How to create and use Coordinate Blocks

Creating and using Coordinate Blocks  

When starting with existing CAD plans, we will first need to generate Points From CAD, as this will create usable 3d coded points. We can do this by backclothing the CAD data within a Model and selecting the Points --> Generate From function. For more information, please see the following link: https://help.appsincadd.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360002481538-Generating-Points-From-Lines-Symbols-Contours-Points- 

Note: Please ensure that the CAD data has been exploded.

Once the Model points are generated, we can now start creating the Coordinate Block. To do this, we will need to add the Points to the List by using the Select List --> Inside --> Rectangle function, which tells n4ce which points you want to include in the Block. Other list-picking methods can also be used, such as "Indicate".

Following this, we can now select List --> To Block. Select the Origin Point followed by the Alignment Point as shown in the image below.

Origin Point Selected	Origin and Alignment Point Selected

To place the Coordinate Block in a model, select Points --> Block Place. 

1 Point: Allows you to specify the origin for the points simply.

2 Point: Allows you to specify the origin and an orientation for the points.

3 Point: Allows you to specify the origin and orientation for the points, along with a third point that determines the side to which the points will be created.

Once we have selected the insertion method, we now need to tell n4ce how it should generate the heights for each point. In this case, I am going to use Assigned.

Assigned: Places the Block using the heights already allocated to each Point.

Typed: All of the points will use the same height, which is specified within the Heights Field in the image below.

Relative: Uses the Assigned Point Heights with an offset value chosen from the Delta Field below.
Origin Lock: Uses the height difference between the block origin and the indicated origin point as a relative offset for all the new points.