topic Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs in AutoCAD Forum

Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 07:07:43 GMT

How does one create/edit the draw order on multiple xrefs (I have up to 20 in some cases) on drawings.

MicroStation has an option in its xref toolbox to assign numbers to its xref. This will put the xrefs in that order. Does AutoCAD have this option somewhere? Or is there a lisp file somewhere? I know one of the solutions is to put them into different layers and then draw order them but all our xrefs are meant to be inserted into one layer as per our company standards.

Can any one assist please?

Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 09:21:49 GMT

You control the draw order of xrefs the same way you control draw order of other objects - using the "draw order" commands. Help page

The whole xref is treated as one object for draw order - this is only normally a problem when you have overlapping solid hatches but it's good to be aware.

Draw order in autocad is not very reliable - it doesn't always "stick". By default a new object will be drawn on top of previous objects so the easiest way would be to attach the xrefs in the order you want the to be drawn in.

Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

pkolarik — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:07:18 GMT

Having alot of xrefs in one file in autocad and then needing to get them "layered" in a very specific draw order setup can be a little bit of a challenge. What we typically do here is place them all in the drawing in one of two ways:

- Either place them into the drawing in the draw order you want them representing (which works most of the time), or....

- Place them in the drawing and adjust their draw order one by one after the fact. You'd have to start with the one you want sent all the way to the back first, then the next one, then the next one. "Bring to front" appears to be less reliable than "send to back" in these cases, so if you mess up and do one of your xrefs in the wrong order you could find yourself starting all over from the first xref again.

Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

twounder — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 03:54:51 GMT

Very disappointing “solutions”. Both only confirm the challenge presented by the original question. Why would anyone think these posts SOLVED the question?

Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

cadffm — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 08:12:58 GMT

Because it is?

The simple answer is to use Draworder (or do it in the creation order you want)

so what is not "solved"?

If you have another question, start your own Thread and explain in detailed.

Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

sherriegarnett — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:20:32 GMT

I think twounder is expressing the same frustration I have about adjusting the draw order of XRefs. It should be as simple as a drag & drop in the XRef palette, not having to go thru some 20 xrefs to send them to the back or bring forward. That is a ridiculously slow method to order the xrefs the way you want them, and something Autodesk should have long since solved.

Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

ScottHodges — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 03:49:20 GMT

What about using the bring above, send below draw order commands. I know this does not answer the giving them a numerical order of the OP, but in a way seems more powerful for a large number of xrefs, and is layer independant (not sure how that works with draworder) though not as precise.

Re: Draw Order on Multiple xrefs

twounder — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:26:47 GMT

Yes, I think you see my point. Not sure if this techniques will benefit those with a similar problem - multiple XREFs that you want to keep in a certain print order. I was recently pleasantly surprised that I could take most of those XREFs, that were no longer subject to changes during the assembly process, and "ATTACH" them as 'child XREFs' to a few selected 'parent XREFs' which was then 'OVERLAYED' in the active drawing. This allowed me to shuffle those four forward or backward as needed in the active file to achieve a FIXED print order. This reduced the frustration I was experiencing from wrestling with draw order of 16 XREFs down to only 4 so that to get the layering and stability I was looking for. Had multiple 'child XREFs' ATTACHED to each of those 4 'parent XREFS'.

Naturally, this suggests that the overall project files were very complex and there was a bit of trial and error and strategizing involved to make it all work. But it did.