Block Definition command-line forms, block record data and dialog defaults

-BLOCK, -WBLOCK, -BEDIT, ATTSYNC, BASE and INSBASE follow the reference prompts and messages; empty blocks; WBLOCK keeps object coordinates and stores INSBASE; annotative and hyperlink data on the block record; block preview images; remembered dialog choices; block aliases. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-10-14 17:30:21 +03:00
1 parent 0a29be07f7
commit d583d9d421
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ PL,       *PLINE
 A,        *ARC
 C,        *CIRCLE
 B,        *BLOCK
+-B,       *-BLOCK
 I,        *INSERT
 DO,       *DONUT
 EL,       *ELLIPSE
@@ -58,6 +59,8 @@ AR,       *ARRAY
 MA,       *MATCHPROP
 VV,       *QLAYER
 ATE,      *ATTEDIT
+-ATE,     *-ATTEDIT
+ATTE,     *-ATTEDIT

 ; ── Clipboard ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 CC,       *COPYCLIP
@@ -68,6 +71,9 @@ PC,       *PASTECLIP
 ATT,      *ATTDEF
 -ATT,     *-ATTDEF
 BE,       *BEDIT
+BC,       *BCLOSE
+BS,       *BSAVE
+BVS,      *BVSTATE
 IAT,      *IMAGEATTACH
 XA,       *XATTACH
 XR,       *XREF
@@ -77,6 +83,7 @@ ICL,      *IMAGECLIP
 IAD,      *IMAGEADJUST
 ADC,      *ADCENTER
 W,        *WBLOCK
+-W,       *-WBLOCK

 ; ── Layers / groups ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 LA,       *LAYERS
@@ -2397,7 +2397,7 @@ common =
    .hectometers = Hectometers
    .hyperlink-ellipsis = Hyperlink...
    .hyperlink-star = Hyperlink*
-    .invalid-character-in-block-name = Invalid character '__ocs_fmt_0__' in block name (\ / : * ? " < > | = ` are not allowed)
+    .invalid-character-in-block-name = Invalid character '__ocs_fmt_0__' in block name (\ < > / ? " : ; * | , = ` are not allowed)
    .light-years = Light Years
    .match-block-orientation = Match block orientation
    .microinches = Microinches
@@ -6540,3 +6540,9 @@ keytips =
    .hint-tabs = Type a tab letter · Esc closes
    .hint-tab = { $tab } tab · Esc goes back one level
    .hint-items = Type an item letter · Esc goes back one level
+
+block-def =
+    .name-too-short = The name must be at least one character long.
+    .name-unsupported-chars = The name contains unsupported characters. The following characters are not supported: \ < > / ? " : ; * | , = `
+    .definition-changed-redefine = The block definition has changed. Do you want to redefine it ?
+    .create-drawing-file = Create Drawing File
@@ -2381,7 +2381,7 @@ common =
    .hectometers = Hektometre
    .hyperlink-ellipsis = Köprü...
    .hyperlink-star = Köprü*
-    .invalid-character-in-block-name = Blok adında geçersiz karakter '__ocs_fmt_0__' (\ / : * ? " < > | = ` kullanılamaz)
+    .invalid-character-in-block-name = Blok adında geçersiz karakter '__ocs_fmt_0__' (\ < > / ? " : ; * | , = ` kullanılamaz)
    .light-years = Işık Yılı
    .match-block-orientation = Blok yönünü eşle
    .microinches = Mikroinç
@@ -6462,3 +6462,9 @@ keytips =
    .hint-tabs = Sekme harfini yazın · Esc kapatır
    .hint-tab = { $tab } sekmesi · Esc bir düzey geri
    .hint-items = Öğe harfini yazın · Esc bir düzey geri
+
+block-def =
+    .name-too-short = Ad en az bir karakter uzunluğunda olmalıdır.
+    .name-unsupported-chars = Ad desteklenmeyen karakterler içeriyor. Şu karakterler desteklenmez: \ < > / ? " : ; * | , = `
+    .definition-changed-redefine = Blok tanımı değişti. Yeniden tanımlamak istiyor musunuz?
+    .create-drawing-file = Çizim Dosyası Oluştur
@@ -79,8 +79,9 @@ const WEB_ALIAS_KEY: &str = "opencadstudio.aliases";
 /// defaults add aliases or change a default target, so existing profiles can be
 /// migrated forward (see `introduced_at` / `migrate_aliases`). Version 1 shipped
 /// the pre-REDRAW table; version 2 introduced the REDRAW-family aliases; version 3
-/// introduced HB (HATCHTOBACK); version 4 introduced ER (EXTERNALREFERENCES).
-const DEFAULT_ALIASES_VERSION: u32 = 9;
+/// introduced HB (HATCHTOBACK); version 4 introduced ER (EXTERNALREFERENCES);
+/// version 10 the block command-line forms and block editor shortcuts.
+const DEFAULT_ALIASES_VERSION: u32 = 10;

