topic Re: Binding XREFs without binding the nested XREF. in AutoCAD Forum

Binding XREFs without binding the nested XREF.

gideon.botesB4GMB — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:06:33 GMT

Good day everyone,

I've been looking all over and I can't find the answer to this one, I could do with some help.

I'm using AutoCAD 2023.

Issue: I'm unable to bind an xref (with it's own nested xref) into a drawing but leaving the nested xref as a reference.

For example, if I had:

MASTER.dwg > XREF_A.dwg > XREF_B.dwg

I'd like to bind the top one only so that it ends up:

MASTER.dwg > XREF_B.dwg

Currently if I Bind XREF_A.dwg, it binds B automatically, which is not the result I need.

I'm somewhat sure that the behaviour was in line with the example in previous versions of AutoCAD. Is this a system variable I can change?

Appreciate any help!

Regards,

Gideon

Re: Binding XREFs without binding the nested XREF.

paullimapa — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 03:07:14 GMT

Not sure why you need this because the only way for the bind process to complete is that all nested xrefs under it would also be bound. But if you happen to have attached the nested xref as well in the current drawing that may be the only reason you don't want to have the nested bound.

One thing you can do is this as is shown in your example:

MASTER.dwg > XREF_A.dwg > XREF_B.dwg

With the MASTER.dwg file opened use the RENAME command and under Blocks select XREF_B as Old Name and enter on the Rename To: XREF_B-NEW

Then on the External Reference Palette enable Tree view

Now right mouse click on XREF_A & on the cursor menu select Reload

You'll now see XREF_B-NEW shown outside of the nesting separate from XREF_A's nested XREF_B

Next BIND XREF_A and the nested XREF_B will be bound but XREF_B-NEW remains.

You now have a bound xref using block name XREF_B

If you still want that to keep the original xref name, then you'll have to use the RENAME command again and rename block name XREF_B to something like XREF_B-Old

and last step is to rename XREF_B-NEW back to XREF_B

Re: Binding XREFs without binding the nested XREF.

gideon.botesB4GMB — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 21:19:30 GMT

Hi Paulli,

I did your procedure but it did not result in the needed behaviour. The root file is created after the rename, but still disappears after the bind.

Thank you for your response.

Re: Binding XREFs without binding the nested XREF.

paullimapa — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 19:18:26 GMT

Finally had a chance to come back to this. Looks like I missed an important step which caused the result to not work as expected. I've created a video demonstrating with the attached drawings. I've also updated the instructions with the missing steps in RED below:

Drawing: MASTER.dwg > XREF_A.dwg > XREF_B.dwg

With the MASTER.dwg file opened:

if not already attached, attach nested XREF_B

use the RENAME command and under Blocks select XREF_B as Old Name and enter on the Rename To: XREF_B-OLD

Then on the External Reference Palette with Tree view enabled

right mouse click on XREF_A & select Open

with XREF_A opened enter command QSAVE and close XREF_A

now back in Drawing: MASTER.dwg

right mouse click on XREF_A & on the cursor menu select Reload

You'll now see XREF_B-OLD shown outside of the nesting separate from XREF_A's nested XREF_B

Next BIND XREF_A and the nested XREF_B will be bound but XREF_B-OLD remains.

You now have a bound xref using block name XREF_B

If you still want that to keep the original xref name, then you'll have to use the RENAME command again and rename block name XREF_B to something like XREF_B-BOUND

and last step is to rename XREF_B-OLD back to XREF_B

(view in My Videos)