Title: Chapter 11x: External References and Images
1Chapter 11x External References and Images
2After completing this Chapter, you will be able
to do the following
- Working with External References
- Adding Dependent Symbols to the current drawing
- Controlling the Display of External References
- Editing External Files
3Why External References?
One of the most powerful time-saving features of
AutoCAD is the ability to have one drawing become
part of a second drawing while maintaining the
integrity and independence of the first one.
When you drawing is attached as an xref, the
referenced drawing is linked to the current
drawing any changes to the referenced drawing
are displayed in the current drawing when it is
opened. A drawing can be attached as an xref to
multiple drawings at the same time. Conversely,
multiple drawings can be attached as external
references to a single drawing. This feature
is provided by the XREF command, short for
external reference.
4The symbols that are carried into a drawing by an
external reference are called dependent symbols,
because they depend on the external file, not on
the current drawing, for their characteristics.
The symbols have arbitrary names and include
blocks, layers, linetypes, text styles, and
dimension styles.
5Xref Manager
The XREF command provides various options for
attaching and manipulating external references
files from Xref Manager
6AutoCAD displays Xref Manager palette.
7Attaching External Reference DWG, Image, DWF,
DGN
8External Reference Dialog box
9Available options Reference Type selection
has two modes Attachment mode -- the
external references that are attached in this
mode will be included in the drawing when the
drawing itself is attached as an external
reference to another drawing. Overlay mode
-- the external references that are attached in
this mode will not be included in the drawing
when the drawing itself is attached as an
external reference to another drawing. Retain
Path selection determines whether or not the full
path to the external reference is saved.
Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation selection
are similar to insertion of a block.
10Detaching External Reference Drawings
Detach selection in the Xref Manager dialog box
detaches selected external reference drawing(s)
from the current drawing. If the external
reference is currently being displayed as part of
the current drawing, it disappears when you
detach it.
11Reloading External Reference Drawings
Reload selection in the Xref Manager dialog box
updates selected one or more external reference
drawings attached to the current drawing. The
Reload selection is provided to reload the
external drawing when some one is editing the
external drawing at the same time when it is
attached to a drawing that is currently open.
12Unloading External Reference Drawings
Unload selection in the Xref Manager dialog box
allows to unload one or more external reference
drawings from the current drawing. Unlike the
Detach option, the Unload option merely
suppresses the display and regeneration of the
external reference definition, to help current
session editing and improve performance. This
option is also useful when a series of external
reference drawings needs to be viewed during a
project on an as needed basis. Rather than having
the referenced files displayed at all times, it
can be reload when you require the information.
13Binding External Reference Drawings
Bind selection in the Xref Manager dialog box
allows to make external reference drawing data a
permanent part of the current drawing. AutoCAD
displays the Bind Xrefs dialog box with two
choices Bind and Insert. Bind selection binds
the external reference drawing as an ordinary
block in the current drawing and it renames the
dependent symbols and use them as you would use
any other named objects. Insert selection binds
the external reference drawing to the current
drawing as if it is inserted in the current
drawing just like inserting a drawing with the
INSERT command.
14Changing and Saving the path
Browse selection in the Xref Manager dialog box
displays Select New Path dialog box which allows
to select different path or file name for the
selected external reference file. Save Path
selection in the Xref Manager dialog box saves
the path of the currently selected external
reference file.
15Adding Dependent Symbols to the current drawing
XBIND command permanently adds selected subset of
external reference-dependent symbols to the
current drawing. The dependent symbols include
the block, layer, linetype, dimension style, and
text style. AutoCAD renames the dependent symbols
that is added to the current drawing.
Xbind dialog box
16Controlling the Display of External References
The XCLIP command controls the display of
unwanted information by clipping the external
reference drawings and blocks. Clipping does
not edit or change the external reference or
block, it just prevents part of the object from
being displayed. The defined clipping boundary
can be visible or hidden.
17Options include New selection (default)
defines a rectangular or polygonal clip boundary
or generates a polygonal clipping boundary from a
polyline. ON/OFF selections controls the
display of the clipped boundary. Clip depth
selection sets the front and back clipping
planes. Delete selection removes the clipping
boundary for the selected external reference or
block.
18Editing External Files
REFEDIT command edits block references and
external references while working in a drawing
session. This is referred to as in-place
reference editing. If you select a reference
for editing which has attached xrefs or block
definitions, the nested references and the
reference are displayed and available for
selection in the Reference Edit dialog box.
You can also display the attribute definitions
for editing if the block reference contains
attributes.
Modify menu Choose In-Place Xref and Block Edit gt Edit Reference
On-screen prompt refedit (ENTER)
19Edit Reference dialog box
20Objects selected that belong to any nested
references cause all the references to become
candidates for editing. The objects chosen are
temporarily extracted for modification in the
current drawing and become part of working set.
The working set objects stand out so they can be
distinguished from other objects. All other
objects not selected appear faded. You can now
perform modifications on the working set objects.
When a reference is being edited, the Refedit
toolbar is displayed. You can add and remove
working set objects and save and discard the
changes.