Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Another option found on the right-click shortcut menu is the Relink option. When you select
this option, the Select Dwg File To Relink dialog box opens. Here, you can choose a different
file to put in place of the original Xref file. In the case of the plans, it would be handy if you had
multiple versions that you needed to try out. To bring the original Xref file back, select Relink
and choose that file.
Here you saw how an Xref file is updated in a different way than a block. Because Xrefs are
loaded along with the drawing file that contains them, the containing file, which in this case
was the Planxref file, automatically displays any changes made to the Xref when it's opened.
Also, you avoid having to update nested blocks because AutoCAD updates nested Xrefs as well
as non-nested Xrefs.
Other Differences between External References and Blocks
Here are a few other differences between Xrefs and inserted blocks that you'll want to keep
in mind:
Any new layers, text styles, or linetypes brought in with Xref files don't become part of
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the current file. If you want to import any of these items, you can use the Bind External
References (Xbind) command (described in Chapter 14, “Advanced Editing and
Organizing”).
A way to ensure that layer settings for Xrefs are retained is to enter
VISRETAIN
↵ at the
Command prompt. At the New value for VISRETAIN <0>: prompt, enter
1
.
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To segregate layers in Xref files from layers in the current drawing, AutoCAD prefixes
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the names of the Xref file's layers with their file's name. A vertical bar separates the file-
name prefix and the layer name when you view a list of layers in the Layers palette (as in
unitxref | wall).
You can't explode Xrefs. You can, however, convert an Xref into a block and then explode
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it. To do this, select the Xref in the Reference Manager palette, then right-click and choose
Bind or Bind-Insert to convert the Xref into a block. See the section “Other External
Reference Options” later in this chapter for more information.
If an Xref is renamed or moved to another location on your hard disk, AutoCAD won't be
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able to find that file when it opens other files to which the Xref is attached. If this happens,
right-click on the missing Xref name in the Reference Manager palette and from the short-
cut menu select Relink File.
Take care when relinking an Xref. It can assign a file of a different name to an existing Xref
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as a substitution.
Xref files are especially useful in workgroup environments in which several people are
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working on the same project. For example, one person might be updating several files that
are inserted into a variety of other files. With Xref files, however, the updating is automatic;
you avoid confusion about which files need their blocks updated.
