Instruction for using Xref in AutoCad

Below, we would like to introduce about application of Xref in structural drawing. Xref is a quite strong feature of AutoCAD. Using it brings a big effect in enhancing the quality and time to carry out a set of records of structural drawing.

1. Ability of Xref application in AutoCad
In set of design records, there are always common certain parts which will be used in almost drawings. If there are changes in content of these parts, all involved drawings need to be updated. Those common parts can be:

Drawing name frame for all drawings.
Located grid system on drawings: foundation plan, column plan, structural plan, steel floor layout plan…

If you only show in a normal way, it will cause amount of work when you have to change the content of many drawings with same content. Using XREF in AutoCad helps you to overcome the above problem.

Instruction for using Xref in AutoCad

XREF is a tool in AutoCad that allows 1 or many files DWG (small drawing) to use the content of 1 or many other files DWG (original drawing). When changing the content of original drawing, that content will be updated for all small drawings.

For example: When you change the section size of any column, this change will be updated for all plans. Or we add technical hole on plan, it will appear on structural plan and steel floor layout plan. XREF is useful in teamwork. When a member is responsible for original drawings, that member only need to change and update for all other members.

2. The way to use Xref in AutoCad
You type IM command and press enter to insert xref into drawing and window appears as below:

Click left mouse to the arrow pointing down the place with image of clips paper page on the left top, the choices will appear:

– Firstly, Attach DWG: xref cad normal file.

– Secondly, Attach Image: xref image file.

– Thirdly, Attach DWF: xref image file of Autocad.

Choose Attack DWG, choose file that you want to Xref and window External reference will appear.

Instruction for using Xref in AutoCad

Please note Path type is Path part. There are 3 types of Path for Xref object. They are:
Full Path – is absolute path:
Relative Path – is relative path.
No Path – is default path,
Choose Full Path and click OK, choose insert point, Xref object will appear in your drawing. XREF file is inserted as 1 block. From version 2011, the color of XREF file is shown blurredly. To change the light of xref object, you type OP then enter. Then choose tab Display and adjust at Xref display, click at Apply and OK. Please note that you choose bigger, xref object is more blurred.

Instruction for using Xref in AutoCad

You should note to Layer when you insert Xref object. Many users do not attend it that leads to Xref object will be put current payer. Therefore, in many cases, Xref object has Defpoints layer. And the drawing is blank when printing. Please be in the habit of adjusting layer before inserting xref.
To work easier on drawing after xref, we can turn off the unnecessary layers of xref object or change feature of layers suitable with drawing. This is not affected on xref original file. Apart from IM command, we also have XCLIP, XOPEN command to use in Xref.
XCLIP command is to extract a part of Xref object. To use it, you type XCLIP, then enter and choose Xref object. Type n-> enter -> type r -> enter and choose the area to extract content.
Above is the instruction for using Xref in AutoCad

Good luck!

Thanks for reading!!!

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