A frequently used drawing or drawing component can be stored as a symbol for easy reuse in other documents. You can redefine the scale, position, and orientation of the geometry after you place it. Reusing geometry makes drawing more productive and efficient, and helps you maintain accuracy and consistency throughout a project.
Blocks are similar to symbols in their creation, use, and reuse capabilities. They can be imported from AutoCAD or defined in Solid Edge and stored in global libraries. Blocks also have some advantages over symbols. For example, they can contain intelligence in the form of variable text that can be referenced in callouts and part lists. They are also "lighter" than symbols. A block can be selected from a library and placed in a document as the master block, and then different representations, or views, of that master block can be added to the same document without the overhead of additional geometry and data. For more information about blocks, see the Help topic, Using blocks.
The default method for placing a symbol in a document is Block. To change placement method, make sure that no symbol is selected on the Library tab, and then on the shortcut menu, use the Insert Symbol As shortcut command and select the placement option you want.
Note:
If the options on the Insert Symbol As shortcut menu are not available, clear the Show Blocks option on the Library tab: 
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To learn about the effect of choosing one placement method over another, see the Help topic, Symbol placement methods.
You can place a symbol in your document by selecting the symbol document from the Library tab, and then dragging the symbol onto the sheet. You also can copy and paste the symbol document into the draft document.
When you drag a symbol, you can control where it is placed.
When you copy and paste a symbol, it is automatically placed at the lower left corner of the drawing.
You can add images and pictures to draft, assembly, and part documents using the Insert Image command. You also can drag an image or picture onto the sheet, or copy and paste it.
Image files are placed as image objects rather than symbols, but they can be sized, rotated, and moved after insertion.
Like symbols, images can be embedded in the document or referenced as a link to an external file.
The easiest way to create a symbol is to select the graphics you want to store as a symbol, then drag the graphics into the Library. Solid Edge automatically assigns a default document name to each symbol. You can rename the symbol later using the Rename command on the shortcut menu.
You can also use the Copy to Library command on the Edit menu to create a symbol. When you use the Copy to Library command, you define an origin for the symbol, which allows you to place the symbol precisely later. This command also allows you to define the symbol name you want before creating the symbol. With either method, the symbol graphics are placed in the active symbol library.
Since every new Solid Edge document contains the properties defined in the template that was used to create it, you might want to use different templates for symbol documents. Solid Edge includes basic symbol templates for metric and English unit symbols. To access them, click the More tab on the New dialog box when you create a new symbol document.
You can also create your own symbol template. Just create a new draft document using the New dialog box, implement any properties you want in every symbol, and then save the document as symbol.dft in the Template folder. It will be available on the General tab of the New dialog box the next time you create a new Solid Edge document.
Symbols can be stored in any folder on your computer or a computer on your network, but you should consider defining standards for where your company's symbols are stored to make it easier for everyone to use them. You define the active symbol library using the Look In option on the Library.
You can manipulate a symbol much as you would manipulate other graphics. For example, you can edit its properties, move it, or copy it. When you manipulate a symbol, it behaves as a single unit.
When you edit the properties of a symbol placed using the Link, Embed, or Shared Embed method, the Symbol Properties dialog box is displayed for you to make changes.
When you edit the properties of an object that you placed using the Geometry method, the Group Properties dialog box is displayed.
When you edit the properties of an object that you placed using the Block method, the Block Properties dialog box is displayed.
Symbols placed using the Geometry method are edited manually, as you would any 2D element.
To edit the graphics of a symbol placed using the Link, Embed, or Shared Embed options, double-click the symbol on the drawing. The symbol document is opened for you to edit the graphics. After you have made the changes you want, save and close the symbol document to return to the draft drawing sheet where the symbol was placed.
To edit symbols placed using the Block method, double click the block graphics on the drawing sheet. The graphics are opened in a Draw In View window for editing. When you are done editing the block graphics, click Return to save your changes and return to the drawing sheet where the symbol was placed.