Inserting and binding external references to drawings

External references are not part of the drawing. Rather, they are links to an externally referenced file. To provide a copy of a drawing containing external references to someone else, you must also provide all the external reference files. In addition, the person receiving the drawings must either re-create the same paths you used when linking the external references or change the paths for the external references.

The Insert command in the External Reference feature lets you insert an externally referenced drawing as a block. To provide a copy of a drawing that contains an external reference, it is best to insert the external reference as a block.

To insert an external reference as a block

Advanced experience level

Do one of the following:

Choose Tools > External Reference.
On the Tools toolbar, click the External Reference tool ().
Type xref and then press Enter.

In the prompt box, choose Insert.
Type the name of the external reference you want to insert into the drawing, and then press Enter.

To provide a copy of a drawing that contains external references, it is often easier to first bind the external references to the drawing. Binding the external references makes them a permanent part of the drawing, which is the same as inserting a separate drawing as a block.

To bind an external reference to a drawing

Advanced experience level

Do one of the following:

Choose Tools > External Reference.
On the Tools toolbar, click the External Reference tool ().
Type xref and then press Enter.

In the prompt box, choose Bind.
Type the name of the external reference you want to bind to the drawing, and then press Enter.

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Attaching external references

Changing the path for external references

Detaching external references

Overlaying external references

Reloading external references

Xref Clipping