SkyCiv Documentation

Your guide to SkyCiv software — tutorials, how-to guides and technical articles

Blocks

Blocks

Blocks are reusable drawing components – a named collection of geometry that can be placed on the canvas multiple times as lightweight instances. Editing the block definition automatically updates all placed instances.

Use the Block Reference panel (right-side accordion) to create, insert, edit, and manage blocks.

Concepts

Block Definition – The template that stores the geometry and a named base point (origin). Changing the definition updates every instance placed on the canvas.

Block Instance – A lightweight reference to a block definition placed at a specific position, with an independent scale and rotation. Instances share the same geometry data – they do not duplicate it.

Base Point – The local origin of the block. When you place an instance, the base point aligns to your clicked position on the canvas.

Block Reference Panel

The Block Reference accordion on the right-hand sidebar contains all block controls. Click the accordion header to expand it. The header shows a count of defined blocks in parentheses.

Panel Controls

Control Description
Block Name Text field for naming a new block definition. Duplicate names are auto-incremented (Block, Block1, Block2…).
Base Point X,Y coordinate field for the block origin. Type coordinates (e.g. 100, 50) or use Pick to click a point on the canvas.
Pick Activates a crosshair cursor. Click anywhere on the canvas to set the base point coordinates.
Create / Add Shows Create when geometry is selected (creates a new block). Shows Add when a block is selected in the list (places a new instance).
Select All Instances Selects every canvas instance of the currently highlighted block definition.
Edit Enters edit mode for a single selected block instance. Only available when exactly one instance is selected.
Update Saves changes made during edit mode back to the block definition, updating all instances.
Cancel Discards all changes made during edit mode and restores the original block definition.
Explode Converts selected block instances back into individual canvas objects at their world positions.
Remove Deletes the selected block definition (and all its instances) or removes selected instances from the canvas.

The block list below the controls shows all defined blocks with their instance count (e.g. Column Detail | 4 instances). Click a row to select that block definition.

Create a Block

Create Block Reference

Convert selected geometry into a named, reusable block

Shortcut
Right-click → Create Block Reference

Select any geometry on the canvas, then use the Block Reference panel or the right-click context menu to convert the selection into a reusable block. The original geometry is removed from the canvas and replaced with a block instance at the same location.

Screenshot

[__INSERT_IMAGE__]

Step-by-step

  1. 1Select the geometry you want to group into a block (lines, arcs, text, dimensions, hatches, etc.).
  2. 2Open the Block Reference accordion and type a name in the Block Name field.
  3. 3Set the Base Point: type X,Y coordinates directly, or click Pick and click a point on the canvas (e.g. the corner or midpoint of the geometry).
  4. 4Click Create. The block definition is added to the list and one instance is placed on the canvas.

Tip: You can also right-click any selection and choose Create Block Reference – it uses the same flow and auto-populates a default name if the Block Name field is empty.

Insert Block Instances

Place Block Instance

Place one or more copies of a block onto the canvas

Once a block is defined, you can place as many instances as needed. Each instance is independent – it has its own position, rotation, and scale – but shares the same underlying geometry with all other instances of that block.

Screenshot

[__INSERT_IMAGE__]

Step-by-step

  1. 1In the Block Reference panel, click the block name in the list to select it.
  2. 2Click Add. The cursor enters placement mode.
  3. 3Click on the canvas to place an instance. The block’s base point aligns to the clicked position.
  4. 4Continue clicking to place more instances. Press Esc or click Add again to exit placement mode.

Tip: Active snap settings apply during placement – use endpoint, midpoint, or grid snaps to position instances precisely relative to other geometry.

Edit a Block

Edit Block

Modify block geometry – changes propagate to all instances automatically

Context menu
Right-click → Edit Block

Block edit mode lets you modify the geometry inside a block definition. While in edit mode, the block’s contents are displayed as editable canvas objects. Any geometry tools (line, arc, text, dimension, etc.) can be used to add or modify the block’s content. Saving the changes updates every instance of that block on the canvas.