 #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
 const WEB_ALIAS_VERSION_KEY: &str = "opencadstudio.aliases.version";
@@ -104,6 +105,15 @@ fn introduced_at(version: u32) -> &'static [(&'static str, &'static str)] {
        7 => &[("DV", "DVIEW")],
        8 => &[("-XR", "-XREF"), ("XC", "XCLIP"), ("ICL", "IMAGECLIP")],
        9 => &[("IAD", "IMAGEADJUST")],
+        10 => &[
+            ("-B", "-BLOCK"),
+            ("-W", "-WBLOCK"),
+            ("BC", "BCLOSE"),
+            ("BS", "BSAVE"),
+            ("BVS", "BVSTATE"),
+            ("-ATE", "-ATTEDIT"),
+            ("ATTE", "-ATTEDIT"),
+        ],
        _ => &[],
    }
 }
@@ -491,6 +491,9 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
            self.tabs[i].history = history.main;
            self.tabs[i].scene.object_isolation = history.return_isolation;
        }
+        if discard && session.created_for_edit {
+            crate::scene::block_service::erase(&mut self.tabs[i].scene, &session.block_name);
+        }
        self.tabs[i].active_block_edit = None;
        self.restore_after_block_edit_close(
            i,
@@ -764,16 +764,21 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
        mut options: Box<crate::scene::CreateBlockOptions>,
    ) -> Option<Task<Message>> {
        let i = self.active_tab;
+        // No objects at all defines an empty block; objects that were all on
+        // locked layers define nothing.
+        let picked = options.handles.len();
        options
            .handles
            .retain(|handle| !self.tabs[i].scene.is_layer_locked(*handle));
-        if options.handles.is_empty() {
+        if picked > 0 && options.handles.is_empty() {
            self.command_line
                .push_info(crate::t!("No editable objects selected.").as_ref());
            return Some(Task::none());
        }
        self.push_undo_snapshot(i, "BLOCK");
        let name = options.name.clone();
+        let redefined = options.redefine
+            && self.tabs[i].scene.document.block_records.get(&name).is_some();
        match self.tabs[i].scene.create_block_with_options(*options) {
            Ok(insert_handle) => {
                self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
@@ -784,8 +789,11 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                self.tabs[i].scene.clear_preview_wire();
                self.tabs[i].active_cmd = None;
                self.tabs[i].snap_result = None;
-                self.command_line
-                    .push_output(crate::tf!("Block \"{name}\" created.").as_ref());
+                // A new definition is not reported; a redefinition is.
+                if redefined {
+                    self.command_line
+                        .push_output(&format!("Block \"{name}\" redefined"));
+                }
                self.refresh_properties();
                self.note_recent_block(&name);
                self.refresh_block_palette();
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+//! Command-line Block Definition commands: -BLOCK, -WBLOCK, -BEDIT,
+//! ATTSYNC, INSBASE, and the BATTMAN check for attributed blocks. The
+//! interactive steps live in `modules::insert::block_cmdline`.
+
+use crate::app::{Message, OpenCADStudio};
+use crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::{
+    AttsyncCommand, BlockTable, DashBeditCommand, DashBlockCommand, DashWblockCommand,
+    WblockSource,
+};
+use iced::Task;
+
+impl OpenCADStudio {
+    pub(super) fn dispatch_block_cmdline(&mut self, cmd: &str, i: usize) -> Option<Task<Message>> {
+        use crate::command::CadCommand;
+        match cmd {
+            "-BLOCK" | "-BMAKE" => {
+                let preselected: Vec<_> = self.tabs[i]
+                    .scene
+                    .selected_entities()
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|(h, _)| h)
+                    .collect();
+                let table = BlockTable::of(&self.tabs[i].scene.document);
+                let units = self.tabs[i].scene.document.header.insertion_units;
+                let command =
+                    DashBlockCommand::new(table, self.tabs[i].ucs_xform(), preselected, units);
+                self.command_line.push_output(&command.settings_line());
+                self.start_block_cmdline(i, Box::new(command));
+            }
+            "-WBLOCK" | "-WB" => {
+                let preselected: Vec<_> = self.tabs[i].scene.selected.iter().copied().collect();
+                let table = BlockTable::of(&self.tabs[i].scene.document);
+                let command = DashWblockCommand::new(table, preselected);
+                self.command_line.push_output(&command.settings_line());
+                if crate::sys::file_dia() {
+                    // FILEDIA 1: the output file comes from the file dialog,
+                    // the rest from the command line.
+                    return Some(Task::done(Message::WblockSave("-".to_string())));
+                }
+                self.start_block_cmdline(i, Box::new(command));
+            }
+            cmd if cmd.starts_with("_-WBLOCKFILE ") => {
+                let path = cmd["_-WBLOCKFILE ".len()..].trim().to_string();
+                let preselected: Vec<_> = self.tabs[i].scene.selected.iter().copied().collect();
+                let table = BlockTable::of(&self.tabs[i].scene.document);
+                let mut command = DashWblockCommand::new(table, preselected);
+                let _ = command.on_text_input(&path);
+                self.start_block_cmdline(i, Box::new(command));
+            }
+            cmd if cmd.starts_with("_WBLOCKWRITE ") => {
+                self.tabs[i].active_cmd = None;
+                let Ok(request) =
+                    serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(&cmd["_WBLOCKWRITE ".len()..])
+                else {
+                    return Some(Task::none());
+                };
+                let path = std::path::PathBuf::from(request["path"].as_str().unwrap_or(""));
+                let source = &request["source"];
+                let source = if let Some(name) = source["block"].as_str() {
+                    WblockSource::Block(name.to_string())
+                } else if source["drawing"].as_bool() == Some(true) {
+                    WblockSource::Drawing
+                } else {
+                    let handles = source["handles"]
+                        .as_array()
+                        .map(|a| {
+                            a.iter()
+                                .filter_map(|v| v.as_u64())
+                                .map(codec::Handle::new)
+                                .collect()
+                        })
+                        .unwrap_or_default();
+                    let b = &source["base"];
+                    let base = glam::DVec3::new(
+                        b[0].as_f64().unwrap_or(0.0),
+                        b[1].as_f64().unwrap_or(0.0),
+                        b[2].as_f64().unwrap_or(0.0),
+                    );
+                    let mode = crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::mode_from_code(
+                        source["mode"].as_u64().unwrap_or(0) as u8,
+                    );
+                    WblockSource::Objects {
+                        handles,
+                        base,
+                        mode,
+                    }
+                };
+                let unit = self.tabs[i].scene.document.header.insertion_units;
+                return Some(self.wblock_write(i, source, path, unit));
+            }
+            "-BEDIT" => {
+                if self.tabs[i].refedit_session.is_some() {
+                    self.command_line.push_error(
+                        crate::t!("BEDIT: finish the active REFEDIT (REFCLOSE) first.").as_ref(),
+                    );
+                    return Some(Task::none());
+                }
+                let table = BlockTable::of(&self.tabs[i].scene.document);
+                self.start_block_cmdline(i, Box::new(DashBeditCommand::new(table)));
+            }
+            "ATTSYNC" => {
+                let doc = &self.tabs[i].scene.document;
+                let table = BlockTable::of(doc);
+                let references = doc
+                    .entities()
+                    .filter_map(|entity| match entity {
+                        codec::EntityType::Insert(insert) => {
+                            Some((insert.common.handle, insert.block_name.clone()))
+                        }
+                        _ => None,
+                    })
+                    .collect();
+                self.start_block_cmdline(i, Box::new(AttsyncCommand::new(table, references)));
+            }
+            cmd if cmd.starts_with("_ATTSYNCBLOCK ") => {
+                self.tabs[i].active_cmd = None;
+                let block = cmd["_ATTSYNCBLOCK ".len()..].trim().to_string();
+                self.attsync_block(i, &block);
+                self.command_line.push_output("ATTSYNC complete.");
+            }
+            "INSBASE" => {
+                let base = self.current_insertion_base(i);
+                let command = crate::modules::insert::base_point::BaseCommand::insbase(base);
+                self.start_block_cmdline(i, Box::new(command));
+            }
+            cmd if cmd == "ATTMAN"
+                || cmd == "BATTMAN"
+                || cmd.starts_with("ATTMAN ")
+                || cmd.starts_with("BATTMAN ") =>
+            {
+                if BlockTable::of(&self.tabs[i].scene.document)
+                    .attributed
+                    .is_empty()
+                {
+                    self.command_line
+                        .push_output("This drawing contains no attributed blocks.");
+                    return Some(Task::none());
+                }
+                self.open_attedit_dialog();
+            }
+            _ => return None,
+        }
+        Some(self.finish_dispatch(cmd))
+    }
+
+    fn start_block_cmdline(&mut self, i: usize, command: Box<dyn crate::command::CadCommand>) {
+        self.command_line.push_info(&command.prompt());
+        self.command_line.set_step_options(command.options());
+        self.tabs[i].active_cmd = Some(command);
+    }
+
+    /// The insertion base of the active space (INSBASE / BASE).
+    pub(in crate::app) fn current_insertion_base(&self, i: usize) -> glam::DVec3 {
+        let header = &self.tabs[i].scene.document.header;
+        let base = if self.tabs[i].scene.current_layout != "Model" {
+            header.paper_space_insertion_base
+        } else {
+            header.model_space_insertion_base
+        };
+        glam::DVec3::new(base.x, base.y, base.z)
+    }
+
+    /// Reconcile every editable reference of `block` with the block's
+    /// attribute definitions: attributes whose tag is gone are dropped, new
+    /// ones are added with their default value, and the values of the rest
+    /// are kept.
+    pub(in crate::app) fn attsync_block(&mut self, i: usize, block: &str) {
+        let doc = &self.tabs[i].scene.document;
+        let attdefs: Vec<(String, String)> = doc
+            .block_records
+            .get(block)
+            .map(|br| {
+                br.entity_handles
+                    .iter()
+                    .filter_map(|h| doc.get_entity(*h))
+                    .filter_map(|e| match e {
+                        codec::EntityType::AttributeDefinition(a) => {
+                            Some((a.tag.clone(), a.default_value.clone()))
+                        }
+                        _ => None,
+                    })
+                    .collect()
+            })
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        let inserts: Vec<_> = doc
+            .entities()
+            .filter_map(|entity| match entity {
+                codec::EntityType::Insert(insert)
+                    if insert.block_name.eq_ignore_ascii_case(block)
+                        && !self.tabs[i].scene.is_layer_locked(insert.common.handle) =>
+                {
+                    Some(insert.common.handle)
+                }
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .collect();
+        if inserts.is_empty() {
+            return;
+        }
+        self.push_undo_snapshot(i, "ATTSYNC");
+        let mut changes = Vec::new();
+        for handle in inserts {
+            let Some(codec::EntityType::Insert(ins)) =
+                self.tabs[i].scene.document.get_entity_mut(handle)
+            else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            ins.attributes
+                .retain(|a| attdefs.iter().any(|(t, _)| t.eq_ignore_ascii_case(&a.tag)));
+            for (tag, default) in &attdefs {
+                if !ins.attributes.iter().any(|a| a.tag.eq_ignore_ascii_case(tag)) {
+                    ins.attributes.push(codec::entities::AttributeEntity::new(
+                        tag.clone(),
+                        default.clone(),
+                    ));
+                }
+            }
+            changes.push((ins.common.handle, crate::scene::ChangeKind::Modified));
+        }
+        self.tabs[i].scene.bump_entities(&changes);
+        self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
+    }
+}
@@ -55,6 +55,14 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
            return Task::none();
        };
        self.active_modal = None;
+        {
+            let mut remembered = crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::defaults();
+            remembered.base_on_screen = state.base_point_specify_onscreen;
+            remembered.objects_on_screen = state.objects_specify_onscreen;
+            remembered.mode = state.object_mode;
+            remembered.allow_exploding = state.allow_exploding;
+        }
+        self.persist_settings_if_changed();
        let i = self.active_tab;
        let base_point = state.parse_base_point();
        let ucs = self.tabs[i].ucs_xform();
@@ -121,7 +129,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                let rest = cmd.strip_prefix("BASE").unwrap_or("").trim();
                if rest.is_empty() {
                    use crate::modules::insert::base_point::BaseCommand;
-                    let c = BaseCommand::new();
+                    let c = BaseCommand::new(self.current_insertion_base(i));
                    self.command_line.push_info(&c.prompt());
                    self.tabs[i].active_cmd = Some(Box::new(c));
                } else {
@@ -150,20 +158,10 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                                .model_space_insertion_base = pt;
                        }
                        self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
-                        let space = if is_paper {
-                            "paper space"
-                        } else {
-                            "model space"
-                        };
-                        self.command_line.push_output(
-                            crate::tf!(
-                                "Base point ({}, {}, {}) set for {space}.",
-                                nums[0],
-                                nums[1],
-                                z
-                            )
-                            .as_ref(),
-                        );
+                        if z != 0.0 {
+                            self.command_line
+                                .push_output("Beware, Z insertion base is not zero.");
+                        }
                    } else {
                        self.command_line
                            .push_error(crate::t!("Usage: BASE <x> <y> [z]").as_ref());
@@ -470,26 +468,6 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                self.active_modal = Some(crate::app::ModalKind::BlockDefinition);
            }

