Using the References Palette

The References command accesses the References palette which manages Referenced files, such as drawings, image files or data links.

When you open a drawing with Referenced files, the References display in the current states. When collaborating over a network, you might need to update the References. The program reloads the specified drawings in the most recently saved states.

After you attach drawings as References you can manage them with the References palette.

This topic discusses:

• Attaching and Updating Drawings as References
• Managing References
• The References Palette

Attaching and Updating Drawings as References

To attach drawings using the References palette:

1. Click Tools > References Manager (or type References).
2. Click Attach Drawing.

   If Attach Drawing does not display, click the arrow next to Attach Image and click Attach Drawing.

3. In the dialog box, browse to a drawing and click Open.
4. Set options in the Attach Reference: Drawing dialog box. See Attaching Drawings as References.

To attach images using the References palette:

1. Click Tools > References Manager.
2. Click Attach Image.

   If Attach Image does not display, click the arrow next to Attach Drawing and click Attach Image.

3. In the dialog box, browse to an image and click Open.
4. Set options in the Attach Reference: Image dialog box. See Attaching Image Files.

To update References:

1. Click Tools > References Manager.
2. Click Refresh to redraw the References.

   If Refresh does not display, click the arrow next to Reload All and click Refresh.

3. Click Reload All to update the References with subsequent modifications made to the external file.

   If Reload All does not display, click the arrow next to Refresh and click Reload All.

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The References Palette

Toolbar

Use the buttons in the toolbar at the top of the References palette to attach and manage Referenced files in the drawing:

• Attach flyout. Lists the types of files or folders you can attach as References. Click to specify the type of Reference to attach:
  • Attach Drawing . Attaches a drawing as Reference.
  • Attach Drawing Folder . Lets you specify a folder and attaches all drawings in the folder as References. An Attach Reference: Drawing dialog box opens for each file, where you can set options for the Reference.
  • Attach Image . Attaches an image as Reference.
  • Attach Image Folder . Lets you specify a folder and attaches all images in the folder as References. An Attach Reference: Image dialog box opens for each file, where you can set options for the Reference.
  • Attach PDF : Attaches a PDF file as Reference.
  • Attach PDF Folder . Lets you specify a folder and attaches all PDF files in the folder as References. An Attach Reference: PDF dialog box opens for each file, where you can set options for the Reference.
  • Attach DGN . Attaches a DGN file as Reference.
  • Attach DGN Folder . Lets you specify a folder and attaches all DGN files in the folder as References. An Attach Reference: DGN dialog box opens for each file, where you can set options for the Reference.
• Refresh . Refreshes all References.
• Reload . Reloads all References.
• File Information . Turns on and off the File Information area of the palette.
• Image Information . Turns on and off the Image Information area of the palette.

Drawings tree view

The drawings tree view lets you navigate References in the current drawing.

The following file types are listed in the tree view:

• Drawing files (*.dwg)
• Image files (*.bmp, *.gif, *.jpg, *.jpeg, *.png, *.tif, *.tiff)
• PDF files (*.pdf)
• DesiGN files (*.dgn)

File information

Shows information about the selected Reference. You can view the file name, status, size, Reference type, last modified date, file path, and save path.

Image information

Shows additional information when the selected Reference is an image. You can view the color system and depth, height and width in pixels, default size, and resolution of the image.

Context Menu

You can manage References using the options provided in the context menu.

Right-click a Reference in the tree view to display the context menu.

• Open. Opens the selected Referenced file.
• Attach. Attaches a specified file or folder to the drawing as a Reference.
• Unload. Unloads the selected Reference and hides it from the drawing.
• Reload. Reloads the specified drawing in the form in which it was most recently saved.
• Detach. Removes a Referenced drawing from the current drawing, which erases dependent symbols such as Layer, LineStyle, and Block definitions from the drawing file. .
• Bind. Makes a Referenced drawing a permanent part of the current drawing:
  • Bind. Converts the Reference into a Block and uses unique symbol names for Layers and style definitions in the drawing using the blockname$n$symbolname syntax
  • Insert. Detaches the Reference and inserts the Referenced drawing as a Block.
• Path. Specifies the path type of the Referenced file in relation to the drawing.
  • Make Absolute. Changes the relative path of the Reference to an absolute path.
  • Make Relative. Changes the absolute path of the Reference to a relative path.
  • Remove Path. Removes the path specification for the Reference. Use this option only if the Reference is located in the same folder as the drawing.
• Select File. Opens the file selection dialog box, where you can specify the source file for a missing reference.
• Replace Path. Opens the Replace Path dialog box, where you can specify a new path for the reference file. Optionally, you can apply the new path for all reference files with matching path from the main drawing.

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Access

Command: References

Menu: Tools > References Manager

Ribbon: Insert > Palettes > References Manager