You can use symbols, sketched symbols, and blocks to annotate drawings. Symbols are predefined annotations such as surface texture, features control frame, or datum identifier. Sketched symbols are user-defined annotations. Blocks are AutoCAD block objects.
In the browser, click the Drawing Resources folder, and then click the Sketched Symbols folder to see a list of available symbols. After you place a symbol, each instance is listed in the Sketched Symbols browser folder for the current sheet. Define your own folders, under the Sketched Symbol folder, to organize your symbols.
Here are some guidelines to help you create and use sketched symbols:
When you edit the .bmp file, a linked bitmap image in the sketched symbol is updated automatically. If you embed the bitmap, the copy in the drawing is not updated when you edit the .bmp file.
Instead of deleting a leader, consider turning off its visibility. Invisible leaders retain symbol association with model properties.
You cannot create AutoCAD blocks in Inventor. If blocks exist in an AutoCAD dwg file then they will be available when the file is opened in Inventor. You can also import AutoCAD blocks using the Import Block command. Blocks can only be imported to .dwg files. The block definition is not editable in Inventor.
In the browser, click the Drawing Resources folder, and then click the AutoCAD Blocks folder to see a list of block definitions. After you place a block, each instance is listed in the AutoCAD Blocks browser folder for each sheet.
Here are some guidelines to help you use blocks:
By Layer | The object inherits the properties of the layer the block is placed on. |
By Block | The object inherits property overrides for the block, then properties of the layer. |
Override | The object maintains the property and does not inherit properties from the layer or property overrides. For example, you set the object property to red in the block definition, the object will always be red. |
In drawings and drawing templates, expand the Drawing Resources folder in the browser to show available symbols in the Sketched Symbols folder. A sketched symbol can contain geometry, text, iProperties, and imported bitmap images. New sketched symbols are added to the Sketched Symbols folder.
If you prefer, right-click the Sketched Symbols folder in the browser and select Define New Symbol.
Define folders under your Sketched Symbols folder in the drawing browser. Use them to group your symbols as dictated by your design needs. You can choose to populate your drawing browser with folders before you create symbols. Then, as you create symbols, you move them into the appropriate folders. Alternatively, you can create all symbols, then define your folders and move the symbols into them. Use these techniques, or a combination thereof, to order your symbols in the drawing browser.
You have two methods available to create your symbol folders. You can create empty folders, or pre-select symbol nodes and add them to new folders. User-defined symbol folders are represented by distinctive icons ( Open Folder: : Closed Folder:
) and they exhibit the same open and close behavior as other Inventor browser folders.
Right-click the Sketched Symbols folder, or one of your user-defined folders, and select Create New Folder. The new folder is created as a child node of the folder on which you right-clicked.
Select sketched symbol nodes, right-click and select Add to New Folder. To add multiple nodes simultaneously, you can select nodes in a contiguous or non-contiguous group then add them to the new folder.
Edit folders: drag and drop behavior
You can drag and drop single or multiple browser nodes into your folders. Likewise, you can remove nodes from your folders. The drag and drop behavior is similar to that of the Windows Explorer.
You can open the Symbols dialog from your folder nodes and place symbols in your drawing. Right-click a folder or symbol node and select Symbols. You cannot drag symbols from your folders and drop them into the drawing window.
Right-click your symbol folder and select Delete Folder. The folder is deleted, but the folder items remain. You cannot simultaneously delete multiple folders.
Add a sketched symbol to a drawing
![]() | You can add sketched symbols as annotations to the active drawing file. In the browser, available symbols are listed under Sketched Symbols in the Drawing Resources folder. |
After you place symbols in a drawing, the browser lists each instance in the Sketched Symbols folder for the sheet.
You can create sketched symbols. New symbols are available only in the current drawing, but symbols created in a template are available to all drawings that use that template.
Add a sketched symbol to the active sheet
Stack a symbol to another symbol
If you prefer, double-click the symbol in the Sketched Symbols folder.
The symbol is placed using the default scale and rotation angle and leader setting. Right-click and select Edit Symbol to modify settings.
Move, rotate, or resize a symbol
![]() | You can add blocks as annotations to the active drawing file when working in a .dwg file. In the browser, block definitions are listed under AutoCAD Blocks in the Drawing Resources folder. |
After you place blocks in a drawing, the browser lists each instance in the AutoCAD Blocks folder for the sheet.
