AutoCAD 2026: Smart Blocks: BDETECT (Command)

By John Flanagan

Introduction

In AutoCAD 2026, Smart Block functionality has further developed (compared to Smart Blocks object detection in AutoCAD 2025).

BDETECT, previously named DETECT, uses Autodesk AI to identify and group similar objects in a drawing for easy block conversion.

Detect and Convert is best at recognizing architectural objects, such as:

• Single-swing doors
• Double-swing doors.
• Toilets
• Bathtubs and Sinks
• Urinals
• Generic lighting symbols

Once you run BEDETECT, the Detect palette opens and begins detection, returning sets of matching instances that can either be converted into a new or existing block. The Detect palette will show all detected sets in a new thumbnail view. (You can edit the primary instance by clicking the vertical ellipsis next to the set name).

Once you click on a set, the new Detect review mode highlights all found instances.

From the review toolbar, you can:

• See the total number of found instances.
• Navigate to the previous or next instance in the drawing.
• Change or edit the primary instance.
• Convert to block.

Option to edit or change primary instance.

With the 2026 release, Detect and Convert now allows you to edit or change the primary instance. Now, you can choose a different primary instance by selecting Change primary from the review toolbar.

Or, you can add or remove objects from the selected primary instance to edit it and refine your search. The Edit primary functionality is available from both the review toolbar and the palette.

FAQ in AutoCAD 2026

What is the difference between Detect and Search?

Detect uses Autodesk AI to identify and group similar objects in a drawing for block conversion. Currently, BDETECT is best at recognizing architectural objects such as doors and toilets.

Search or BSEARCH, finds identical instances of a single geometry.