric entities
  • Hatches and fills
  • Dimensions, Leaders, and MultiLeaders
  • Text entities
  • Tables
  • Blocks, Dynamic Blocks, and CustomBlocks
  • Referenced drawings and images
  • Hatches and fills
• Copying and pasting entities from the graphics area to the palette
• Copying and pasting tools from one palette to another
• Using the Design Resources context menu to create a palette with Blocks

Some tools are automatically created with a flyout. The tools from the flyouts let you create entities with the same properties as the original entity. To display the flyout, click the arrow on the tool. You can enable or disable the flyout and you can specify the tools to display on the flyout from the Tools Properties dialog box.

Save the palette once you have modified it, otherwise the changes will be lost.

Example:

Dragging a red line from the graphics area onto the palette creates a new tool for creating lines having the same properties as the original line: red color. The tool has a flyout that groups tools for drawing other geometric entities. Tools from the flyout let you create entities with the same properties. For example, the Ellipse tool from the flyout draws red ellipses.

To use tools from a tool palette, click the tool and perform the corresponding steps.

Press Enter or Space to repeat command associated with the last used tool.

To add a tool from existing geometry on a palette:

Note: Before starting, make sure the Tool Palettes is displayed.

1. Create the entity from which to create the tool.
2. On the Tool Palettes, display the palette on which to place the tool. If necessary, create a new palette.
3. In the graphics area, specify the entity from which to create the tool.
4. Press and hold the mouse button and drag the specified entity onto the new palette.

   The new tool appears on the palette.

5. On the palette toolbar, click Save all .

   To use the tool, on the Tool Palettes, click the new tool. The new entity has the properties from the original entity (the red line, in this case).

You can change the properties of the tool. Right-click on the tool and select Properties from the context menu. The Tool Properties dialog box

To add a tool based on an existing Block:

Note: Before starting, make sure the Tool Palettes is displayed.

1. Create the Block from which to create the tool.
2. Save the drawing.
3. On the Tool Palettes, display the palette on which to place the tool. If necessary, create a new palette.
4. In the graphics area, select the Block from which to create the tool.
5. Press and hold the mouse button and drag the specified Block onto the palette.

   The tool for creating the specified Block appears on the Tool Palettes.

6. On the palette toolbar, click Save all .

Note: Tools that you have created from Blocks are automatically updated only if you save the drawing containing the Block definition after modifications.

To insert a Block from the Tool Palettes:

1. On the Tool Palettes, click the new Block tool.

   The Block appears attached to the cursor.

2. In the graphics area, specify the insertion point for the Block, or specify an option:
   • Angle. Sets the rotation angle in the graphics area during insertion.
   • Reference point. Sets a new reference point other than the default insertion point as you drag the Block into position.
   • Uniform scale. Sets an uniform scale factor for the XYZ axes.