2004

666 | Chapter 23 Reference Other Drawing Files (Xrefs)
Overview of External References
By using xrefs, you can
■ Coordinate your work with the work of others by referencing other draw-
ings in your drawing to keep up with the changes being made by other
users. You can also assemble a master drawing from component drawings
that may undergo changes as a project develops.
■ Ensure that the most recent version of the referenced drawing is displayed.
When you open your drawing, AutoCAD
®
automatically reloads each xref,
so it reflects the latest state of the referenced drawing file.
■ Keep the names of layers, dimensioning styles, text styles, and other
named elements in your drawing separate from those in referenced
drawings.
■ Merge (bind) attached xrefs permanently with your drawing when the
project is complete and ready to be archived.
Note Like a block reference, an xref appears in the current drawing as a single
object. However, you cannot explode an xref without binding it first.
See Also
“DesignCenter” on page 45
Attach, Update, and Bind External
References
You can perform several operations on referenced drawing files including
attaching, updating, and detaching them.
Attach External References
AutoCAD treats an xref as a type of block definition with some important dif-
ferences. When you insert a drawing as a block reference, it is stored in the
drawing and is not updated if the original drawing changes. When you
attach a drawing as an xref, you link that referenced drawing to the current
drawing; any changes to the referenced drawing are displayed in the current
drawing when it is opened.