Xref within the same dwg file

[Anonymous]

I'd like to have the ability to create an 'xref' or duplicate of a portion of a drawing within the same drawing.  For the planning work I do, I often create a floor plan and an aerial site plan within the same drawing.  I make updates/changes to the floor plan and then have to erase/copy it over to the site plan.  It would be a nice feature to have the duplicate copy of my floor plan update automatically within the same drawing. Is the ability to do something like this possible?

[rkmcswain]

Let your "floor plan" be a separate DWG file, then xref it into the other files, as needed.

If you truly want to keep everything in one DWG file, then you will have to do your "duplication" using viewports in a layout -or- create a BLOCK out of the data you want to duplicate, and then use BEDIT to update the block definition. You can copy an insert of the block as many times as needed in the same DWG file.

[pendean]

You cannot xref a file into itself: the program stops you from doing so deliberately because it would get stuck in a loop and you'd love your file forever.

Your site plan could be its own file.
Your base plan could be its own file.
Your 'updates/changes" could be on a separate file too, with all these items xrefed into each other.

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @Anonymous,

It looks like @pendean and @rkmcswain provided a couple of good explanations here. Did either of them help clarify the functionality for you?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I appreciate your input. Unfortunately it seems as though the quickest way for me to accomplish what I'd like to do is to continue to copy/delete/rotate/paste.

[rkmcswain]

Totally disagree @Anonymous.

Now you have duplicate data in your drawing.

Why not just use xrefs or blocks?

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

@rkmcswain I'll agree that using either a block or another drawing(xref) could be a potential solution for some. We use floor plan xrefs as base plans for other disciplines to use once a project kicks off.  I've just found that for the work that I primarily do, quickly creating concept plans that change hourly, it just doesn't make sense to have an additional xref drawing and having to go back and forth constantly. If I were to go the block route I would also need to figure out how to turn off certain layers for that additional block (not sure if that's possible). Thanks..

[dbroad]

I agree with @rkmcswain. Use Xrefs. There's no excuse for not doing that.  Going back and forth is as simple as picking the next dwg tab. Edit, switch and save back. Reloading is semi-automatic.  This is really an AutoCAD thread, not an AutoCAD Architecture one. When using AutoCAD Architecture, objects have a 3d aspect and view creation is semi-automatic.

[anaJZDQB]

@dbroad- I tried private messaging you, but I assume because I am a new member there must be some kind of restriction as I have experienced in other forums ...
You make a comment in one of your replies regarding different versions of AutoCAD that makes me hopeful that you might be able to answer a few questions I have regarding which version to go with.

Can you PM me?  Are you willing to help me out?  I would really appreciate that 🙂
Thank you,
Ana

[dbroad]

Sorry. I don't do P.M.s unless someone wants to hire me.  You'll get plenty of good advice on the forum. My aversion to PM's has nothing to do with whether you're new or not, though, or whether, I'm interested or not.

[anaJZDQB]

No problem - thank you for replying to my comment! 🙂
Ana