External Reference

Toolbar: Tools > External Reference ()

Menu: Tools > External Reference

Keyboard: XREF

Alias: XA, -XR, XATTACH

Experience Level: Advanced

Temporarily adds external drawings to a current drawing, without changing their content. When you save the drawing, only the reference information is saved. The next time you open the drawing, the external reference is added again, allowing you to build a master drawing using component drawings. Any changes you make to a component drawing is reflected in the master drawing.

You can edit the path of an externally referenced drawing directly from the IntelliCAD Explorer. You must be in Details view to edit the path. Single-click the path you want to edit, and then browse to the drawing you want to insert. The program automatically updates the path, and the new externally referenced drawing appears in the drawing.

Xref: ? to list · Bind · Detach · Reload · Overlay · <Attach>: To include an external reference in the current drawing, choose Attach, the default setting. To display a list of all external references in the current drawing, choose ?. To convert an external reference to a block, choose Bind. To detach, or remove, an external reference, choose Detach. To reload an external reference to update the current drawing, choose Reload. To overlay an external reference, choose Overlay.

To attach an external reference

Choose Attach. The Select File to Attach dialog box appears so you can locate the external reference.

To convert an external reference to a block

The Bind command breaks the relationship between the external reference and your drawing. Binding an external reference causes the referenced drawing to become part of your drawing.

Choose Bind.

Xref(s) to bind: Enter the name of the external reference that you want to bind to the drawing.

To detach an external reference from the drawing

The detach command detaches the reference from the drawing to which it is currently attached. The next time you open that drawing, those references are not included.

Choose Detach.

Xref(s) to detach: Enter the name of the external reference that you want to remove from the drawing.

To overlay one drawing on top of another

Overlay allows you to lay a drawing on top of another drawing, similar to the way you work manually with transparencies. An overlay is also a reference until you bind it.

Choose Overlay. The Select File to Overlay dialog box appears.

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Blocks

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Attach external references

Bind an external reference to a drawing

Detach an external reference

Overlay an external reference

Reload an external reference