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

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 button_down_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 button_down_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 button_down_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 button_down_arrow next to Refresh and click Reload All.

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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 button_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 button_browse .

  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 icon_references_file_information .

    The File information section appears on the palette. Click dwgtabs_close 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 icon_references_image_information .

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

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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 icon_arrow_open_dlg to specify the type of Reference to attach:

    • Attach Drawing icon_references_attach_drawing . Attaches a drawing as Reference.

    • Attach Drawing Folder icon_references_attach_dwgfolder . 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 icon_references_attach_image . Attaches an image as Reference.

    • Attach Image Folder icon_references_attach_imgfolder . 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 icon_references_attach_pdf : Attaches a PDF file as Reference.

    • Attach PDF Folder icon_references_attach_pdffolder . 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 icon_references_attach_dgn . Attaches a DGN file as Reference.

    • Attach DGN Folder icon_references_attach_dgnfolder . 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 icon_references_refresh . Refreshes all References.

  • Reload icon_references_reload_all . Reloads all References.

  • File Information icon_references_file_information . Turns on and off the File Information area of the palette.

  • Image Information icon_references_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

Related Topics

Command -References

Attaching Drawings as References

Attaching Image Files

Parent Topic

Working with Referenced Drawings and Images