Identity Crisis of Dynamic Blocks

Those using Dynamic Blocks have surely found their functionality quite stellar. That is until they stop being “dynamic”. Dynamic Blocks utilize something called an anonymous block name. This anonymous name is automatically generated by AutoCAD, and helps it manage things like visibility states. There is no real solution to the problem, although there is what I would consider as a workaround. To make your Dynamic Blocks dynamic once more follow the following steps: You will first need to make a copy of the block. This will be simple if you insert your blocks using something such as a tool palette. If you do not insert your blocks using a tool palette than things will be a little trickier, but not too bad.

Inserted from Tool Palette

1. Use the RENAME command to rename the existing block to another name (old block). Anything will do, but just something you can remember.
2. Insert the block once again from the respective Tool Palette (inserts “new block”).
3. Use the “Replace block with another block” command in the Express Tools to replace the “old block” with the “new block” (Express > Blocks > Replace block with another block)

Not inserted from a Tool Palette

1. Use the RENAME command to rename the block to another name (old block). Anything will do, just something you can remember.
2. Use the “Save Block As” function within the Block Editor (BEDIT) to save your block back to its original name (new block). The “Save Block As” button is located to the immediate left of the block name in the Block Editor interface.
3. Use the “Replace block with another block” command in the Express Tools to replace the “old block” with the “new block” (Express > Blocks > Replace block with another block).

While this is not a true solution it does seem to do the trick. Best of all it will traditionally re-preserves the visibility state and other attributes of your pre-existing blocks.