You cannot create block definitions in Inventor. Blocks can be created in AutoCAD and imported into Inventor.
Place a block using the AutoCAD Blocks dialog box
Place a block using the Insert command
The block is placed using the default scale and rotation angle. Right-click and select Edit AutoCAD Block to modify settings.
Move, rotate, or resize a block
The color, target size, line attributes, and measurement units of the symbol are determined by the Datum Target style of the layer and object style of the symbol.
Continue placing datum target symbols. When you finish placing symbols, right-click, and then choose Done from the menu to end the operation.
Add a feature control frame symbol
![]() | Use Feature Control Frame to create a feature control frame symbol. You can create a feature control frame with a leader line or as a stand-alone symbol. |
The color, target size, line attributes, and measurement units of the symbol are determined by the feature control frame style.
Add a feature identifier symbol
Sketched symbols can include text, sketch geometry, bitmaps, and model properties.
Sketched symbols with leaders can be associated with model properties. Changes to the model properties are automatically updated with the symbol. If a leader is not created or is deleted, the symbol loses its association to model properties.
Edit symbol values or elements
You can change any value or element that was assigned when a symbol was created.
You can move a symbol by lengthening or shortening any segment of a symbol leader line or by moving the symbol, the start point, or any vertex. You can move datum identifiers, callout symbols, and feature control frames by moving their leaders.
Move a datum identifier or symbol
Move a feature control frame
You can change the terminator for individual symbols.
You can copy existing symbols and paste them in your drawings as new symbols to quickly and easily create new symbols.
On the Annotate tab, Format panel, click the arrow on the Style list and select a style when creating a symbol or to modify a selected symbol. Optionally, edit the default settings for the symbol in Style and Standard Editor.
You can add a branch to an existing leader to enable pointing to multiple locations.
You can edit the position, size, and attributes of block instances. You cannot edit the block definition in Inventor. Open the drawing in AutoCAD to modify the block definition.
You can change any attribute that was assigned when a block was inserted.
You can open the current dwg file in AutoCAD in order to modify block definitions. AutoCAD must be installed on the computer.
You can copy existing blocks and paste them in your drawings as new blocks to quickly and easily create new blocks.
You can create a rectangular pattern of symbols or AutoCAD blocks on a drawing sheet. This command creates multiple copies of symbols or blocks with a uniform distance between instances. This command works with Inventor symbols, sketched symbols, and AutoCAD blocks. The pattern operation is a copy operation and the position of the symbols is not associative.
Import AutoCAD block definitions
You can import blocks from any dwg file into the current dwg file. A block instance is inserted onto the current drawing sheet and listed in the AutoCAD Blocks folder under the Sheet node in the browser. The block definition is listed in the browser in the AutoCAD Blocks folder in the Drawing Resources folder.
If there is no preview available for the block, a "?" icon is shown in the Block Definitions area of the Import AutoCAD Block dialog box.
When inserting a block with the same name as an existing block in the target file, the new block is inserted as "Copy of [duplicate name]" in the target file.
Dynamic blocks are inserted using the default configuration from the block definition.
Add symbols to prompted entries
Adds sketched symbols to a drawing sheet. You can rotate and scale the symbols as you add them, add leaders, and associate the symbols to views on the sheet.
Edit Property Fields, Prompted Texts, Attributes
Sets or changes the values of prompted entries and iProperties in a title block, border, or sketched symbol. The iProperties are edited in the Properties dialog box, which is displayed when you click iProperties in the Edit Property Fields dialog box.
If a sketched symbol is created without a leader or edited to delete a leader, it loses its association with model properties. Restoring a leader re-associates the symbol with model properties.
Access: | In the browser, right-click a sketched symbol, border, or the Field Text entry of a title block, and then select Edit Field Text. The dialog box displays automatically when you insert a title block, border, or sketched symbol containing prompted entries in the drawing. |
Use the Reorder Prompted Entries dialog box to change the order of prompted entries included in a drawing resource, for example in a sketched symbol or title block.
The ordered list of prompted entries is displayed in the Edit Property Fields and Prompted Texts dialog box.
