Bind xrefs 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

  1. Make sure that you've done the Attach vs. overlay tutorial. You should have Parent_attached.dwg, S-cols.dwg, and S-grid.dwg in your directory.

Return to the top.

Example 1: Bind as bind

In the first example, we bind xrefs using the bind type "Bind" (i.e., preserving unique named object names).
  1. Start AutoCAD 2000 or 2000i.

  2. Open Parent_attached.dwg.

  3. SAVEAS Bind_bind.dwg.

  4. Open the Layer Properties Manager dialog box. Notice the xref layer names in the form xrefname|layername.

    xref_bind_fig01.gif

  5. Choose the Cancel button to close the Layer Properties Manager dialog box.

  6. Open the Xref Manager dialog box (Type XR and press ENTER).

  7. Select all xrefs. (Click the first xref name, hold down the SHIFT key, click the last xref, release the SHIFT key.)

  8. In the Bind Xrefs dialog box, choose Bind as the Bind Type.

    xref_bind_fig02.gif

  9. Choose the OK button to close the Bind Xrefs dialog box.

  10. Choose the OK button to close the Xref Manager dialog box.

  11. Save Bind_bind.dwg.

  12. Open the Layer Properties Manager dialog box again. Notice that the xref layer names have been converted from xrefname|layername to xrefname$0$layername.

    xref_bind_fig03.gif

  13. Choose the Cancel button to close the Layer Properties Manager dialog box.

  14. Investigate the linetype and block names as well by viewing the Linetype Manager dialog box (LINETYPE command) and Block Definition dialog box (BLOCK command).

  15. Close Bind_bind.dwg.

Return to the top.

Example 2: Bind as insert

In the first example, we bind xrefs using the bind type "Insert" (i.e., strip xrefname from named object names and merge all named objects from the xrefs with those of the parent drawings.
  1. Open Parent_attached.dwg.

  2. SAVEAS Bind_insert.dwg.

  3. Open the Layer Properties Manager dialog box. Notice the xref layer names in the form xrefname|layername.

    xref_bind_fig01.gif

  4. Choose the Cancel button to close the Layer Properties Manager dialog box.

  5. Open the Xref Manager dialog box (Type XR and press ENTER).

  6. Select all xrefs. (Click the first xref name, hold down the SHIFT key, click the last xref, release the SHIFT key.)

  7. In the Bind Xrefs dialog box, choose Insert as the Bind Type.

    xref_bind_fig04.gif

  8. Choose the OK button to close the Bind Xrefs dialog box.

  9. Choose the OK button to close the Xref Manager dialog box.

  10. Save Bind_insert.dwg.

  11. Open the Layer Properties Manager dialog box again. Notice that the xref layer names have been converted from xrefname|layername to layername. AutoCAD adds layers that don't yet exist to the parent drawing. For layers that already exist in the parent drawing, AutoCAD puts the xref objects on the existing layers. (Thus, if a layer is defined with different properties, such as color or linetype, in the parent and the child drawings, the objects in the xref will change to the parent drawing's layer properties after you bind as insert.)

    xref_bind_fig05.gif

  12. Choose the Cancel button to close the Layer Properties Manager dialog box.

  13. Investigate the linetype and block names as well by viewing the Linetype Manager dialog box (LINETYPE command) and Block Definition dialog box (BLOCK command).

  14. Close Bind_insert.dwg.

Return to the top.

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

Last updated 19-Sep-2000 by
mark@markcad.com