-            "-BLOCK" | "-BMAKE" => {
-                let handles: Vec<_> = self.tabs[i]
-                    .scene
-                    .selected_entities()
-                    .into_iter()
-                    .map(|(h, _)| h)
-                    .collect();
-                if handles.is_empty() {
-                    use crate::modules::draw::select::SelectObjectsCommand;
-                    let cmd = SelectObjectsCommand::new("-BLOCK");
-                    self.command_line.push_info(&cmd.prompt());
-                    self.tabs[i].active_cmd = Some(Box::new(cmd));
-                } else {
-                    use crate::modules::insert::create_block::CreateBlockCommand;
-                    let cmd = CreateBlockCommand::new(handles);
-                    self.command_line.push_info(&cmd.prompt());
-                    self.tabs[i].active_cmd = Some(Box::new(cmd));
-                }
-            }
-
            cmd if cmd.starts_with("BLOCK_POINT_PICKED ") => {
                let parts: Vec<f64> = cmd["BLOCK_POINT_PICKED ".len()..]
                    .split_whitespace()
@@ -631,108 +609,21 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                }
            }

-            // ATTSYNC <block> — reconcile every insert of <block> against the
-            // block's current attribute definitions: drop attributes whose tag
-            // no longer exists and add any newly-defined ones (keeping the values
-            // of attributes that remain).
-            "ATTSYNC" => {
-                use crate::command::ValuePromptCommand;
-                let c = ValuePromptCommand::new("ATTSYNC", "ATTSYNC  block name to sync:");
-                self.command_line.push_info(&c.prompt());
-                self.tabs[i].active_cmd = Some(Box::new(c));
-            }
+            // ATTSYNC <block>: the named block, without prompts.
            cmd if cmd.starts_with("ATTSYNC ") => {
-                let arg = cmd.trim_start_matches("ATTSYNC").trim();
-                let blocks = self.tabs[i].scene.custom_block_names();
-                if arg.is_empty() {
-                    self.command_line.push_info(
-                        crate::tf!(
-                            "Usage: ATTSYNC <block name>.  Blocks: {}",
-                            if blocks.is_empty() {
-                                "(none)".to_string()
-                            } else {
-                                blocks.join(", ")
-                            }
-                        )
-                        .as_ref(),
-                    );
-                    return Some(Task::none());
-                }
-                let Some(block) = blocks.iter().find(|b| b.eq_ignore_ascii_case(arg)).cloned()
-                else {
-                    self.command_line
-                        .push_error(crate::tf!("ATTSYNC: no block named \"{arg}\".").as_ref());
-                    return Some(Task::none());
-                };
-                // Gather the block's attribute definitions (tag, default value).
-                let doc = &self.tabs[i].scene.document;
-                let attdefs: Vec<(String, String)> = doc
-                    .block_records
-                    .get(&block)
-                    .map(|br| {
-                        br.entity_handles
-                            .iter()
-                            .filter_map(|h| doc.get_entity(*h))
-                            .filter_map(|e| match e {
-                                codec::EntityType::AttributeDefinition(a) => {
-                                    Some((a.tag.clone(), a.default_value.clone()))
-                                }
-                                _ => None,
-                            })
-                            .collect()
-                    })
-                    .unwrap_or_default();
-                let inserts: Vec<_> = self.tabs[i]
-                    .scene
-                    .document
-                    .entities()
-                    .filter_map(|entity| match entity {
-                        codec::EntityType::Insert(insert)
-                            if insert.block_name.eq_ignore_ascii_case(&block)
-                                && !self.tabs[i].scene.is_layer_locked(insert.common.handle) =>
-                        {
-                            Some(insert.common.handle)
-                        }
-                        _ => None,
-                    })
-                    .collect();
-                if inserts.is_empty() {
-                    self.command_line
-                        .push_error(crate::t!("ATTSYNC: no editable block references.").as_ref());
-                    return Some(Task::none());
-                }
-                self.push_undo_snapshot(i, "ATTSYNC");
-                let mut synced = 0usize;
-                let mut changes = Vec::new();
-                for handle in inserts {
-                    let Some(codec::EntityType::Insert(ins)) =
-                        self.tabs[i].scene.document.get_entity_mut(handle)
-                    else {
-                        continue;
-                    };
-                    ins.attributes
-                        .retain(|a| attdefs.iter().any(|(t, _)| t.eq_ignore_ascii_case(&a.tag)));
-                    for (tag, default) in &attdefs {
-                        if !ins
-                            .attributes
-                            .iter()
-                            .any(|a| a.tag.eq_ignore_ascii_case(tag))
-                        {
-                            ins.attributes.push(codec::entities::AttributeEntity::new(
-                                tag.clone(),
-                                default.clone(),
-                            ));
-                        }
+                let arg = cmd.trim_start_matches("ATTSYNC").trim().to_string();
+                let table =
+                    crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::BlockTable::of(&self.tabs[i].scene.document);
+                match table.attributed.iter().find(|b| b.eq_ignore_ascii_case(&arg)) {
+                    Some(block) => {
+                        let block = block.clone();
+                        self.attsync_block(i, &block);
+                        self.command_line.push_output("ATTSYNC complete.");
                    }
-                    synced += 1;
-                    changes.push((ins.common.handle, crate::scene::ChangeKind::Modified));
+                    None => self.command_line.push_output(&format!(
+                        "Block table contains no attributed block named {arg}."
+                    )),
                }
-                self.tabs[i].scene.bump_entities(&changes);
-                self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
-                self.command_line.push_output(crate::tf!(
-                    "ATTSYNC: synchronised {synced} insert(s) of \"{block}\" against {} attribute definition(s).",
-                    attdefs.len()
-                ).as_ref());
            }

            // ADCENTER / CONTENTBROWSER — report the drawing's named content
@@ -792,17 +683,6 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                self.open_blocks_palette(Some(tab));
            }

-            // ATTMAN / BATTMAN — the Block Attribute Manager. Rather than a
-            // command-line listing, both route to the attribute editor
-            // (ATTEDIT): edit the selected block's attributes, or pick a block.
-            cmd if cmd == "ATTMAN"
-                || cmd == "BATTMAN"
-                || cmd.starts_with("ATTMAN ")
-                || cmd.starts_with("BATTMAN ") =>
-            {
-                self.open_attedit_dialog();
-            }
-
            "PDFIMPORT" => {
                use crate::command::CadCommand;
                let command = crate::modules::insert::pdf_import::PdfImportCommand::new();
@@ -937,16 +817,16 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                    .collect();
                let existing_blocks = self.tabs[i].scene.custom_block_names();
                let default_unit = self.tabs[i].scene.document.header.insertion_units;
-                let default_folder = self.tabs[i]
+                // "new block" in the drawing's folder, or in Documents for an
+                // unsaved drawing; the file type is added when it is written.
+                let folder = self.tabs[i]
                    .current_path
                    .as_ref()
-                    .and_then(|p| p.parent())
-                    .map(|p| p.to_string_lossy().to_string())
-                    .unwrap_or_default();
-                let default_path = if default_folder.is_empty() {
-                    "new_block.dwg".to_string()
-                } else {
-                    format!("{}/new_block.dwg", default_folder.replace('\\', "/"))
+                    .and_then(|p| p.parent().map(|p| p.to_path_buf()))
+                    .or_else(crate::sys::documents_dir);
+                let default_path = match folder {
+                    Some(folder) => folder.join("new block").to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+                    None => "new block".to_string(),
                };
                self.wblock = Some(crate::ui::window::wblock::WblockState::new(
                    existing_blocks,
@@ -512,6 +512,36 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                    }
                };

