Graphical elements of a page (such as lines, circles, etc.) can be summarized into a block. You can also break up an already generated block into its individual elements.
Combining individual records into a single record in this way reduces the storage requirements and increases the database access speed. When creating a block, the following cases are handled differently:
- The collection of selected elements contains only graphical objects and language-neutral texts:
In this case, a block is created containing the selected graphical objects. A block reference that graphically represents this block is also inserted into the page. - The collection of selected elements contains one component and several graphical objects or language-neutral texts:
Here too, a block is formed from the graphical objects, but the graphic just appears as part of the component. Other than this, the component behavior is unchanged.
Precondition:
You have opened a project. You have opened an editor such as the graphical editor, the plot frame editor, etc.
- Select the graphical elements that are to be combined into a block and then select the following commands: Tab Edit > Command group Block > Create.
The selected elements are combined to a block and the objects can no longer be individually edited. If objects in the collection of selected elements are grouped, then the grouping is automatically removed before the block is generated. If the collection of selected elements contains more than one logical object and/or language-neutral texts then a message is displayed and the block formation is canceled. - Mark the block that you wish to break up and then select the following commands: Tab Edit > Command group Block > Break up. The block is broken up into its elements and the objects can now be individually edited once more.
See also