X-ref solution

[Anonymous]

Hi-

The problem we're running into is that we have one large file that is
changed often throughout a project. In another drawing, we need to show
just a portion of that file. We currently simply copy and paste the portion
that we need, create a viewport to show it in paperspace, and try to
remember to update it when ever the original file gets updated. I tried to
place a 1:1 scaled xref into modelspace, open a paperspace window and use
the _freeze/thaw layer in current viewport_ switches to turn off the layers
that I didn't need. I would save the drawing, and when I would close it and
open it later, all the layers would be thawed in the viewport!

We don't want to simply copy and paste the portion of the drawing that we
need, because when we do that, every time the original drawing gets updated,
we have to redo the whole process. Linking with a xref doesn't seem to work
either. Are we doing something wrong? Is there a simple solution to our
problem?

-Jeff Shamburg

[Anonymous]

As a solution for my own problem, and for other's general info, I found that
the VISRETAIN system variable is saved to each drawing, and if it is set to
1, it will save the layer settings with the drawing containing the xref.

-Jeff Shamburg