+                // A name that is not a block yet opens an empty definition,
+                // dropped again when the editor closes without saving.
+                let mut created_for_edit = false;
+                if self.tabs[i].scene.document.block_records.get(&block_name).is_none()
+                    && cmd.starts_with("BEDIT_OPEN:")
+                    && crate::ui::window::block_definition::invalid_block_name_char(&block_name)
+                        .is_none()
+                    && !block_name.trim().is_empty()
+                    && !block_name.starts_with('*')
+                {
+                    let options = crate::scene::CreateBlockOptions {
+                        name: block_name.clone(),
+                        handles: Vec::new(),
+                        base_point: glam::DVec3::ZERO,
+                        world_to_block: codec::types::Transform::identity(),
+                        block_to_world: codec::types::Transform::identity(),
+                        mode: crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Retain,
+                        annotative: false,
+                        match_orientation: false,
+                        scale_uniformly: false,
+                        allow_exploding: true,
+                        unit: self.tabs[i].scene.document.header.insertion_units,
+                        description: String::new(),
+                        hyperlink_url: String::new(),
+                        hyperlink_desc: String::new(),
+                        redefine: false,
+                    };
+                    created_for_edit =
+                        self.tabs[i].scene.create_block_with_options(options).is_ok();
+                }
                // Resolve the block record; reject external references (xrefs).
                let (br_handle, is_xref) =
                    match self.tabs[i].scene.document.block_records.get(&block_name) {
@@ -575,6 +605,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                    return_camera,
                    editor_camera: current_camera,
                    editor_ucs: None,
+                    created_for_edit,
                });
                self.tabs[i].active_block_edit = Some(self.tabs[i].block_edits.len() - 1);
                // Every BEDIT tab owns an isolated local UCS. Never inherit or
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use iced::Task;
 use std::path::PathBuf;

 mod attdef;
+mod block_cmdline;
 mod blocks;
 mod blockvars;
 mod bvisibility;
@@ -306,6 +307,9 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
        if let Some(t) = self.dispatch_bvisibility(cmd, i) {
            return Some(t);
        }
+        if let Some(t) = self.dispatch_block_cmdline(cmd, i) {
+            return Some(t);
+        }
        if let Some(t) = self.dispatch_blocks(cmd, i) {
            return Some(t);
        }
@@ -552,6 +556,8 @@ inventory::submit!(crate::command::CommandRegistration {
        "INSNAME",
        "ATTMAN",
        "BATTMAN",
+        "-BEDIT",
+        "INSBASE",
        // Drawing-content overview.
        "ADCENTER",
        "CONTENTBROWSER",
@@ -421,6 +421,20 @@ pub struct UserSettings {
    pub image_frame: i16,
    /// The Attribute Definition dialog's "Specify on-screen" choice.
    pub attdef_on_screen: bool,
+    /// Block Definition dialog: base point "Specify On-screen".
+    pub block_base_on_screen: bool,
+    /// Block Definition dialog: objects "Specify On-screen".
+    pub block_objects_on_screen: bool,
+    /// Block Definition dialog / -BLOCK object conversion (0 Retain,
+    /// 1 Convert, 2 Delete).
+    pub block_object_mode: u8,
+    /// Block Definition dialog: "Allow exploding".
+    pub block_allow_exploding: bool,
+    /// Block Definition dialog: open the new block in the block editor.
+    pub block_open_in_editor: bool,
+    /// Write Block dialog / -WBLOCK object conversion (0 Retain, 1 Convert,
+    /// 2 Delete).
+    pub wblock_object_mode: u8,
    /// FIELDDISPLAY: fields show on a gray background.
    pub field_display: bool,
    /// XDWGFADECTL: how much referenced drawings fade (-90..=90; negative is off).
@@ -892,6 +906,12 @@ impl Default for UserSettings {
            grip_object_limit: DEFAULT_GRIP_OBJECT_LIMIT,
            image_frame: 1,
            attdef_on_screen: true,
+            block_base_on_screen: false,
+            block_objects_on_screen: false,
+            block_object_mode: 1,
+            block_allow_exploding: true,
+            block_open_in_editor: false,
+            wblock_object_mode: 0,
            field_display: true,
            xref_fade: 50,
            file_dia: true,
@@ -629,14 +629,7 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
        self.block_palette.source_tab_id = Some(self.tabs[i].id);
        self.block_palette.source_block_epoch = self.tabs[i].scene.block_epoch;
        let doc = &self.tabs[i].scene.document;
-        let annotative = |name: &str| {
-            doc.block_records.get(name).is_some_and(|br| {
-                matches!(
-                    doc.get_entity(br.block_entity_handle),
-                    Some(codec::EntityType::Block(b)) if b.common.extended_data.records().iter().any(|r| r.application_name == "AcadAnnotative")
-                )
-            })
-        };
+        let annotative = |name: &str| crate::scene::annotative::block_is_annotative(doc, name);
        let entries: Vec<BlockEntry> = names
            .into_iter()
            .map(|name| BlockEntry {
@@ -768,6 +768,8 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {

    /// Snapshot the persisted UI preferences from live state.
    pub(in crate::app) fn current_settings(&self) -> crate::app::settings::UserSettings {
+        // One copy: the guard must not be held across the literal below.
+        let block_defaults = *crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::defaults();
        crate::app::settings::UserSettings {
            spacemouse: self.spacemouse_preferences,
            dyn_input: self.dyn_input,
@@ -795,6 +797,14 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
            grip_object_limit: self.grip_object_limit,
            image_frame: crate::scene::frame::profile_image_mode(),
            attdef_on_screen: crate::modules::draw::draw::attdef::session().on_screen,
+            block_base_on_screen: block_defaults.base_on_screen,
+            block_objects_on_screen: block_defaults.objects_on_screen,
+            block_object_mode: crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::mode_code(block_defaults.mode),
+            block_allow_exploding: block_defaults.allow_exploding,
+            block_open_in_editor: block_defaults.open_in_editor,
+            wblock_object_mode: crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::mode_code(
+                block_defaults.wblock_mode,
+            ),
            field_display: crate::entities::field::display(),
            xref_fade: crate::scene::cache::block_cache::xref_fade_ctl(),
            file_dia: crate::sys::file_dia(),
@@ -920,6 +930,16 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
        self.grip_object_limit = s.grip_object_limit.clamp(0, 32767);
        crate::scene::frame::set_profile_image_mode(s.image_frame);
        crate::modules::draw::draw::attdef::session().on_screen = s.attdef_on_screen;
+        {
+            use crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline as bc;
+            let mut remembered = bc::defaults();
+            remembered.base_on_screen = s.block_base_on_screen;
+            remembered.objects_on_screen = s.block_objects_on_screen;
+            remembered.mode = bc::mode_from_code(s.block_object_mode);
+            remembered.allow_exploding = s.block_allow_exploding;
+            remembered.open_in_editor = s.block_open_in_editor;
+            remembered.wblock_mode = bc::mode_from_code(s.wblock_object_mode);
+        }
        crate::entities::field::set_display(s.field_display);
        crate::scene::cache::block_cache::set_xref_fade_ctl(s.xref_fade);
        self.ribbon.xref_fade = crate::scene::cache::block_cache::xref_fade_ctl();
@@ -2327,6 +2347,102 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
        ])
    }

+    /// Write `source` to `path` (WBLOCK and -WBLOCK): an existing block, the
+    /// whole drawing, or objects, which then are kept, converted to a block
+    /// named after the file, or deleted.
+    pub(in crate::app) fn wblock_write(
+        &mut self,
+        i: usize,
+        source: crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::WblockSource,
+        path: std::path::PathBuf,
+        unit: i16,
+    ) -> Task<Message> {
+        let mut path = path;
+        if path.extension().is_none() {
+            path.set_extension("dwg");
+        }
+        let document = self.tabs[i].scene.document_for_save();
+        if let crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::WblockSource::Objects {
+            handles,
+            base,
+            mode,
+        } = &source
+        {
+            match mode {
+                crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Retain => {}
+                crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Delete => {
+                    self.push_undo_snapshot(i, "WBLOCK");
+                    self.tabs[i].scene.erase_entities(handles);
+                    self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
+                    self.tabs[i].scene.bump_geometry();
+                    self.refresh_properties();
+                }
+                crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Convert => {
+                    let name = path
+                        .file_stem()
+                        .and_then(|s| s.to_str())
+                        .unwrap_or("WBLOCK")
+                        .to_string();
+                    self.push_undo_snapshot(i, "WBLOCK");
+                    let ucs = self.tabs[i].ucs_xform();
+                    let options = crate::scene::CreateBlockOptions {
+                        name,
+                        handles: handles.clone(),
+                        base_point: *base,
+                        world_to_block: ucs.to_ucs_transform_at(*base),
+                        block_to_world: ucs.to_wcs_transform_at(*base),
+                        mode: crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Convert,
+                        annotative: false,
+                        match_orientation: false,
+                        scale_uniformly: false,
+                        allow_exploding: true,
+                        unit,
+                        description: String::new(),
+                        hyperlink_url: String::new(),
+                        hyperlink_desc: String::new(),
+                        redefine: true,
+                    };
+                    let _ = self.tabs[i].scene.create_block_with_options(options);
+                    self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
+                    self.tabs[i].scene.bump_geometry();
+                    self.refresh_properties();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let display = match &source {
+            crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::WblockSource::Block(name) => name.clone(),
+            _ => "*".to_string(),
+        };
+        let worker_path = path.clone();
+        background_task(
+            crate::t!("WBLOCK save"),
+            move || {
+                let out_doc = match source {
+                    crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::WblockSource::Block(name) => {
+                        let mut d =
+                            crate::modules::insert::wblock::extract_block_to_doc(&document, &name)
+                                .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                        d.header.insertion_units = unit;
+                        d
+                    }
+                    crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::WblockSource::Drawing => {
+                        let mut d = document.clone();
+                        d.header.insertion_units = unit;
+                        d
+                    }
+                    crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::WblockSource::Objects { handles, base, .. } => {
+                        crate::modules::insert::wblock::extract_entities_to_doc_with_base(
+                            &document, &handles, base, unit,
+                        )
+                        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
+                    }
+                };
+                crate::io::save(&out_doc, &worker_path).map_err(|e| e.to_string())
+            },
+            move |result| Message::WblockWriteFinished(display, path, result),
+        )
+    }
+
    pub(super) fn on_wblock_save_result_some(
        &mut self,
        block_name: String,
@@ -1774,10 +1774,15 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {

            Message::WblockSave(block_name) => {
                let name = block_name.clone();
+                let title = if block_name == "-" {
+                    crate::t!("Create Drawing File").into_owned()
+                } else {
+                    crate::t!("Save Block As").into_owned()
+                };
                Task::perform(
                    async move {
                        let path = crate::sys::file_dialog()
-                            .set_title(crate::t!("Save Block As").as_ref())
+                            .set_title(&title)
                            .set_file_name("block.dwg")
                            .add_filter(crate::t!("DWG Files").as_ref(), &["dwg"])
                            .save_file()
@@ -1789,6 +1794,10 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                )
            }

+            // -WBLOCK with FILEDIA 1: the file came from the dialog, the
+            // command line asks for the rest.
+            Message::WblockSaveResult(block_name, Some(path)) if block_name == "-" => self
+                .dispatch_command(&format!("_-WBLOCKFILE {}", path.display())),
            Message::WblockSaveResult(block_name, Some(path)) => {
                self.on_wblock_save_result_some(block_name, path)
            }
@@ -1796,14 +1805,12 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
            Message::WblockSaveResult(_, None) => Task::none(),

            Message::WblockWriteFinished(block_name, path, result) => {
-                match result {
-                    Ok(()) => self.command_line.push_output(
-                        crate::tf!("WBLOCK  Saved \"{block_name}\" → \"{}\"", path.display())
-                            .as_ref(),
-                    ),
-                    Err(error) => self
-                        .command_line
-                        .push_error(crate::tf!("WBLOCK save failed: {error}").as_ref()),
+                // A written file is not reported (as in the reference); a
+                // failed write is.
+                let _ = (&block_name, &path);
+                if let Err(error) = result {
+                    self.command_line
+                        .push_error(crate::tf!("WBLOCK save failed: {error}").as_ref());
                }
                Task::none()
            }
@@ -5745,13 +5752,14 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {
                };
                let name = state.name.trim().to_string();
                if name.is_empty() {
-                    state.error_message =
-                        Some(crate::t!("Block name cannot be empty.").into_owned());
+                    state.error_message = Some(
+                        crate::t!("The name must be at least one character long.").into_owned(),
+                    );
                    return Task::none();
                }
                if let Some(_ch) = state.invalid_name_char() {
                    state.error_message = Some(
-                        crate::t!("Block name cannot contain: \\ / : * ? \" < > | = `")
+                        crate::t!("The name contains unsupported characters. The following characters are not supported: \\ < > / ? \" : ; * | , = `")
                            .into_owned(),
                    );
                    return Task::none();
@@ -5989,96 +5997,25 @@ impl OpenCADStudio {

                let state = self.wblock.take().unwrap();
                self.active_modal = None;
-                let document = self.tabs[i].scene.document_for_save();
-                let source_mode = state.source_mode;
-                let block_name = state.block_name.trim().to_string();
-                let handles = state.selected_handles.clone();
-                let base_point = state.parse_base_point();
-                let unit = state.unit;
-                let object_mode = state.object_mode;
-
-                if source_mode == WblockSourceMode::Objects {
-                    match object_mode {
-                        WblockObjectMode::Retain => {}
-                        WblockObjectMode::Delete => {
-                            self.push_undo_snapshot(i, "WBLOCK");
-                            self.tabs[i].scene.erase_entities(&handles);
-                            self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
-                            self.tabs[i].scene.bump_geometry();
-                            self.refresh_properties();
-                        }
-                        WblockObjectMode::Convert => {
-                            let block_name_for_conv = path
-                                .file_stem()
-                                .and_then(|s| s.to_str())
-                                .unwrap_or("WBLOCK")
-                                .to_string();
-                            self.push_undo_snapshot(i, "WBLOCK");
-                            let ucs = self.tabs[i].ucs_xform();
-                            let world_to_block = ucs.to_ucs_transform_at(base_point);
-                            let block_to_world = ucs.to_wcs_transform_at(base_point);
-                            let options = crate::scene::CreateBlockOptions {
-                                name: block_name_for_conv,
-                                handles: handles.clone(),
-                                base_point,
-                                world_to_block,
-                                block_to_world,
-                                mode: crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Convert,
-                                annotative: false,
-                                match_orientation: false,
-                                scale_uniformly: false,
-                                allow_exploding: true,
-                                unit,
-                                description: String::new(),
-                                hyperlink_url: String::new(),
-                                hyperlink_desc: String::new(),
-                                redefine: true,
-                            };
-                            let _ = self.tabs[i].scene.create_block_with_options(options);
-                            self.tabs[i].dirty = true;
-                            self.tabs[i].scene.bump_geometry();
-                            self.refresh_properties();
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-
-                let worker_path = path.clone();
-                let display_name = match source_mode {
-                    WblockSourceMode::Block => block_name.clone(),
-                    WblockSourceMode::EntireDrawing => "*".to_string(),
-                    WblockSourceMode::Objects => "*".to_string(),
+                use crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::WblockSource;
+                use crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode;
+                let mode = match state.object_mode {
+                    WblockObjectMode::Retain => BlockObjectMode::Retain,
+                    WblockObjectMode::Convert => BlockObjectMode::Convert,
+                    WblockObjectMode::Delete => BlockObjectMode::Delete,
                };
-                let worker_display = display_name.clone();
-
-                file::background_task(
-                    crate::t!("WBLOCK save"),
-                    move || {
-                        let out_doc = match source_mode {
-                            WblockSourceMode::Block => {
-                                let mut d = crate::modules::insert::wblock::extract_block_to_doc(
-                                    &document,
-                                    &block_name,
-                                )
-                                .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
-                                d.header.insertion_units = unit;
-                                d
-                            }
-                            WblockSourceMode::EntireDrawing => {
-                                let mut d = document.clone();
-                                d.header.insertion_units = unit;
-                                d
-                            }
-                            WblockSourceMode::Objects => {
-                                crate::modules::insert::wblock::extract_entities_to_doc_with_base(
-                                    &document, &handles, base_point, unit,
-                                )
-                                .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
-                            }
-                        };
-                        crate::io::save(&out_doc, &worker_path).map_err(|e| e.to_string())
+                crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::defaults().wblock_mode = mode;
+                self.persist_settings_if_changed();
+                let source = match state.source_mode {
+                    WblockSourceMode::Block => WblockSource::Block(state.block_name.trim().to_string()),
+                    WblockSourceMode::EntireDrawing => WblockSource::Drawing,
+                    WblockSourceMode::Objects => WblockSource::Objects {
+                        handles: state.selected_handles.clone(),
+                        base: state.parse_base_point(),
+                        mode,
                    },
-                    move |result| Message::WblockWriteFinished(worker_display, path, result),
-                )
+                };
+                self.wblock_write(i, source, path, state.unit)
            }
            Message::ToleranceDialogField(field) => {
                if let Some(state) = self.geometric_tolerance.as_mut() {
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@

 pub(super) fn message_attribute(source: &str) -> Option<(&'static str, &'static str)> {
    match source {
+        "The name must be at least one character long." => Some(("block-def", "name-too-short")),
+        "The name contains unsupported characters. The following characters are not supported: \\ < > / ? \" : ; * | , = `" => Some(("block-def", "name-unsupported-chars")),
+        "The block definition has changed. Do you want to redefine it ?" => Some(("block-def", "definition-changed-redefine")),
+        "Create Drawing File" => Some(("block-def", "create-drawing-file")),
        "Add to Working Set" => Some(("ref-edit", "add-to-working-set")),
        "Remove from Working Set" => Some(("ref-edit", "remove-from-working-set")),
        "Select reference:" => Some(("ref-edit", "select-reference")),
@@ -5943,7 +5947,7 @@ pub(super) fn message_attribute(source: &str) -> Option<(&'static str, &'static
        "Hectometers" => Some(("common", "hectometers")),
        "Hyperlink*" => Some(("common", "hyperlink-star")),
        "Hyperlink..." => Some(("common", "hyperlink-ellipsis")),
-        "Invalid character '{invalid_char}' in block name (\\ / : * ? \" < > | = ` are not allowed)" => Some(("common", "invalid-character-in-block-name")),
+        "Invalid character '{invalid_char}' in block name (\\ < > / ? \" : ; * | , = ` are not allowed)" => Some(("common", "invalid-character-in-block-name")),
        "Light Years" => Some(("common", "light-years")),
        "Match block orientation" => Some(("common", "match-block-orientation")),
        "Microinches" => Some(("common", "microinches")),
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ pub struct BlockEditSession {
    /// Transient UCS being manipulated in this block tab. On commit its full
    /// frame is baked into the definition and this returns to `None`.
    pub editor_ucs: Option<codec::tables::Ucs>,
+    /// The definition was created empty to be edited (a new name at BEDIT /
+    /// -BEDIT); closing without saving removes it again.
+    pub created_for_edit: bool,
 }