Access: | In the drawing browser, right-click a drawing resource which includes 2 or more prompted entries, and select Reorder Prompted Entries from the menu. |
Prompted Entries | Lists all prompted entries included in the selected drawing resource object. Select one or several prompted entries in the list to move them to the desired position. |
Move Down | Moves the selected prompted entry (entries) one row down in the list. Available only if one or several contiguous prompted entries are selected. |
Move Up | Moves the selected prompted entry (entries) one row up in the list. Available only if one or several contiguous prompted entries are selected. |
View blocks are created for each base view and projected view in a DWG drawing sheet when the DWG drawing is saved.
The view blocks display in the browser in the AutoCAD blocks folder under Drawing Resources. You can rotate and scale the blocks as you add them.
Blocks can also be imported from AutoCAD dwg files. Blocks can be inserted onto a drawing sheet similar to sketched symbols.
Access: | In the Model browser, click to expand the Drawing Resources folder and then click to expand the AutoCAD Blocks folder. Right-click one of the entries and select AutoCAD Blocks from the context menu. |
AutoCAD Block list | Shows the AutoCAD Blocks available in the drawing. The default order is the same as the browser. Click to a symbol to select it. Contents can be sorted using drag and drop or right-click in the list and choose Sort by Name. |
Scale | Sets the scale for the block, relative to the drawing sheet. |
Rotate | Specifies the degrees of rotation around the block insertion point. If the block does not have a defined insertion point, rotates the symbol around its center. |
Static | Specifies if the block can be manually resized and rotated on the drawing sheet. Select the Static check box to turn off scale and rotation grip points on the block. Clear the check box to allow manual resizing and rotation of the block. |
Adds AutoCAD Blocks to a drawing sheet from another dwg file. The block definition is copied into the current dwg file and an instance of the block is inserted onto the current sheet. You can set rotate and scale values in the dialog box.
Creates a rectangular pattern of the selected symbols/blocks. This command works with Inventor symbols, sketched symbols, and AutoCAD blocks. The pattern operation is a copy operation and the position of the symbols is not associative.
Access: | Right-click on any inserted symbol or block and select Pattern Symbols/Blocks. You can right-click on the symbol/block in the browser or the graphics window. |
![]() | Symbols / Blocks selects one or more symbols, sketched symbols, or blocks to include in the pattern. |
Sets the format for numeric information for measurement units in text, feature control frames, and datum target symbols.
Access: | Select an existing text box, feature control frame, or datum target symbol. Right-click and select Edit Unit Attributes. |
Sets the format for the measurement units to the settings specified by the active standard style when the selected symbol was placed.
Check the box to use the settings in the drafting standard. Remove the check mark to change the settings for the selected text box, feature control frame, or datum target symbol.
Changes the format of the primary units of measure for numeric information in the selected text box, feature control frame, or datum target symbol. | |
Linear | Sets the units of measurement. Click the arrow and select from the list. If no unit type is specified, the unit type of the applicable drafting standard is used. |
Decimal Marker | Specifies the character to use as a decimal. Click the arrow and select from the list. |
Unit String | Displays the primary unit type after the value in the selected text, feature control frame, or datum target symbol. Select the box to display the unit type, clear the check mark to hide the unit type. |
Leading Zeros | Shows or suppresses the display of leading zeros in values. Select the box to display leading zeros, clear the check mark to suppress them. |
Trailing zeros | Shows or suppresses the display of trailing zeros in values. Select the box to display trailing zeros, clear the check mark to suppress them. |
Alternate Units | Displays or hides alternate units. Select the box to display alternate units, clear the check mark to hide them. |
Display style | Sets the display style for alternate units. Click the arrow and select from the list. |
Changes the format of the secondary units of measure for values for numeric information in the selected text box, feature control frame, or datum target symbol. Not available unless Display Alternate Units is selected. | |
Linear | Sets the units of measurement. Click the arrow and select from the list. If no unit type is specified, the unit type of the applicable drafting standard is used. |
Decimal | Specifies the character to use as a decimal. Click the arrow and select from the list. |
Unit String | Displays the alternate unit type after the value in the selected text box, feature control frame, or datum target symbol. Select the box to display the unit type, clear the check mark to hide the unit type. |
Leading Zeros | Shows or suppresses the display of leading zeros. Select the box to display trailing zeros, clear the check mark to suppress them. |
Trailing zeros | Shows or suppresses the display of trailing zeros. Select the box to display trailing zeros, clear the check mark to suppress them. |
Precision | Sets the decimal precision for display of alternate units. Click the arrow and select from the list. |
![]() | Specifies the content of a surface texture symbol. The options in the dialog box are determined by the surface texture style. |