AutoDesk Map Blocks Vs Objects

[DonnaKodz]

I have a DXF file which I have imported into AutoDesk Map as a drawing file. The drawing file has blocks associated with it however I am not clear what the difference is between blocks used in AutoCAD and objects in AutoDesk Map.
I come from a GIS background and my understanding is that blocks are used in CAD diagram where an 'object' is required to be drawn multiple times. Do I need to convert blocks to objects to fully use the AutoDesk Map GIS functionality under the 'map' menu?
I need to work with layers that I can assign symbology and attributes to.

I am new to AutoDesk Map and find this issue confusing - help please!

 

[borgunit]

I think this may help. Blocks in AutoCAD are a collection of "entities" (lines, circle, other blocks, etc..) that can be "grouped" together and named, so that they (as a whole) can be moved, inserted, copied in the drawing. You can have only one definition of this named block in your drawing but many instances (copies) within the drawing. An object is a way developers can use existing AutoCAD entities, and create new "objects" to use in a drawing. While I am unfamiliar with MAP, AutoCAD Mechanical has objects like screws, washers, ... These are basically lines, circles, whatever,..., they are edited by using the version of AutoCAD you have (i.e. Mechanical). If you list an object in Mechanical, it is listed as ISO screw (size here). The edit command brings up the "Screw creation" dialog instead of an entity or block edit dialog. Other versions (non-Mechanical) of AutoCAD can view these objects as proxy objects, but cannot edit them without the source application (Mechanical) to edit them. They can be exploded though, and will return to their "native" form (line, circle, etc...) but will lose their ability to be edited in their source application. I hope this is explained well enough and is what you were asking for.

BU