 // ── BEDIT pick command ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -1,27 +1,56 @@
-use crate::t;
-
 use crate::command::{CadCommand, CmdResult};
 use glam::DVec3;

 // ── Command implementation ────────────────────────────────────────────────

-/// Picks one point and delegates to the inline `BASE <x> <y> <z>` handler,
-/// which writes the active space's insertion base point onto the document.
-pub struct BaseCommand;
+/// BASE (`Enter base point <x,y,z>:`) and INSBASE
+/// (`Enter new value for INSBASE <x,y,z>:`): a point sets the active space's
+/// insertion base through the inline `BASE <x> <y> <z>` handler; Enter keeps
+/// the current one.
+pub struct BaseCommand {
+    current: DVec3,
+    variable: bool,
+}

 impl BaseCommand {
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
-        Self
+    pub fn new(current: DVec3) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            current,
+            variable: false,
+        }
    }
+
+    /// The INSBASE system variable's prompt.
+    pub fn insbase(current: DVec3) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            current,
+            variable: true,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn point_text(p: DVec3) -> String {
+    format!("{:.4},{:.4},{:.4}", p.x, p.y, p.z)
 }

 impl CadCommand for BaseCommand {
    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
-        "BASE"
+        if self.variable {
+            "INSBASE"
+        } else {
+            "BASE"
+        }
    }

    fn prompt(&self) -> String {
-        t!("BASE  Specify base point:").into_owned()
+        if self.variable {
+            format!(
+                "Enter new value for INSBASE <{}>:",
+                point_text(self.current)
+            )
+        } else {
+            format!("Enter base point <{}>:", point_text(self.current))
+        }
    }

    fn on_point(&mut self, pt: DVec3) -> CmdResult {
@@ -29,7 +58,7 @@ impl CadCommand for BaseCommand {
    }

    fn on_enter(&mut self) -> CmdResult {
-        CmdResult::Cancel
+        CmdResult::Measurement(String::new())
    }
 }

@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-use crate::t;
 use codec::Handle;
 use glam::DVec3;

 use crate::command::{CadCommand, CmdResult};
 use crate::modules::{IconKind, ModuleEvent, ToolDef};
-use crate::scene::model::wire_model::WireModel;

 pub fn tool() -> ToolDef {
    ToolDef {
@@ -15,84 +13,6 @@ pub fn tool() -> ToolDef {
    }
 }

-enum Step {
-    Name,
-    Base { name: String },
-}
-
-pub struct CreateBlockCommand {
-    handles: Vec<Handle>,
-    step: Step,
-}
-
-impl CreateBlockCommand {
-    pub fn new(handles: Vec<Handle>) -> Self {
-        Self {
-            handles,
-            step: Step::Name,
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl CadCommand for CreateBlockCommand {
-    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
-        "BLOCK"
-    }
-
-    fn prompt(&self) -> String {
-        match &self.step {
-            Step::Name => t!(
-                "BLOCK  Enter block name  [%{count} objects selected]:",
-                count = self.handles.len()
-            )
-            .into_owned(),
-            Step::Base { name } => t!(
-                "BLOCK  Specify base point for \"%{name}\"  [%{count} objects]:",
-                name = name,
-                count = self.handles.len()
-            )
-            .into_owned(),
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn on_point(&mut self, pt: DVec3) -> CmdResult {
-        match &self.step {
-            Step::Name => CmdResult::NeedPoint,
-            Step::Base { name } => CmdResult::CreateBlock {
-                handles: self.handles.clone(),
-                name: name.clone(),
-                base: pt,
-            },
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn on_enter(&mut self) -> CmdResult {
-        CmdResult::Cancel
-    }
-
-    fn wants_text_input(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self.step, Step::Name)
-    }
-
-    fn on_text_input(&mut self, text: &str) -> Option<CmdResult> {
-        if !matches!(self.step, Step::Name) {
-            return None;
-        }
-        let name = text.trim();
-        if name.is_empty() {
-            return None;
-        }
-        self.step = Step::Base {
-            name: name.to_string(),
-        };
-        Some(CmdResult::NeedPoint)
-    }
-
-    fn on_preview_wires(&mut self, _pt: DVec3) -> Vec<WireModel> {
-        vec![]
-    }
-}
-
 /// One-shot point picker for the Block Definition dialog's "Pick point" button.
 pub struct BlockPickBasePointCommand;

@@ -102,7 +22,7 @@ impl CadCommand for BlockPickBasePointCommand {
    }

    fn prompt(&self) -> String {
-        crate::t!("BLOCK  Specify insertion base point:").into_owned()
+        "Specify insertion base point:".to_string()
    }

    fn on_point(&mut self, pt: DVec3) -> CmdResult {
@@ -150,9 +70,9 @@ impl CadCommand for BlockOnScreenCommand {

    fn prompt(&self) -> String {
        if self.need_base {
-            crate::t!("BLOCK  Specify insertion base point:").into_owned()
+            "Specify insertion base point:".to_string()
        } else {
-            crate::t!("BLOCK  Select objects:").into_owned()
+            "Select objects:".to_string()
        }
    }

@@ -450,7 +370,8 @@ mod tests {
            hyperlink_desc: "".to_string(),
            redefine: false,
        };
-        assert!(scene.create_block_with_options(opt_no_handles).is_err());
+        // No objects define an empty block.
+        assert!(scene.create_block_with_options(opt_no_handles).is_ok());
    }

    #[test]
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ mod attdef;
 pub(crate) mod attedit;
 mod attman;
 pub mod base_point;
+pub(crate) mod block_cmdline;
 mod content_browser;
 pub(crate) mod create_block;
 mod design_center;
@@ -186,8 +186,11 @@ pub fn extract_entities_to_doc_with_base(
    if handles.is_empty() {
        return Err(t!("No entities selected for WBLOCK.").into_owned());
    }
-    let shift = crate::command::EntityTransform::Translate(-base_point);
-    copy_with_dependencies(src, handles, &mut out, Some(&shift));
+    // The objects keep their coordinates; the base point becomes the new
+    // drawing's insertion base (INSBASE).
+    copy_with_dependencies(src, handles, &mut out, None);
+    out.header.model_space_insertion_base =
+        codec::types::Vector3::new(base_point.x, base_point.y, base_point.z);
    if out.entities().count() == 0 {
        return Err(t!("None of the selected entities could be exported.").into_owned());
    }
@@ -218,12 +221,16 @@ mod tests {

        assert_eq!(out.header.insertion_units, 4);
        assert_eq!(out.entities().count(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(
+            out.header.model_space_insertion_base,
+            Vector3::new(10.0, 20.0, 0.0)
+        );
        let e = out.entities().next().unwrap();
        if let EntityType::Line(l) = e {
-            assert!((l.start.x - 0.0).abs() < 1e-6);
-            assert!((l.start.y - 0.0).abs() < 1e-6);
-            assert!((l.end.x - 20.0).abs() < 1e-6);
-            assert!((l.end.y - 20.0).abs() < 1e-6);
+            assert!((l.start.x - 10.0).abs() < 1e-6);
+            assert!((l.start.y - 20.0).abs() < 1e-6);
+            assert!((l.end.x - 30.0).abs() < 1e-6);
+            assert!((l.end.y - 40.0).abs() < 1e-6);
        } else {
            panic!("Expected Line entity");
        }
@@ -1975,6 +1975,39 @@ pub fn update_entity_from_annotation_style(
    true
 }

+/// Whether the block definition `name` is annotative: its block record
+/// carries `AcadAnnotative` (`AnnotativeData { 1 1 }`), or, in drawings an
+/// earlier build wrote, its BLOCK entity does.
+pub fn block_is_annotative(doc: &CadDocument, name: &str) -> bool {
+    let Some(br) = doc.block_records.get(name) else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    let flag = |record: &codec::xdata::ExtendedDataRecord| {
+        record
+            .values
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|value| match value {
+                codec::xdata::XDataValue::Integer16(value) => Some(*value),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .last()
+            .is_some_and(|value| value != 0)
+    };
+    if let Some(record) = doc
+        .object_xdata(br.handle)
+        .and_then(|xdata| xdata.get_record("AcadAnnotative"))
+    {
+        return flag(record);
+    }
+    doc.get_entity(br.block_entity_handle).is_some_and(|block| {
+        block
+            .common()
+            .extended_data
+            .get_record("AcadAnnotative")
+            .is_some_and(flag)
+    })
+}
+
 /// Whether an entity participates in annotation scaling.
 pub fn is_annotative(doc: &CadDocument, entity: &EntityType) -> bool {
    // Per-object annotation context (works regardless of style).
@@ -969,7 +969,7 @@ impl Scene {
            .get(name)
            .map(|br| (br.handle, br.block_entity_handle));

