Linking objects to drawings

If another program supports ActiveX, you can link its data to IntelliCAD drawings. Use linking when you want to include the same data in many files. When you update the data, all links to other files reflect the changes.

For example, if you created your company logo in an ActiveX-compatible drawing program, and you want to include it in the title block of every drawing you create with IntelliCAD, you can link it to each IntelliCAD drawing. When you change the original logo in the drawing program, the IntelliCAD drawing updates automatically.

When you link data from another program, the IntelliCAD drawing stores only a reference to the location of the file in which you created the data. You link data from a saved file, so IntelliCAD can find the data and display it.

Because linking adds only a reference to a file, the data does not significantly increase the file size of the IntelliCAD drawing. However, links require some maintenance. If you move any of the linked files, you need to update the links. In addition, if you want to transport linked data, you must include all linked files.

You can update a linked object automatically every time you open the drawing or you can do so only when you specify. Anytime a link is updated, changes made to the object in its original file also appear in the IntelliCAD drawing, and the changes also appear in the original file if they were made through IntelliCAD.

To link a file to an IntelliCAD drawing

  1. Save the original file.
  2. Because a link consists of a reference to the original file, you must save the file before you can link to it.
  3. In the original file, select the data you want in the IntelliCAD drawing.
  4. Choose that program's command to place data on the Clipboard.
  5. Usually, you choose Edit > Copy.
  6. Display the IntelliCAD drawing to which you want to link the file.
  7. In IntelliCAD, choose Edit > Paste Special.
  8. In the Paste Special dialog box, select Paste Link.
  9. Click OK.

To create a linked object from within IntelliCAD

  1. Display the IntelliCAD drawing in which you want to display the linked object.
  2. In the Insert Object dialog box, click Create From File.
  3. Specify the file by doing one of the following:
  4. Select the Link check box.
  5. Select Display As Icon if you want that program's icon to appear in the drawing instead of the data.
  6. Click OK.
  7. The first page of the file appears in the IntelliCAD drawing, unless you chose to display it as an icon. You can select the object and drag to reposition it.

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