Graphic Groups

AutoCAD blocks are complex graphic objects that no longer leave the user the possibility to access the basic graphics these blocks were built on. A block can only be manipulated as a whole.

In this context, ProSig offers the concept of graphic groups. It involves a group of graphic objects in which the individual objects are linked to each other less firmly than they are in a block. The elements within a graphic group retain all attributes inherent to them as individual graphic objects; the only difference being that they contain additional information to actually identify them as members of a graphic group. This makes it possible to manipulate the elements of a graphic group individually and the graphic group as a whole. However, even though graphic groups utilize all the possibilities of AutoCAD, they are not actually implemented as part of the latter's core program. To users, this can pose a problem as they run the risk of accidentally destroying a graphic group. In order to eliminate that risk, all AutoCAD commands likely to corrupt a graphic group in any way (e.g., COPY) have been "overloaded" with identically named ProSig commands, which either track and update the group structure or, if this proves unfeasible or unhelpful, the respective application has been rendered invalid for graphic group elements.

ProSig can check the accuracy of graphic groups via the PRUEFGG function.

Graphic groups are created, edited or deleted by ProSig functions on a problem-oriented basis. Any attempt to apply a ProSig function to elements of a defective graphic group result in an error message, with the function generally failing to execute.