-        let (br_handle, _block_handle) = if let Some((existing_br_h, existing_blk_h)) = existing {
+        let (br_handle, block_handle) = if let Some((existing_br_h, existing_blk_h)) = existing {
            if !options.redefine {
                return Err(format!("Block \"{name}\" already exists."));
            }
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@ impl Scene {
                br.units = options.unit;
                br.description = options.description.clone();
                br.explodable = options.allow_exploding;
-                br.scale_uniformly = options.scale_uniformly;
+                br.scale_uniformly = options.scale_uniformly || options.annotative;
            }
            // Update existing Block entity fields
            if let Some(EntityType::Block(b)) = self.document.get_entity_mut(existing_blk_h) {
@@ -1002,26 +1002,6 @@ impl Scene {
                // base point here would subtract the picked base twice.
                b.base_point = codec::types::Vector3::ZERO;
            }
-            if options.annotative {
-                let annotative_vals = vec![codec::xdata::XDataValue::Integer16(1)];
-                view::dispatch::set_entity_xdata(
-                    &mut self.document,
-                    existing_blk_h,
-                    "AcadAnnotative",
-                    Some(annotative_vals),
-                );
-            }
-            if !options.hyperlink_url.is_empty() {
-                let link_vals = vec![codec::xdata::XDataValue::String(
-                    options.hyperlink_url.clone(),
-                )];
-                view::dispatch::set_entity_xdata(
-                    &mut self.document,
-                    existing_blk_h,
-                    "PE_URL",
-                    Some(link_vals),
-                );
-            }
            (existing_br_h, existing_blk_h)
        } else {
            let next = self.document.next_handle();
@@ -1036,7 +1016,7 @@ impl Scene {
            block_record.units = options.unit;
            block_record.description = options.description.clone();
            block_record.explodable = options.allow_exploding;
-            block_record.scale_uniformly = options.scale_uniformly;
+            block_record.scale_uniformly = options.scale_uniformly || options.annotative;
            self.document
                .block_records
                .add(block_record)
@@ -1056,36 +1036,19 @@ impl Scene {
            self.document
                .add_entity(EntityType::BlockEnd(block_end))
                .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
-
-            if options.annotative {
-                let annotative_vals = vec![codec::xdata::XDataValue::Integer16(1)];
-                view::dispatch::set_entity_xdata(
-                    &mut self.document,
-                    block_handle,
-                    "AcadAnnotative",
-                    Some(annotative_vals),
-                );
-            }
-            if !options.hyperlink_url.is_empty() {
-                let link_vals = vec![codec::xdata::XDataValue::String(
-                    options.hyperlink_url.clone(),
-                )];
-                view::dispatch::set_entity_xdata(
-                    &mut self.document,
-                    block_handle,
-                    "PE_URL",
-                    Some(link_vals),
-                );
-            }
            (br_handle, block_handle)
        };
+        self.write_block_definition_xdata(br_handle, block_handle, &options);

        let source_entities: Vec<_> = options
            .handles
            .iter()
            .filter_map(|&h| self.document.get_entity(h).cloned().map(|e| (h, e)))
            .collect();
-        if source_entities.is_empty() {
+        // No objects at all defines an empty block (the reference's
+        // "Continue" / an empty selection at -BLOCK); objects that all vanished
+        // are an error.
+        if source_entities.is_empty() && !options.handles.is_empty() {
            return Err("No valid entities selected for block creation.".into());
        }

@@ -1104,17 +1067,169 @@ impl Scene {
        }

        let mut insert_handle = Handle::NULL;
-        if options.mode == crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Convert {
+        // An empty definition has nothing to convert into a reference.
+        if options.mode == crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Convert
+            && !options.handles.is_empty()
+        {
            let mut insert = DxfInsert::new(name, codec::types::Vector3::ZERO);
            codec::Entity::apply_transform(&mut insert, &options.block_to_world);
            insert_handle = self.add_entity(EntityType::Insert(insert));
        }

+        // The definition's thumbnail (BLOCK_RECORD 310), as the format keeps it.
+        let thumbnail = self.block_thumbnail(name);
+        if let Some(br) = self.document.block_records.get_mut(name) {
+            br.preview_data = thumbnail;
+        }
+
        // Advance the block epoch so all consumers and viewport renderers re-tessellate
        self.bump_geometry();
        Ok(insert_handle)
    }

