Rhino Title Block Tutorial and FAQ

[mary (Mary Ann Fugier)]

Title Block Basics

What is it all about
A tutorial on building reusable title blocks for Rhino layouts, credited partly to a contributor named Carl_Mesrobian who supplied a sample title block (in inches — the author notes a metric version could follow if someone DMs a metric title block).

Core workflow

1. Text fields — Use Document User Text, Layout User Text, and Rhino’s built-in fields (date, file name, etc.) on the Layout itself.
2. Document vs. Layout user text — Document user text is constant across the file (project name, client, job number); Layout user text varies per layout (drafter, approval date, scale).
3. Turn it into a block — Once text and geometry are set up, use the Block command to group everything into a reusable block.
4. Reuse across layouts/models — Use ImportLayout/InsertLayout to bring a pre-built title block layout into a new or existing model, so all the user-text fields come with it.

Hands-on exercise (below)
It provides a downloadable sample file (RMA Layout + Title Block.3dm, with a separate version for Rhino 7) and walks through:

• Adding custom Document User Text fields (e.g., “Client Name 1/2”)
• Adding Layout User Text fields (e.g., “Drafter”)
• Assigning Document, Layout, and System fields to text objects in the title block
• Grouping the whole thing into a block with Block Manager or Block
• Reusing the layout in other files via InsertLayout

Recommended Setup Approach

Add Text Fields to Your Title Block

• Text fields are your best fiend here.
• Rhino has Document User Text, Layout User text, and built in text fields like date and file name.
• The title block and text/text field should be added and configured on the Layout.
• Then the Block command to “block” the text, curves and picture images.
• Your Layout is now ready to be added to other files.

ImportLayout to Another File

Use the ImportLayout command and point to the file with your title block on the layout.
The layout is set up with the title block.
This imports all the document and layout user text that it needs into the current model.

Begin a new model or open an existing file.
This is the file where you want the layout/title block.
It should be open and current. Now type the ImporLayout command navigate to the file with the title block. Then select the layout with the configure title block. to import.

Layout User Text vs Document User Test

• Use the Layout user text page on Properties to change the Layout user text.
  Layout user text are those fields that change or are specific to each layout.
  For example, each layout in a model can have a different: drafter, approved date, approved by, scale and more.
  
  
• Use the Document user text in Options to change the Document user text.
  Document user text are text fields that are constant to the document.
  For example: Project name, Project address, Job number, client name, client address… and more
  
  
• Other text fields that are not user made and are built into Rhino
  File name and path, date.
  
  

Try It

The text fields will be assigned to existing text in the file that you will download and open.
Use the Text command to create addition text or copy existing text.
Edit the text by double-clicking or use Properties → Text page.
Pick the FX button to access all the text fields that Rhino has available.

Design the Title Block

The title geometry and text needs to be created on the Layout.
If you insert an existing title block, explode and modify to fit the Layout.
Scale text with the ScaleTextHeight command.

Make the Text Fields

1. Download and open: RMA Layout + Title Block.3dm (176.6 KB)
   For Rhino 7, use this file.
   V7 RMA Layout + Title Block.3dm (176.6 KB)

2. Go to Options. → Document settings → Document User Text.

3. Pick the New button.

4. Add Client Name 1 & Client Name 2. Type in any name of your choice.

5. Pick ok.
   

   

6. With the Page 1 layout current, go to Properties → Layout User Text page.

7. Pick the New button.

8. Add Drafter and assign any name.

   

9. Assign the Document fields to the text in the tile block.
   

10. Assign the Layout User Text fields to the text in the tile block.
    

11. Assign the System fields to the text in the title block.
    

Group as Block

1. Type Block Manager and pick Make Block → From Selected Object:
   (You can also type the Block command,)
   
   
2. Select All the geometry for the title block. Windows select, SelAll or Control A are options
   Enter
3. At the Base Pt prompt type 0 (zero) and Enter.
   Now the title block is a block.
   You can double click to edit the block. You can make any changed to the curves, to the text fields are add/remove geometry.

Use in Other Layouts

You can copy and paste into other layouts.
If you duplicate the layout, it will be on the layout.
Text fields like Page Name and Page Number automatically update.

Use in Other Models

THIS IS IMPORTANT.
Even if you only want the title block only, you will need to go through these steps.
Import the layout, now you will have the title block. Copy and paste to an existing layout.
Delete the original layout.

1. Open a model where you want to use this layout and title block. It should be a file with the the same unit system as your title block. Begin a new model with template Small Objects Inches or other inch or feet option.
2. Type the command InsertLayout.
3. Navigate to the location of the RMA Layout + Title Block.3dm that you modified about.
4. Select Page 1 to import.
5. Now you have the layout and the title block A Size TB ready to use in this file.

You can copy and paste into other layouts.
If you duplicate the layout, it will be on the layout.
Text fields like Page Name and Page Number automatically update.

Summary

Let’s review the best way to set it up in a title block for Rhino.

1. Build the title block once, on a layout in a dedicated master file — one for inches, one for mm if you need it (per the tutorial’s note).
2. Add Document User Text (Options → Document Properties → Document User Text) for values constant across the project: client, project name, job number.
3. Add Layout User Text (Properties → Layout User Text) for values that vary per sheet: drafter, scale, approval date. Since these fields are formulas evaluated live, they’ll auto-update instead of needing manual retyping.
4. Bind applicable test to a field with the FX button instead of typing static text — this is what makes the block reusable rather than a fixed image.
5. Select everything and run Block, choosing base point 0,0,0. Now it’s a single manageable object — edit later with double-click or BlockEdit.
6. For every new project, don’t rebuild — use InsertLayout to pull the whole layout (geometry + block + text fields) from your master file into the new model. This is the step that actually saves you time long-term.

Command Reference

Block command
The Block command defines a block object from the selected objects and replaces the selected objects with an instance of the block, which is useful for creating parts libraries, updating all instances by modifying the block definition, and keeping model size smaller than copying identical geometry. When creating a block, you select the objects and then pick a base point — the point around which the instance will be located, scaled, and rotated when inserted. For editing later, the BlockEdit command lets you select a block instance to change the block geometry and update the block definition — double-clicking a block instance also opens it for editing, with all other objects locked while you work.

Text Fields
Text fields are formulas evaluated live while Rhino is running, written in the syntax %%; if a formula can’t be evaluated, Rhino displays #### instead. This is exactly the mechanism the tutorial has you use via the FX button. Handy detail: the Date text field still returns the current system date even after the block containing it has been exploded. The docs also confirm the split the tutorial teaches — Document User Text applies to the whole model, while Layout User Text returns a value scoped to a specific layout, either the current one or one you name explicitly.

Layout setup
When creating a new layout, you specify the target printer, paper size, orientation, and units, along with the number of detail viewports to start with, and can draw a border or insert a title block directly onto the layout.

ImportLayout / InsertLayout
This is the standard mechanism for pulling a layout (title block and all) from one file into another, matching what the tutorial walks through.

Note

Many thanks to @Carl_Mesrobian for his help providing the inspiration and a sample title block for this tutorial. Both are important!
Carl works in inches, so this tutorial was done in inches.
If you DM me a title block in MM, I will provide an additional TB tutorial for metric units.

Let us know in this thread if you have any questions.
Be detailed where the process above is breaking down for you.
Provided file is necessary to repeat the issue here.

[Carl_Mesrobian]

Many thanks to you, @mary ! My contribution was incidental.

I will look at it by the beginning of next week.