Expert: Bob - 12/3/2008

Question
Using ACAD14 I was able to simply copy part of my drawing and simply paste it into the same drawing having a block with one attribute. With ACAD 2007 using copy for areas of my drawing and then pasting brings whatever I just copied back into single lines. How do I customize a toolbar button to create blocks using copy and paste  like I did with ACAD14?

Answer
Hi--

Not to be rude, but you are making the mistake I see far too  many make--- "they learned on R14, and ignore a decade of progress." I also understand that Autodesk's old attitude made people stop listening to them --- since I first learned at the end of that, I was lucly.

I am of the mindset "Oh, a new version! What can I learn that will make it better/easier for me?"

Starting with 2000, I think, we have right-click context menus (context menu means it is different according to the object selected or  command begun.

Being a slug who always used these menus to select Paste, I notice that one of the choices, for several years, has been PASTE AS BLOCK.
You have to have not disabled the context menus in OPTIONS.

Moreover, I teach to use COPY SELECTION from the right-clicks, normally, to copy within the same drawing --- by default, it has been COPY MULTIPLE for a few releases.  So I would make the block (which means I can name it and choose the insertion point, then copy as many times as I wanted. I dont know how to paste ACCURATELY with the way you mention.

You would need a book on 2004 to catch up on many things, such as the tool palettes --- but then, we get to toolbars, buttons, and all customization, which change completely with 2006.
I could make you a button for PASTE AS BLOCK IN 45 seconds if I were there -- its really easy--- but I cant teach you the chapter here.

In other words, I kindly suggest following my way ---
or (MUCH BETTER) getting a good book on your release and doing all the exercises. I can get most good, but old-fashioned users about 15-20% speed improvement by simply teaching them what Autodesk spent many millions on to add and refine.

You can start with HELP>>> New Features Workshop, to see what has been added. Some of the stuff in each new release fades out quickly, but other parts are great.

Last, EVERYTHING that R14 could do is still in every ensuing release, but not necessarily in the same way.  I am sorry if you need someone to find where the old way is hidden, I dont know it. If you want to stay as you are, write back, and I will try to ask an old hand for you.

BOB