+    /// A 40 × 40, 32-bit bottom-up DIB of the block's geometry: white strokes
+    /// on the dark preview background, fitted with a one-pixel margin. Empty
+    /// for a block without drawable geometry.
+    pub fn block_thumbnail(&self, name: &str) -> Vec<u8> {
+        const SIZE: usize = 40;
+        let wires = self.block_preview_wires(name);
+        let mut lo = [f64::INFINITY; 2];
+        let mut hi = [f64::NEG_INFINITY; 2];
+        for wire in &wires {
+            for p in &wire.points {
+                if p[0].is_finite() && p[1].is_finite() {
+                    lo = [lo[0].min(p[0] as f64), lo[1].min(p[1] as f64)];
+                    hi = [hi[0].max(p[0] as f64), hi[1].max(p[1] as f64)];
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        if !lo[0].is_finite() {
+            return Vec::new();
+        }
+        let span = (hi[0] - lo[0]).max(hi[1] - lo[1]).max(1e-9);
+        let scale = (SIZE as f64 - 3.0) / span;
+        let offset = [
+            (SIZE as f64 - (hi[0] - lo[0]) * scale) / 2.0,
+            (SIZE as f64 - (hi[1] - lo[1]) * scale) / 2.0,
+        ];
+        let to_px = |p: &[f32; 3]| {
+            (
+                ((p[0] as f64 - lo[0]) * scale + offset[0]).floor() as i64,
+                ((p[1] as f64 - lo[1]) * scale + offset[1]).floor() as i64,
+            )
+        };
+        // Bottom-up rows of BGRA pixels.
+        let mut pixels = vec![[0x30u8, 0x28, 0x21, 0xFF]; SIZE * SIZE];
+        let mut plot = |x: i64, y: i64| {
+            if (0..SIZE as i64).contains(&x) && (0..SIZE as i64).contains(&y) {
+                pixels[y as usize * SIZE + x as usize] = [0xFF; 4];
+            }
+        };
+        for wire in &wires {
+            let mut prev: Option<(i64, i64)> = None;
+            for p in &wire.points {
+                if !(p[0].is_finite() && p[1].is_finite()) {
+                    prev = None;
+                    continue;
+                }
+                let (x1, y1) = to_px(p);
+                let (mut x0, mut y0) = prev.unwrap_or((x1, y1));
+                let (dx, dy) = ((x1 - x0).abs(), -(y1 - y0).abs());
+                let (sx, sy) = (if x0 < x1 { 1 } else { -1 }, if y0 < y1 { 1 } else { -1 });
+                let mut err = dx + dy;
+                loop {
+                    plot(x0, y0);
+                    if x0 == x1 && y0 == y1 {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    let e2 = 2 * err;
+                    if e2 >= dy {
+                        err += dy;
+                        x0 += sx;
+                    }
+                    if e2 <= dx {
+                        err += dx;
+                        y0 += sy;
+                    }
+                }
+                prev = Some((x1, y1));
+            }
+        }
+        let mut dib = Vec::with_capacity(40 + SIZE * SIZE * 4);
+        for value in [40u32, SIZE as u32, SIZE as u32] {
+            dib.extend_from_slice(&value.to_le_bytes());
+        }
+        dib.extend_from_slice(&1u16.to_le_bytes());
+        dib.extend_from_slice(&32u16.to_le_bytes());
+        for value in [0u32, (SIZE * SIZE * 4) as u32, 1, 1, 0, 0] {
+            dib.extend_from_slice(&value.to_le_bytes());
+        }
+        for pixel in pixels {
+            dib.extend_from_slice(&pixel);
+        }
+        dib
+    }
+
+    /// The definition-level xdata of a block, kept on its block record the
+    /// way the format stores it: `AcadAnnotative` (`AnnotativeData { 1 1 }`)
+    /// for an annotative block, `AcadAnnoPO` when its orientation matches the
+    /// layout, and the `PE_URL` hyperlink. Markers an older definition kept
+    /// on its BLOCK entity are dropped.
+    pub fn write_block_definition_xdata(
+        &mut self,
+        br_handle: Handle,
+        block_handle: Handle,
+        options: &CreateBlockOptions,
+    ) {
+        use codec::xdata::{ExtendedDataRecord, XDataValue as V};
+        for app in ["AcadAnnotative", "AcadAnnoPO", "PE_URL"] {
+            view::dispatch::set_entity_xdata(&mut self.document, block_handle, app, None);
+            self.document.remove_object_xdata_record(br_handle, app);
+        }
+        let mut records = Vec::new();
+        if options.annotative {
+            let mut anno = ExtendedDataRecord::new("AcadAnnotative");
+            for value in [
+                V::String("AnnotativeData".into()),
+                V::ControlString("{".into()),
+                V::Integer16(1),
+                V::Integer16(1),
+                V::ControlString("}".into()),
+            ] {
+                anno.add_value(value);
+            }
+            records.push(anno);
+            if options.match_orientation {
+                let mut po = ExtendedDataRecord::new("AcadAnnoPO");
+                po.add_value(V::Integer16(1));
+                records.push(po);
+            }
+        }
+        let url = options.hyperlink_url.trim();
+        if !url.is_empty() {
+            let mut link = ExtendedDataRecord::new("PE_URL");
+            link.add_value(V::String(url.to_string()));
+            link.add_value(V::ControlString("{".into()));
+            let description = options.hyperlink_desc.trim();
+            if !description.is_empty() {
+                link.add_value(V::String(description.to_string()));
+            }
+            link.add_value(V::ControlString("{".into()));
+            link.add_value(V::Integer32(0));
+            link.add_value(V::ControlString("}".into()));
+            link.add_value(V::ControlString("}".into()));
+            records.push(link);
+        }
+        for record in records {
+            if !self.document.app_ids.contains(&record.application_name) {
+                let mut app = codec::tables::AppId::new(&record.application_name);
+                app.handle = self.document.allocate_handle();
+                let _ = self.document.app_ids.add(app);
+            }
+            self.document.set_object_xdata_record(br_handle, record);
+        }
+    }
+
    /// Define a new block named `name` from `entities` (owned, not yet in the
    /// document), with `base` as its insertion origin. Unlike
    /// [`create_block_from_entities`] this does NOT place an insert — the
@@ -1370,3 +1370,33 @@ pub mod web_diag {
        }
    }
 }
+
+/// The user's Documents folder (the known folder, wherever it is
+/// redirected), else the home folder.
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+pub fn documents_dir() -> Option<std::path::PathBuf> {
+    use windows_sys::Win32::System::Com::CoTaskMemFree;
+    use windows_sys::Win32::UI::Shell::{FOLDERID_Documents, SHGetKnownFolderPath};
+    let mut raw: windows_sys::core::PWSTR = std::ptr::null_mut();
+    // SAFETY: SHGetKnownFolderPath writes a CoTaskMemAlloc'd, NUL-terminated
+    // wide string to `raw`, freed below.
+    let hr = unsafe { SHGetKnownFolderPath(&FOLDERID_Documents, 0, std::ptr::null_mut(), &mut raw) };
+    let path = if hr == 0 && !raw.is_null() {
+        // SAFETY: `raw` is a valid NUL-terminated wide string from the call above.
+        let len = unsafe { (0..).take_while(|&k| *raw.add(k) != 0).count() };
+        let wide = unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts(raw, len) };
+        Some(std::path::PathBuf::from(String::from_utf16_lossy(wide)))
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+    // SAFETY: freeing the buffer SHGetKnownFolderPath allocated (null is a no-op).
+    unsafe { CoTaskMemFree(raw as *const core::ffi::c_void) };
+    path.or_else(|| std::env::var_os("USERPROFILE").map(std::path::PathBuf::from))
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
+pub fn documents_dir() -> Option<std::path::PathBuf> {
+    let home = std::env::var_os("HOME").map(std::path::PathBuf::from)?;
+    let documents = home.join("Documents");
+    Some(if documents.is_dir() { documents } else { home })
+}
@@ -106,21 +106,24 @@ impl Clone for BlockDefinitionState {

 impl BlockDefinitionState {
    pub fn new(existing_names: Vec<String>, pre_selected: Vec<Handle>, default_unit: i16) -> Self {
+        // The on-screen switches, the conversion and Allow exploding start
+        // where the dialog was last confirmed.
+        let remembered = *crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::defaults();
        Self {
            name: String::new(),
            name_combo: combo_box::State::new(existing_names.clone()),
            existing_names,
-            base_point_specify_onscreen: false,
-            base_point_x: "0.0000".to_string(),
-            base_point_y: "0.0000".to_string(),
-            base_point_z: "0.0000".to_string(),
-            objects_specify_onscreen: false,
+            base_point_specify_onscreen: remembered.base_on_screen,
+            base_point_x: "0".to_string(),
+            base_point_y: "0".to_string(),
+            base_point_z: "0".to_string(),
+            objects_specify_onscreen: remembered.objects_on_screen,
            selected_handles: pre_selected,
-            object_mode: BlockObjectMode::Convert,
+            object_mode: remembered.mode,
            annotative: false,
            match_orientation: false,
            scale_uniformly: false,
-            allow_exploding: true,
+            allow_exploding: remembered.allow_exploding,
            unit: default_unit,
            description: String::new(),
            description_content: text_editor::Content::new(),
@@ -158,15 +161,20 @@ impl BlockDefinitionState {
    }

    pub fn invalid_name_char(&self) -> Option<char> {
-        self.name.chars().find(|&c| {
-            matches!(
-                c,
-                '\\' | '/' | ':' | '*' | '?' | '"' | '<' | '>' | '|' | '=' | '`'
-            )
-        })
+        invalid_block_name_char(&self.name)
    }
 }

+/// The first character a block name may not hold: \ < > / ? " : ; * | , = `
+pub fn invalid_block_name_char(name: &str) -> Option<char> {
+    name.chars().find(|&c| {
+        matches!(
+            c,
+            '\\' | '<' | '>' | '/' | '?' | '"' | ':' | ';' | '*' | '|' | ',' | '=' | '`'
+        )
+    })
+}
+
 pub(crate) fn group<'a>(
    title: impl Into<String>,
    body: impl Into<Element<'a, Message>>,
@@ -235,7 +243,7 @@ pub fn view_window<'a>(
        state.invalid_name_char()
    {
        Some(
-            text(crate::tf!("Invalid character '{invalid_char}' in block name (\\ / : * ? \" < > | = ` are not allowed)"))
+            text(crate::tf!("Invalid character '{invalid_char}' in block name (\\ < > / ? \" : ; * | , = ` are not allowed)"))
                .size(10)
                .style(|theme: &Theme| text::Style {
                    color: Some(theme.palette().danger.base.color),
@@ -634,7 +642,8 @@ pub fn view_window<'a>(

    // ── Confirm Redefinition Guard ────────────────────────────────────────────
    if let Some(name) = &state.confirm_redefine {
-        let question = crate::tf!("Block \"{name}\" already exists.\nDo you want to redefine it?");
+        let _ = name;
+        let question = t!("The block definition has changed. Do you want to redefine it ?");
        let shield = mouse_area(
            container(Space::new())
                .width(Length::Fill)
@@ -655,7 +664,7 @@ pub fn view_window<'a>(
                    .align_x(iced::alignment::Horizontal::Center),
                Space::new().height(16),
                row![
-                    dialog_button(t!("Yes"), Message::BlockDefConfirmRedefine(true), false),
+                    dialog_button(t!("Redefine"), Message::BlockDefConfirmRedefine(true), false),
                    // Default / safe focus on "No"
                    dialog_button(t!("No"), Message::BlockDefConfirmRedefine(false), true),
                ]
@@ -104,16 +104,27 @@ impl WblockState {
        default_path: String,
    ) -> Self {
        let default_block = existing_blocks.first().cloned().unwrap_or_default();
+        let remembered_mode = crate::modules::insert::block_cmdline::defaults().wblock_mode;
        Self {
            source_mode: WblockSourceMode::Objects,
            block_name: default_block,
            block_combo: combo_box::State::new(existing_blocks.clone()),
            existing_blocks,
-            base_point_x: "0.00".to_string(),
-            base_point_y: "0.00".to_string(),
-            base_point_z: "0.00".to_string(),
+            base_point_x: "0".to_string(),
+            base_point_y: "0".to_string(),
+            base_point_z: "0".to_string(),
            selected_handles: pre_selected,
-            object_mode: WblockObjectMode::Retain,
+            object_mode: match remembered_mode {
+                crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Retain => {
+                    WblockObjectMode::Retain
+                }
+                crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Convert => {
+                    WblockObjectMode::Convert
+                }
+                crate::ui::window::block_definition::BlockObjectMode::Delete => {
+                    WblockObjectMode::Delete
+                }
+            },
            file_path: default_path,
            unit: default_unit,
            error_message: None,