What is an XREF file in AutoCAD?

In AutoCAD, xref is a shortened term for “external references”. As the name indicates, the xref feature allows you to attach external references to your drawing. External references can be in the format of other drawings, PDFs, images, point cloud data, and so on.

How does xref work in AutoCAD?

Attach an Xref

1. Click Insert tab Reference panel Attach. Find.
2. In the Select Reference File dialog box, select one or more files you want to attach and then click Open.
3. In the Attach External Reference dialog box, under Reference Type, select Attachment.
4. Specify the insertion point, scale, and rotation angle. …
5. Click OK.

Where are the xref files in AutoCAD?

Navigate to the location of the drawing file. Right-click the drawing and choose Search… In the search dialog box, select Xrefs and enter the drawing name. The search results list the all of the drawing files where the file is attached as an Xref.

How do I create an xref in AutoCAD?

At the Command prompt, enter AMAUTODETAIL. In the Assembly Drawing Detailing dialog box, select Selection by Objects. Specify a file name for the xref and the path of the folder where you want to save this file. Select the Create with Fixed Scale option and specify a scale.

What does xref stand for?

“External Reference” (“Xref”) is just fancy AutoCAD-speak for a document you attach to a drawing.

How do you convert xref to blocks?

In the External References palette, select the reference name that you want to bind. Right-click, and click Bind. In the Bind Xrefs dialog box, select one of the following options: Bind converts the objects in the xref into a block reference.

Why can’t I see my xref in AutoCAD?

On the command line in AutoCAD, type VISRETAIN and set the value to 1. Turn on and thaw all xref layers, and enable them to be plotted. … if this does not work, change the name of the xref and then try to attach it again. Make sure the xref is attached as Overlay.

How do you clear an xref in AutoCAD?

To delete an Xref completely from your drawing, select Detach from the contextual menu of the External References palette.
…
If there are no such objects, use the LAYDEL command to delete the layers:

1. Enter LAYDEL on the command line.
2. Click Name or enter N.
3. Select the Layer and click OK to delete it.

How do I create an xref file?

You just start the command and pick any object in the xref. Alternatively, you can select the xref from the External References palette and then right-click and choose Open to open one or more xrefs for editing. An alternative to opening the xref-ed file when you need to edit it is to use the REFEDIT command.

Can I edit an xref?

From within the current drawing, select the reference that you would like to edit. You cannot edit a reference in place if the drawing file is being used by another user. …

Can you xref a drawing into itself?

You could xref the file to > itself and scale the xref by 25.4. As you draw in the active file, the metric scaled > xref would automatically update.

How do you cross-reference a thesis?

Using Cross-References

1. Put your cursor where you want the reference to be. …
2. Select the type of item you are referencing from the Reference type pulldown.
3. For figures, select Only Label and Number from the Insert reference to: pulldown, unless you want the entire caption to appear in the text.