How to Mirror Block in AutoCAD Without Mirroring Text?

Understanding Block Mirroring in AutoCAD

When working with blocks in AutoCAD, it’s common to encounter challenges when trying to mirror objects, particularly when you want to keep your text orientation intact. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions to effectively mirror blocks in AutoCAD while preventing any unwanted text mirroring.

Step 1: Set Up Your Block

Begin by creating your block with the necessary components. Ensure that any text you want to include is set up as an attribute within the block. This is crucial for avoiding any undesired mirroring of the text when the block itself is mirrored.

Step 2: Define Your Attributes

To include text in your block as an attribute:

1. Open the Block Definition dialog.
2. Click on Attribute Definition (ATTDEF).
3. In the dialog box, ensure that the Constant option is not checked. This setting will allow for editable text later and will prevent it from mirroring incorrectly.

Step 3: Creating the Block

Once your attributes are defined:

1. Continue with the block creation process.
2. Select all the objects you want to include in the block.
3. Save your block with a unique name to distinguish it from others.

Step 4: Mirror the Block

To mirror the created block:

1. Use the Mirror command by typing MIRROR in the command line or selecting it from the Modify panel.
2. Select the block you want to mirror.
3. Specify the two points that define the line across which the block will be mirrored. This will create a mirrored copy without affecting the original.

Step 5: Verify Text Orientation

After mirroring the block, it’s important to check if the text orientation is as desired:

1. If the text has mirrored unexpectedly, ensure you’ve set the MIRRTEXT system variable to 1. This will reverse the text when mirroring.
2. To check or change this variable, type MIRRTEXT in the command line, press Enter, and set the value.

Additional Considerations

Be mindful of other settings that might affect text orientation and mirroring, such as:

• Text Style: Ensure that the text style is not set to follow the orientation of your layout, which can rotate the text.
• Dimension Styles: If using dimensions, check the dimension style to maintain consistency in text appearance.

FAQ

1. Can I mirror blocks with both text and dimensions?
Yes, you can mirror blocks that contain text and dimensions. Just ensure both are set up correctly to maintain visibility and orientation post-mirroring.

2. What if my text still appears mirrored after following all steps?
Double-check the MIRRTEXT variable settings and confirm that your text attributes are not set to constant. If issues persist, review your block’s layering settings for potential conflicts.

3. Is it possible to revert text direction without mirroring the entire block?
Yes. You can select the dimension or text directly and use the Flip Text grip to adjust the orientation without affecting the entire block.