>> how about layer control in the downstream XREF drawing? Just changing the layer's linetype and color, etc to look like a boundary line in the ALTA drawing?
Well, since I'm using Parcel Style to control which layer my parcel linework goes on, that sounds like it would be incredibly ugly.... Every parcel that I wanted to use downstream would have to have a dedicated parcel style. I'm not sure what would happen in practice, but that sounds like it's just about as bad as using XML exports and having parcel definitions in multiple drawings.
And I guess, from your suggestion and from the link you provided, that the answer to my question is that "Yes, this IS a terrible mess"...
We've been using multiple styles for multiple-sized text as in the link you provided, but that's a terrible mess, too. Label styles are bad enough, and that option contributes to the "style-breeding problem", but it does seem to be the least-evil option.
Parcels in C3D need tons of work - probably a complete redesign. In addition to making parcels "Project Objects" that can be used in PM and with Data Shortcuts, we also seriously need a way to group parcels, so we can handle replatted areas in a coherent fashion. So far, we've been managing to get stuff out the door, but boy is the process ugly...
😞
Sinc