To display the Block Library, click the Show Blocks button on the Library tab of the Library window.

	Block Library File List	Displays all files in the specified folder. Block library files are those with extension .dwg, .dxf, and .dft. You can display thumbnail previews of the block file contents in the Block Library File List. To change from the file list format to thumbnails, click the Views button on the Library tab. To place an entire block file as a single block into the active document, drag the file from this location onto the 2D Model sheet or the drawing sheet.
	Block Selection Pane	Lists all blocks in the active document by name. Also displays individual block names contained in an external block file when you click a file name in the Block Library File List (above). To place an individual block, drag it from this location. To see the block shortcut menu, right-click in the Block Selection Pane.
	Block Preview Pane	Displays a graphical preview of a block name selected in the Block Selection Pane. Also displays the contents of a file selected in the Block Library File List.

Like AutoCAD, block occurrences reside on layers. When you place a block in a document, the occurrence is placed on the active layer.

Layer display in Solid Edge is controlled from the Layers tab in the Library window. If the layer the occurrence resides on is turned off, then all block graphics are hidden, including block graphics on layers that are set to display.

With nested blocks, where a block on one layer contains block graphics that reside on another layer, you can use the Show All Layers shortcut command to ensure that the block, and the block geometry that it references, are visible.

To move a block to a different layer, select the block occurrence graphics, then use the Move Elements command button on the Layers tab.

To learn about layer display and control, see these Help topics:

• Layers overview

• Layers shortcut menu commands

Most of the block commands are available only from the shortcut menu in the Library pane, where block names display one of these icons:

Icon	What It Means
	-No occurrences -Used -Alternate block view -Nested

The block usage indicator mark is added when you place the first occurrence of a block in the document and removed when you delete the last occurrence.

In the example below, there are multiple representations of Block2 in the active document. View1 is the source or default view of Block2. View2 is another view of Block2.

Block4 contains Block3 as a nested block. Nested blocks are identified with a glyph that is an unfilled rectangle.

Block Selection Pane	What It Means
	-Block1, Block2, Block3 are used in the document. -Block4 is not used. -View1 and View2 are alternate representations (block views) of Block2. -View2 is set as the default block view. -Block3 is used as a nested block in Block4.

A block name that is listed in boldface in the Block Selection Pane indicates it is the default representation of a block with multiple views. The default block representation is the one displayed if you drag a block from the Library onto the drawing sheet. You can change or set a default block using the Set as Default command.

• Create a block

• Add a view to a block

• Replace block

• Place a block

• Replace a block

• Delete a block

• Set a default block view

• Edit block properties

• Edit block graphics

• Define and place a block label

• Add a label to a master block or block view

• View and modify block scale

• Using blocks

• Organizing block in the libraries

• Editing blocks

• Layers overview

• Create block command