Managing References

To open Referenced drawings:

You can modify a drawing that is referenced in a drawing.

• In the References palette, right-click a Reference and click Open.

  The drawing opens in another drawing window. When you edit the drawing your modifications are reflected in the drawings where they are attached as References.

To unload References:

• In the References palette, right-click a Reference and click Unload.

  The Reference you unloaded is no longer visible in the drawing, but the link to the file is maintained. To redisplay an unloaded Reference, specify the Reload option.

To reload References:

• In the References palette, right-click a Reference and click Reload.

  Drawings that contain Referenced drawings are displayed in their current states. When working on a project in a workgroup, you might need to update References while you work on a drawing. The option reloads the specified drawing in the form in which it was most recently saved.

  Note: The notification area of the status bar displays a balloon to indicate that an external Referenced drawing has changed and needs reloading.

To detach References:

• In the References palette, right-click a Reference and click Detach.

  The Referenced drawing is removed from the current drawing, which erases dependent symbols such as Layer, LineStyle, and Block definitions from the drawing file.

  Note: Although you can erase References with the Delete command, specify the Detach option to remove the dependent symbols from the drawing file, as well.

To bind References permanently:

The Bind option makes a Referenced drawing a permanent part of a drawing, for example, if you want to email a drawing or archive a finalized drawing. Bind the Referenced drawing to the current drawing to avoid including an assembly of drawings in an archive or email.

1. In the References palette, right-click a Reference and click Bind.
2. In the dialog box, specify the Bind Type:
   • 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.

   See Using the Insert Reference - Bind Type dialog box.

3. Click OK.

To change the Reference type:

1. In the References palette, select a Reference.
2. In the File information area, select the Reference Type:
   • Attach. Creates a link to a drawing and references it in the current drawing. The attached drawing is the most recently saved version. The Attach option includes the external drawing.
   • Overlay. Creates a link to a drawing and references it in the current drawing. The Overlay option does not include the external drawing.

To reset the path to a Reference:

Occasionally, the location of a referenced drawing changes or a referenced file is renamed. The Path option reestablishes the path to the Reference, reattaches a renamed Reference file, or replaces a Reference file with another file.

You can apply the new path to all referenced drawings.

1. In the References palette, select a Reference.
2. In the File information area, click Browse  behind the Found in path box that contains the path and name of the Reference whose path needs updating.

   Alternatively, right-click a Reference file and select Select Path from the context menu.

3. Navigate to the new location and select the Reference file, then click Open.

   If there are other missing References in the drawing, then the application automatically checks in the newly specified path whether a matching file name exists for all other missing References.

4. Click Yes to use the new path to for all References.

To change the saved path specification for a Reference:

You can modify the path specifications for References. The specifications are saved in the drawing.

1. In the References palette, right-click a Reference (drawing or image) and click Path.
2. Specify an option:
   • 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.

   In the File information area, in Saved path, the path specification changes accordingly.

To change the saved path specification for all References with a matching path:

You can modify the paths for one or more References.

1. In the References palette, right-click a Reference (drawing or image) and click Replace Path.
2. In the References Path Replace dialog box, click .
3. Navigate to the new location and click Select Folder.
4. Click Replace All.

To show file information:

1. In the References palette, select a Reference.
2. On the toolbar, click File Information .
   

   The File information section appears on the palette. Click at the top of the section to close it.

To show image information:

1. In the References palette, select an image Reference.
2. On the toolbar, click Image Information .
   

   The Image information section appears on the palette. Click at the top of the section to close it.

^ Top of Page

Access

Command: References

Menu: Tools > References Manager

Ribbon: Insert > Palettes > References Manager