Screenshot

[__INSERT_IMAGE__]

Entering edit mode

  1. 1Click a single block instance on the canvas to select it.
  2. 2Click Edit in the Block Reference panel, or right-click and choose Edit Block.
  3. 3The block’s geometry appears as editable items. A bounding highlight shows the block boundary.
  4. 4Draw new geometry or modify existing items inside the block. You can also update the base point using Pick.
  5. 5Click Update to save and exit edit mode – all instances reflect the changes immediately. Click Cancel to discard changes and exit.
✅

Update vs Cancel: Update saves the new geometry to the block definition and refreshes all instances. Cancel restores the original definition – any geometry drawn during edit mode is discarded.

⚠️

Note: Undo and Redo are disabled while in block edit mode. Exit edit mode first (via Update or Cancel) before using Undo/Redo.

Explode a Block

Explode Block

Convert block instances back into individual editable objects

Explode converts one or more selected block instances into their constituent geometry. The geometry is placed at the correct world-space position (factoring in the instance’s position, rotation, and scale). The block definition remains in the library – only the selected instances are affected.

Screenshot

[__INSERT_IMAGE__]

Step-by-step

  1. 1Select one or more block instances on the canvas.
  2. 2Click Explode in the Block Reference panel.
  3. 3The instances are replaced by individual geometry objects. All object properties (layers, colors) are preserved.
⚠️

Note: Exploding is destructive – the instance link to the block definition is broken. If you later edit the block definition, exploded geometry will not be updated. Use Undo if you exploded accidentally.

Block Instance Properties

Block Instance Properties

Adjust per-instance scale independently of the block definition

Context menu
Right-click → Properties

Each block instance has a configurable Scale property that is independent of the block definition and other instances. Open the properties dialog by right-clicking a selected instance and choosing Properties.

Properties

Property Description Default
Scale Uniform scale factor for this instance. 1.0 = 100%, 2.0 = 200%, 0.5 = 50%. 1.0

Dialog buttons

  • Update – Applies the new scale and closes the dialog.
  • Save – Applies the new scale and keeps the dialog open for further edits.
  • Cancel – Closes the dialog without applying changes.

Tip: Press Enter inside the properties dialog to apply and close, or Esc to cancel – no need to reach for the mouse.

Shortcuts

Block commands do not have a default keyboard shortcut assigned, but the Add Selected as Block action is available in the shortcut customization panel (Help → Shortcuts tab) and can be bound to any key combination.

Action Default Shortcut Notes
Add Selected as Block None (customizable) Creates a block from the current selection. Disabled if no geometry is selected or block instances are selected.
Create Block Reference Right-click menu Available in the right-click context menu when geometry (not instances) is selected.
Edit Block Right-click menu Available in the right-click context menu when exactly one block instance is selected.
Exit placement mode / Edit mode Esc Cancels block instance placement without saving.

Supported Content

The following object types can be included inside a block definition:

✔ Lines
✔ Arcs
✔ Circles
✔ Points
✔ Polylines
✔ Text labels
✔ Leader Text
✔ Multi-Leader Text
✔ Dimensions (linear, projected, angle, radius)
✔ Hatches
✔ Revision Clouds
✔ Gridlines / Axes

Not supported inside blocks: Images, construction lines, tables, and nested block instances (blocks within blocks).

Tips & Notes

One edit, many instances: Edit the block definition once and every instance on the canvas is updated automatically – no need to manually revise each copy.

Unique names: Block names must be unique. If you enter a name that already exists, a numeric suffix is added automatically (Block, Block1, Block2…).

Base point matters: The base point is the “handle” used for placement. Set it to a meaningful location – e.g. the bottom-left corner of a detail, or the centre of a bolt pattern – to make insertion snapping predictable.

Select All Instances: Use the Select All Instances button to select every instance of a block at once – handy for bulk moves, layer changes, or exploding all copies together.

Filter selection: In the Filter Selection dialog, enable or disable the Blocks checkbox to control whether block instances are selectable during box or click selection.

Saved in the file: Block definitions and instances are saved with the canvas JSON. When you share or reload a file, all blocks and their instances are fully restored.

How can we help?

×

Updated September 17, 2026

Still stuck? Contact us

Go to Top