Blocks of species symbols are used extensively in landscape CAD drawings. Each block in gCADPlus has a defined base point, and when making a block, that point should be placed at a convenient position—in the centre of a plant symbol, at the edge of a paver, etc. Here, we provide advice on how to do just that.
Manipulating symbols and other grouped entities in a landscape drawing is much easier if the symbol has an appropriate base point. It is not uncommon for blocks to be made with incorrectly located base points, which often makes rotation difficult. We show how to redefine a block and reset the base point, thus making editing a drawing more efficient.
How to redefine the base point of a landscape block. We take a planting symbol with a base point well away from its centre and reset it to anchor it at an appropriate position. The new block is visible when inserted and can be located confidently.
Once the base point is correctly positioned, operations such as rotating and moving are made much more straightforward.
We have made the base point of most species symbols in the gCADPlus library with coordinate 0,0 located in the middle of the symbol. The blue handle shown on the two symbols below can be used to move or rotate the symbol.
This movie shows how to edit a symbol tagged to Buxus sempervirens for more intense colour and vibrancy ‘on the fly’.
More information is needed on the use and manipulation of blocks.