23.1 Working with Externally Referenced Drawings - Xrefs

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Overview

Following this lesson, you will:

• Know how to reference one drawing from another

  • Know how to use the Xref Manager

  • Know how to attach, detach, and overlay a reference drawing

  • Know how to clip a reference to see just what you want to see

  • Understand reference drawings' dependent symbols

  • Know how to load, unload, and reload a reference

  • Know how to edit a referenced drawing from within the primary drawing

• Know how to open a referenced drawing from within the primary drawing

• Know how to permanently bind a referenced drawing to the primary drawing

Think way back to our discussion of layers in Lesson 6. I explained layers by referring to the presentation method Encyclopedia Britannica used to detail the human body (plastic overlays with the different systems of the body). This is also the idea behind externally referenced drawings – Xrefs.

There is, however, quite a difference between layers and Xrefs. We use layers, as you know, to control the display of, and differentiate between, objects in a drawing (much as we used linetypes and widths on the drawing board). On the other hand, we use Xrefs to save drawing time and computer memory by sharing information (much as Britannica shared the outline of the human body among the various system overlays).

Note 

When working with Xrefs, file location is a critical consideration. For the exercises in this lesson to work properly with the files provided, the files must be located in one of two places:

1. The best location is the C:\Steps\Lesson23 folder. This site has been thoroughly tested to be sure the files work properly.

2. The files may be placed on a network or other location provided the path is defined in the Project File Search Path (Files tab of the Options dialog box). If you're not comfortable with the Options dialog box, however, and don't have a CAD guru who can help, please don't attempt to make changes in the Options dialog box. Use the first choice instead.

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