BlockHub
BlockHub scans your existing DWG folders, renders a clean thumbnail for every block, and lets you find and insert anything in seconds — without touching a single file.
Core concept
How BlockHub works
Point at existing folders. BlockHub does the rest — background scans, thumbnail rendering and instant search results — without moving a single file.
1. Point
Add folders or individual DWG files to the scan list. BlockHub works with your existing folder structure. No migration, no reorganization required.
2. Scan
BlockHub processes each DWG in the background via ObjectDBX. AutoCAD stays fully usable during scanning. A smart delta check skips unchanged files.
3. Search
Search by name or tag. Results appear in milliseconds from the local SQLite catalog. Filter by category, favorites or dynamic blocks.
4. Insert
Double-click a thumbnail. BlockHub copies the block into your active drawing and starts a placement jig — click to confirm. Units are scaled automatically.
Home base
The BlockHub palette
A dockable AutoCAD palette. Type BLOCKHUB to open it. It sits next to your drawing — always one click away.
📦 BlockHub — Library
⚙️© CompanionBits
The BlockHub palette — scan, search, filter, insert.
The search bar filters on block name, display name and tags at the same time. Results appear as you type — no delay.
The toolbar has five filter buttons: 1× shows each block name only once (deduplication across multiple DWGs), ★ shows only favorites, ⚡ shows only dynamic blocks, ◐ toggles between color and monochrome view, and 🗑 shows the trash of removed thumbnails.
The category panel (below the toolbar) lets you filter on one or several categories at once. Use the checkboxes or the all / none / invert buttons. Click one category while others are selected to instantly isolate that category.
You can sort by Name, Source file or Date added via the dropdown in the toolbar.
Step by step
Workflows
Click the scenario that matches your situation.
Set up BlockHub and build your catalog in a few minutes.
- Type BLOCKHUB in the AutoCAD command line to open the palette. Dock it as you like.
- Click the ⚙️ Settings icon (top right) and set the Drawing units . This determines the automatic scale compensation when inserting blocks from DWGs with different units.
- Click the hamburger menu (≡) and choose Manage folders…. Click 📁 Add folder — BlockHub scans all subfolders recursively. Or use 📄 Add DWG for individual files.
- Click ↻ Scan in the toolbar. A progress indicator shows the current file and the number of blocks found. AutoCAD stays fully usable.
- Thumbnails appear as the scan progresses. You're ready to insert.
Find a block and place it in your drawing.
- Type in the search bar or use the category filters to find the block you want.
- Double-click a thumbnail. BlockHub silently copies the block definition from the source file into your active drawing — without opening any files.
- A placement jig starts automatically. Move your cursor to position the block and click to place.
- The insertion is fully undoable with Ctrl+Z .
Make cryptic block names readable and searchable — without changing a single DWG file.
- Right-click a thumbnail and choose Name and tag…
- Enter a Display name . This replaces the technical block name in the palette. The original name in the DWG is never changed. Leave empty to use the original name.
- Enter Tags — keywords separated by spaces or commas. A block named ARC_MEUB_STOEL_TYP01_V2 can be tagged as chair furniture seating. Searching for any of those words finds it instantly.
- To assign a category, right-click and choose Set category…. Pick an existing category or type a new name.
- Use the hamburger menu → Manage categories… to rename or delete categories. Renaming updates all blocks in that category automatically.
- Mark a block as a favorite via right-click Toggle favorite — or click the ★ icon on the thumbnail directly.
Assign consistent display names to a series of blocks in one go.
- Select several thumbnails by clicking them. Selected thumbnails are marked with a colored border.
- Right-click and choose Bulk rename…
- Enter a Prefix (e.g. MEUB_) and a Start number. A live preview shows the resulting names.
- Click OK. All selected blocks get sequential display names: MEUB_001, MEUB_002, and so on.
Collect a selection of blocks from different DWGs into one tidy export file.
- Select the thumbnails you want to export.
- Click ↓ Export in the status bar, or right-click and choose Export selection.
- Choose One DWG to merge everything, or One DWG per category to export a separate file per category.
- BlockHub uses WblockCloneObjects internally — only the selected block definitions are copied, without pulling in redundant layers or styles.
Hide thumbnails you no longer need — without deleting any DWG files.
- Select the thumbnails you want to remove.
- Click Remove in the status bar, or right-click and choose Remove…. Confirm the dialog.
- The thumbnails disappear from the library. Your DWG files are not modified in any way.
- To restore removed thumbnails, click the 🗑 button to show the trash. Select the items you want and click ↩ Restore.
- To permanently remove a thumbnail from the catalog, use ✕ Delete permanently in the trash view. A new scan finds the block again if you change your mind.
Technology
Under the hood
Three technical choices that make BlockHub fast, reliable and non-destructive — and set it apart from any native AutoCAD workflow.
GDI+ thumbnail renderer
BlockHub reads the raw geometry primitives from each block definition — lines, arcs, hatches, text — and renders them freshly to a 120×120 PNG via GDI+. It never relies on the bitmap preview AutoCAD stores in the DWG. That built-in preview is often black, outdated or entirely absent. BlockHub thumbnails are always accurate.
ObjectDBX + SQLite
Scanning runs via ObjectDBX — the headless AutoCAD database engine — so DWG files are processed without opening the AutoCAD UI. AutoCAD stays fully usable while hundreds of files are processed in the background. A delta check compares modification timestamps: only new or changed files are re-scanned. Searching 10,000 blocks takes milliseconds.
Non-destructive by design
BlockHub never moves, renames or modifies your DWG files. It indexes your existing folder structure exactly as it is — even a messy one. Display names, tags, categories and favorites live exclusively in the local BlockHub catalog. You're never forced to reorganize your server, export blocks or migrate to the cloud.
Why BlockHub
BlockHub vs. the alternatives
Most tools in this space ask you to adapt to them. BlockHub adapts to you.
| Feature | BlockHub | Native AutoCAD tools |
|---|---|---|
| Works with existing folder structure | ✓ No migration needed | Partial — requires organized library folders |
| Thumbnail quality | Always accurate — rendered from geometry | Depends on stored DWG preview — often black or missing |
| Search speed in large libraries | Milliseconds — SQLite index | Slow — reads DWG files on demand |
| AutoCAD stays responsive during scan | ✓ Background via ObjectDBX | UI freezes during Design Center loading |
| Delta scanning (skip unchanged files) | ✓ Timestamp-based | Full reload every time |
| Tags and display names | ✓ Fully customizable | Block name only |
| Categories and favorites | ✓ | ✕ |
| Automatic unit scaling on insert | ✓ | Manual |
| Export selection to DWG | ✓ Single or per category | ✕ |
| Modifies DWG files | Never | N/A |
Bigger picture
CompanionBits
BlockHub is part of the CompanionBits suite for AutoCAD. Each tool solves one problem — completely.
StyleFitter
Find every object matching your filter and apply layer, style and ByLayer properties in one click. The fastest way to normalize a third-party drawing.
QuickLister
Scan zones in your drawing and generate legends that stay in sync. Hatches, symbols, linetypes and references — one scan, every legend, always current.
StateSync
Links viewports to layer states and watches for changes. Colored frames show the sync status at a glance. Fix mismatches with one click.
BlitzDim
Draw a cutting line, pick your layers and BlitzDim places dimensions at every intersection automatically. Done in seconds.
All tools work independently and install as one bundle. One license per tool — pay only for what you use.