topic Re: Managing Xref Overrides in AutoCAD Forum

Managing Xref Overrides

lee_kennewell — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 09:19:21 GMT

I use AutoCAD 2024. I am trying to use xref overrides in a way that suits my design work, however, I am either not using AutoCAD correctly or perhaps I'm expecting AutoCAD to behave in way it cannot work. I include a simple example that hopefully explains what I am trying to achieve:

Attached is the file “test 1” – it has objects on their own layers with a set line colour & set line type.
Attached is the file “test 1a” that has file “test 1” brought in as an xref, with the original layers overwritten to show the objects with different properties (line colour = red, Line type = hidden).
Attached is file “test GA” where I have introduced file “test 1a” as an xref in the hope I see the objects with line colour = red & line type = hidden: This is the desired result. However, AutoCAD, is not showing me this. Instead, the original line colours and line type are shown, i.e what features in “test 1”.

Question: Within the file “test GA”, I want the xref, “test 1a”, to show line colour = red & linetype = hidden. How to do this?

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

pendean — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:16:15 GMT

VISRETAIN settings in the top file is...? and VISRETAINMODE?

Is your XREF on layer 0? It should be it's own layer.

Are all objects in all three files set to BYLAYER for color and linetype?

Betreff: Managing Xref Overrides

cadffm — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:39:13 GMT

Hi Lee,

you can't do it (or you have to do it a second time, manually).

XRef-Layeroverrides are not inherited from the referenced file.

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

lee_kennewell — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:27:43 GMT

VISRETAIN settings in the top file is...? [Lee.K: Set to “1”] and VISRETAINMODE? [Lee.K Set to “496”]

Is your XREF on layer 0? It should be it's own layer. [Lee.k: It wasn’t but now I have set it to its own layer (set to BYLAYER).

Are all objects in all three files set to BYLAYER for color and linetype? [Lee.k: Yes.].

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

jordanlVZ3DT — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 18:30:13 GMT

Did you ever find a solution for this problem. I posted the same problem and never got a good response. The only way around it was LAYERSTATE. Create a new layer state in test1a.dwg and it will show up in TESTGA.dwg

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

RSomppi — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 12:12:55 GMT

Do the first two response's that describe how AutoCAD handles this help you at all?

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

jordanlVZ3DT — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:21:14 GMT

No. There has to be a way.

If username: cadffm is correct with his response: "you can't do it (or you have to do it a second time, manually).

XRef-Layeroverrides are not inherited from the referenced file." Then my answer is yes.

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

RSomppi — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:11:24 GMT

@jordanlVZ3DT wrote:
No. There has to be a way.

There isn't.

@jordanlVZ3DT wrote:
If username: cadffm is correct with his response: "you can't do it (or you have to do it a second time, manually).
XRef-Layeroverrides are not inherited from the referenced file." Then my answer is yes.

You got it.

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

pendean — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:23:46 GMT

@jordanlVZ3DT "...XRef-Layeroverrides are not inherited from the referenced file..." is a good observation.

Feel free to ask for new features in the program from Autodesk anytime and often, that's at another website, here is the link:

https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

And if you still need confirmation... Here are the ways to open a support case with Autodesk if you are on subscription to seek out Autodesk Support's help:
https://www.autodesk.com/support/account/manage/use/support#:~:text=com/plans.-,Contact%20support,-Select%20a%20path

HTH

Re: Managing Xref Overrides

jfoland — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:33:41 GMT

Change the XREFOVERRIDE setting to 1 instead of 0. Then all overrides will in the drawing you're linking the xref into will apply.