Using the References Palette

The References command accesses the References palette which manages Referenced drawings and image files.

The palette contains two groups:

• Referenced Files. Displays the list of References from the current drawing. Additionally, it provides all tools necessary to manage the referenced files. From the Referenced Files you can:
  • Unload referenced drawings and images
  • Reload referenced drawings and images
  • Detach referenced drawings and images
• File Information. Displays the Reference type and the path.

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.

To display the References palette:

• On the status bar, click and select References.

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To update References:

1. Click Tools > References.
2. Click Refresh to redraw the References.
3. Click Reload All to update the References with subsequent modifications made to the external file.

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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.

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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.

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To detach References:

• In the References palette, right-click a Reference and click Detach.

  The referenced drawing is removed from the current drawing.

  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.

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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.

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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 a file flyout. Lists the types of files or folders you can attach as References. Click to specify the type of Reference to attach:
  • Attach Drawing . Attaches a drawing as Reference.
  • Attach Image . Attaches an image as Reference.
  • Attach PDF : Attaches a PDF file as Reference.
  • Attach DGN . Attaches a DGN file as Reference.
• Refresh . Refreshes all References.
• Reload . Reloads all References.

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.
• 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.

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Access

Command: References

Menu: Tools > References

Status Bar: Panels > References