External references

Last updated: 2023-02-22

Total video time: 19:23

c3d-intrfc-xref-01.mp4 8:39

XREFS are drawings used behind the drawing you are working on, and only used as a reference. Doing so, reduces the design drawing file size.

XREF file types

  1. DWG file, overlays
  2. DGN file, underlays
  3. Attach images
  4. Attach PDFs

XREF Manager

Where XREFs are stored and accessed.

  1. Unload, you don't see the XREF in your file but remains in The XREF Manager.
  2. Detach, removes from your drawing file and XREF Manager.
  3. Binding, inserts XREF data into your drawing file.

Fade Control

Controls how light/dark the XREF is seen with active drawing.

Ribbon > Insert tab > Reference panel pulldown

c3d-intrfc-xref-02.mp4 10:44

  1. Start a new file
    1. Quick Access toolbar > New (WisDOT Template file)
  2. Ribbon > Insert tab > Reference panel > select Attach
  3. Select Reference Files dialog box
    1. Look in: Local drive:\WisDOT\Projects\86753090\Design\AliProfs
    2. Select file: AliProf-51
    3. Open or Enter
  4. Attach External Reference dialog box
    1. Verify Name is AliProf-51, if not select Browse to search.
    2. Scale
      1. X = 1.00
      2. Y = 1.00

      3. Z = 1.00

        Tip: Select Specify On-screen to select points on drawing.

    3. Insertion point
      1. X = 0.00
      2. Y = 0.00

      3. Z = 0.00

        Tip: Select Specify On-screen to enter specific coordinates.

    4. Rotation

      1. Angle = 0

        Tip: Select Specify On-screen to pick rotation on screen.

    5. Path type
      1. Dropdown > Relative path
    6. Reference type
      1. Attachment

    7. OK

  5. Select an object, all of the XREF highlights because it is one entity.
  6. The Contextual ribbon changes to External Reference tab
    1. Edit panel
      1. Edit Reference in Place
      2. Open Reference
    2. Clipping panel
      1. Create Clipping Boundary
      2. Remove Clipping
    3. Options panel
      1. External References

Create clipping boundary

  1. Select 4 points, creating a closed object around an area of the XREF
  2. Select the XREF drawing
  3. Ribbon > Clipping panel > select Create Clipping Boundary
  4. Select polyline/polygonal/rectanguar/invert clip: type SEnter
  5. Select object you created
  6. Boundary is created and only shows the XREF within it.

Remove clipping boundary

Ribbon > Clipping panel > select Remove Clipping

Fade Control

Ribbon > Insert tab > Reference panel pulldown

Controls how light/dark the XREF is seen with active drawing.

Use the slider to control the variance or type in a percentage number.

External Reference palette aka XREF Manager

  1. Start with a new file
  2. Quick Access toolbar > New (WisDOT Template file)
  3. Command line: XREFEnter
  4. Opens XREF Manager
  5. File References, active drawing(s) listed
  6. Attach icon, first on left

    Attach file types; DWG, Image, DWF, DNG, PDF, Point Cloud, or Coordination Model.

    1. Select Attach DWG...
    2. Select Reference File dialog box
      1. Look in: Local drive:\WisDOT\Projects\86753090\Design\AliProfs
      2. Select file: AliProf-51
      3. Open or Enter
    3. Attach External Reference dialog box
      1. Verify Name is AliProf-51, if not select Browse to search.
      2. Scale, all = 1.00
      3. Insertion point, all = 0.00
      4. Rotation angle = 0
      5. Path type, change to Full path
      6. Reference type, Attachment
      7. OK

    4. File References now includes reference file, AliProf-51.

Selecting specific object(s) from XREF

  1. Command line: NCOPYEnter
  2. Select nested objects to copy: Select object(s)
  3. Enter when selection is finished
  4. Specify base point: Select Enter, it will assume the origin point is 0,0,0 and place the object(s) in the exact same location on active drawing.

  5. Enter to end command

Unload XREF to turn off and show only NCOPY reference data.

  1. Command line: XREF
  2. XREF Manager

    1. Right-click AliProf-51 > Unload

Reload XREF to turn on all XREF data.

  1. Command line: XREF
  2. XREF Manager

    1. Right-click AliProf-51 > Reload

Attach an XREF that isn't appearing

  1. Command line: XREF
  2. XREF Manager
    1. Right-click on missing XREF > Attach...
    2. Attach External Reference dialog box
      1. Name: Search for XREF

      2. OK

Remove an XREF(s) from XREF Manager

  1. Command line: XREF
  2. XREF Manager

    1. Right-click on XREF to remove > Detach

Bind brings all XREF data into the active drawing

  1. Command line: XREF
  2. XREF Manager
    1. Right-click AliProf-51 > Bind...
    2. Bind Xrefs/DGN underlays dialog box
      1. Button options
        1. Bind will have the original drawing name listed along with all the layers.
        2. Insert will put a marker in front of it indicating it's not an original layer.
      2. Select BindOK

Editing XREF objects

  1. Edit Reference in Place
    1. Ribbon > External Reference tab > Edit Reference in Place
    2. Reference Edit dialog box
      1. Reference name: AliProf-51
      2. If there are nested objects, select Automatically select all nested objects.
      3. OK
    3. Make changes to object
    4. Ribbon > Insert tab > Edit References panel > Save Changes

      Warning: Saving changes will be saved to the original file that is being XREFed in.

  2. Open Reference
    1. Ribbon > External Reference tab > Open Reference
    2. Opens the actual XREF
    3. Make edits/changes
    4. Save