Refresh/Reload All References Button – The Refresh button synchronizes the status data of referenced drawing files with the data in memory. The following options are displayed:Īttach (file type) Button - The Attach button displays a list of file types that you can attach (see Figure 2). You can use the buttons at the top of the External References palette to choose the types of files to attach to the drawing and to refresh the status of file references that you already have attached. The palette will then hide automatically when you move the cursor away from the palette. It is important to note that when using the External References palette, it is recommended that you turn on the Auto-hide feature or anchor the palette. The lower pane, called the Details/Preview Pane, can display properties for the selected file references or it can display a thumbnail preview of the selected file reference. Shortcut menus and function keys provide options for working with the files. The upper pane, called the File References Pane, can display file references in a list or in a tree structure.
The External References palette contains several buttons and is split into two panes (see Figure 1). These files can be opened directly from the External References palette. The External References palette in AutoCAD Architecture organizes, displays, and manages referenced files such as DWG files (xrefs), DWF, DWFx, PDF, and raster images. Working with relative xref paths makes moving the project and transmitting it easier and reduces the need to repath the project.
In the project setup, you can decide whether to use full paths or relative paths. If you want to use existing non-project files in a project, convert them to project files first.ĭrawing Management supports the use of relative paths for external references. Use the Project Navigator to create, modify and reference project files within the project. Keep these considerations in mind when working with a project:ĭo not delete any XML files generated by the Drawing Management feature. If you reference a non-project file into a project file by mistake, you cannot use the full Drawing Management functionality on that file.
The AutoCAD Architecture Xref Manager cannot differentiate between project drawings and non-project drawings.
If you are working in a project environment, the best practice for referencing project drawings into other project drawings is to use the Project Navigator rather than the standard AutoCAD Architecture Xref Manager. For example, a construct that is placed on a specific level will use that level's elevation data to control the Z-axis insertion point when being xrefed into a view.
Xrefs that have been created in drawing management can automatically make use of project data, while those that are created manually through the xref palette or command line cannot. However, the background methods employed have additional features. The mechanism of referencing is identical to the regular AutoCAD External References Management feature. This means that elements are referenced into constructs, constructs are referenced into views, and views are referenced into sheets. The Drawing Management feature in AutoCAD® Architecture 2013 uses external references (xrefs) as a means to create a project and maintain it. External references can be in the format of other drawings, PDFs, images, point cloud data, and so on.Back February 1st, 2013 All About External References As the name indicates, the xref feature allows you to attach external references to your drawing. In AutoCAD, xref is a shortened term for “external references”. How do I open an XREF Manager in AutoCAD?.What is the highest value of layer transparency?.