1. Left click in the cell you wish to insert a block.
2. Right click to display the menu.
3. Select Insert / Block from the menu.
4. Select the Block name (a preview appears)
5. Select the Scale.
Note: AutoFit will automatically size the block to fit within the cell.
6. Select Rotation angle.
7. Select the Overall cell alignment.
8. Select the OK button.
How to Insert a Formula into a Cell
You may apply simple numerical operations such as Sum, Average, Count, set cells equal to other cells or even add an equation of your own. The following examples are for Sum and Average operations.
SUM
1. Click in the Cell in which you want to enter the Sum formula.
2. Right click and select: Insert / Formula / Sum
3. The following instruction appears on the Command Line:
EDITTABLECELL Select first corner of table cell range: left-click the first corner of a window selection inside the cells you want to use for the sum (P1)
4. The following instruction appears on the Command Line:
EDITTABLECELL Select second corner of table cell range: drag the cursor to the opposite corner inside the cells you want to use for the sum, then left-click (P2)
5. The formula appears in the cell. Verify the formula and select Close Text Editor. You may edit the formula if necessary.
Notice the formula disappears and the sum of the cells selected has been calculated. Also the value is shaded to make you aware that this cell has a formula in it.
AVERAGE
1. Left click in the Cell that you wish to enter a formula.
2. Right click and select: Insert Formula / Average
3. The following instruction appears on the Command Line:
EDITTABLECELL Select first corner of table cell range: left-click the first corner of a window selection inside the cells you want to use for the average (P1)
4. The following instruction appears on the Command Line:
EDITTABLECELL Select second corner of table cell range: drag the cursor to the opposite corner inside the cells you want to use for the average, then left-click (P2)
5. The formula appears in the cell. Verify the formula and select Close Text Editor. You may edit the formula if necessary.
Notice the formula disappears and the average of the cells selected has been calculated. The value is shaded to make you aware that this cell has a formula in it.
NOTE:
You can change the amount of places after the decimal point by left-clicking in the Average formula cell and then select Data Format from the menu, this opens the Table Cell Format dialog box where you can change the decimal precision of the formula. (Refer to page 5-13)
How to Change the Data Format of a Cell
1. Left click in the cell with the formula you wish to change.
2. Right click and select Data Format from the menu.
3. Select Decimal from the Format list in the Table Cell Format dialog box.
4. Select the required decimal precision from the Precision drop-down list (You can see a preview of the precision).
5. Select OK to close the dialog box, then press the Esc key to deselect the cell.
6. The formula in the cell has now changed to the required decimal precision.
Modify a Table Using the Ribbon Tab
So far in this lesson you have been using the right-click menus to add formulas to, or modify data in a cell, but AutoCAD also has the Table Cell Contextual Ribbon tab. The Table Cell tab has nearly all of the features that are available in the right-click menus.
To modify a Table or Cell using the Table Cell Ribbon tab:
1. Single left-click on any cell to enable the Table Cell Contextual Ribbon tab.
2. The Table Cell Contextual Ribbon tab will appear with various editing panels.
It is worth experimenting with all the tools on the ribbon tab. It is also your choice on whether you use the right-click menus or the contextual ribbon tab when adding or modifying data in a table, some people prefer to use right-click menus for speed and efficiency, others prefer the contextual ribbon tab. The choice is yours.