Xref attach vs. overlay tutorial

by Mark Middlebrook

This tutorial is part of the markcad.com series of AutoCAD tutorials on xrefs. Most of the tutorials are written for AutoCAD 2000/2000i and most of the sample drawings are saved in AutoCAD 2000 format. You may be able to use the tutorials with other versions of AutoCAD (or even AutoCAD LT), but some of the commands and dialog boxes will work a little differently. The tutorial instructions assume that you have a basic understanding of how to use AutoCAD (e.g., to open drawings, create and set layers, select objects, zoom and pan, etc.).

• Preparation.
• Example 1: Attach xrefs.
• Example 2: Overlay one xref.

1. Download xref_attach.zip, which contains the sample files for this tutorial.

2. Unzip xref_attach.dwg, S-grid.dwg, and S-cols.dwg from xref_attach.zip to a directory (e.g., C:\class).

   Note: If you don't know how to unzip files, stop right now, go to www.winzip.com, download the evaluation version of WinZip, and learn how to use it.

1. Make sure that you've downloaded the sample drawings, as described in Preparation.

2. Start AutoCAD 2000 or 2000i.

3. Open xref_attach.dwg.

4. SAVEAS Parent_attached.dwg.

5. Make the S-grid layer the current layer.

6. Attach S-grid.dwg with an insertion point of 0,0,0, scale of 1, and rotation angle of 0:
   1. Type XR and press ENTER (or choose Insert, Xref Manager from the pull-down menus) to open the Xref Manager dialog box.
   2. Choose the Attach button.
   3. Choose S-grid.dwg.
   4. Choose the Open button.
   5. Turn off the Retain Path check box if you want to prevent AutoCAD from saving the xref's path (better if you always keep parent and child xrefs in the same directory).
   6. Make sure that the Reference Type is set to Attachment.
   7. Turn off all three Specify On-Screen settings.
   8. Make sure that:
      • Insertion point is set to 0,0,0,
      • Scale is set to 1,1,1, and
      • Rotation angle is set to 0.
   9. Choose the OK button.

   

7. Note the attachment information on the command line. (If necessary, press F2 to toggle the AutoCAD text window on, read the information, then press F2 again to return to the main AutoCAD window.)

8. Make the S-cols layer the current layer.

9. Xref Attach S-cols.dwg, using the same steps that you used to attach S-grid.dwg.

10. Save Parent_attached.dwg.

11. Open the Xref Manager dialog box again. Note the xref information in List View.

    

12. Click the Tree View button to show the hierarchy of parent and child drawings.

    

13. Choose the Cancel button.

14. Close Parent_attached.dwg.

15. Create a new drawing.

16. Save the new drawing as Grandparent_attached.dwg.

17. Xref Attach Parent_attached.dwg (Insertion point = 0,0,0, Scale = 1, Rotation = 0).

18. Note the attachment information on the command line.

19. ZOOM All.

20. Save Grandparent_attached.dwg.

21. Open the Xref Manager dialog box again. Note the xref information in List View.

22. Click the Tree View button to show the hierarchy of parent and child drawings.

    

23. Choose the Cancel button.

24. Close Grandparent_attached.dwg.

1. Make sure that you've downloaded the sample drawings, as described in Preparation, and that you've worked through Example 1: Attach xrefs.

2. Open xref_attach.dwg.

3. SAVEAS Parent_overlaid.dwg.

4. Make the S-grid layer the current layer.

5. Attach S-grid.dwg with an insertion point of 0,0,0, scale of 1, and rotation angle of 0, as described in the first example.

6. Note the attachment information on the command line.

7. Make the S-cols layer the current layer.

8. This time, Xref Overlay S-cols.dwg, using the same steps that you used to attach S-grid.dwg, but choosing the Overlay button in the External Reference dialog box.

   

9. Save Parent_overlaid.dwg.

10. Open the Xref Manager dialog box again. Note the xref information in List View.

    

11. Choose the Cancel button.

12. Close Parent_overlaid.dwg.

13. Create a new drawing.

14. Save the new drawing as Grandparent_overlaid.dwg.

15. Xref Attach Parent_overlaid.dwg (Insertion point = 0,0,0, Scale = 1, Rotation = 0).

16. Note the attachment information on the command line.

17. ZOOM All.

18. Save Grandparent_overlaid.dwg.

19. Open the Xref Manager dialog box again. Note the xref information in List View.

20. Click the Tree View button to show the hierarchy of parent and child drawings. Click the Tree View button to show the hierarchy of parent and child drawings.

    

    In particular, note that S-cols.dwg doesn't appear. That's because an overlaid xref appears only "one level deep" -- in other words, it appears in a parent drawing, but not in a grandparent drawing (or above: great-grandparent, etc.). You Attach xrefs that you want to show no matter what the level of nesting, and you Overlay xrefs that you want to show in the parent drawing, but no higher in the hierarchy. I use Attach in almost all cases. Overlay can be useful in complex multidisciplinary situations where certain xrefs should appear in certain disciplines' drawings, but not in others'.

21. Choose the Cancel button.

22. Close Grandparent_overlaid.dwg.

Return to the markcad.com series of AutoCAD tutorials on xrefs.