Attaching a xref with a modified attached xref

[jdelavarga]

Hi!

I just attached a simple dwg with some construction elements (as an attachment) to my main floorplan, and the modified the layers of this xref. 

But after that, when I then attach this main floor plan into another dwg, I get the first original dwg for the construction elements, without any of the modifications I made after the first attachment.

Any ideas about how I can keep the modifications through different references? 

Than you in advance.

[Ed__Jobe]

Look into the sysvar VISRETAIN and choose the best option for your needs. You have it set to 1. You can set it to 0, reopen the parent dwg and then set it back to 1.

[jdelavarga]

I tried that first, but no matter which Visretain variable I set I keep getting the original attached Xref, without any of the modifications 

[Ed__Jobe]

Are you changing VISRETAIN in the parent file or the child xref file? You need to change it in the parent file. If that doesn't work, try posting the files so we can look at them.

[Anonymous]

What kind of "modifications"??

If its layer colors and such the issue is VISRETAIN in the target file.

You can alter layer settings of reference files in the target file and leave the source file alone, by setting VISRETAIN to 1 and changing the layer parameters in the layer palette.

[jdelavarga]

I think I am not making myself clear, sorry. I'll try to make it more simple:

I have 3 dwg files, let's say: A, B and C.

I first take file B and I attach file A as an Xref (attachment). I then modify Xref A through the layers palette; both color and visibility.

I then open file C where I attach file B. As file A is attached to file B I also get that as a reference. But now,  I don't get xref A the way it looks in file B (after layer modifications) but the way it originally looks.

I have tried setting different VISRETAIN variables in the different drawings but the outcome is always the same.

Thanks again

[Ed__Jobe]

See my reply in post 2. Dwg B is controlling how A looks. You need to set VISRETAIN to 0 in B, save and reopen B. Then A will appear in B with all the original layer settings. Now, set VISTRETAIN back to 1 in dwg B to preserve the current layer status.

[Anonymous]

You must RELOAD the XREF after setting VISRETAIN to 0 in the target file.

[user181 · Accepted solution]

If you xref A into B and make layer state changes to A from within the B drawing and then xref B into C the layer states of A will not appear like they do in B they will look like the A drawing. What you need to do is open the A drawing and set the layers the way you want them to look in the drawings it is referenced into and then in the layer states manager make a layer state called xref or something like that and save the layer state. You can then restore the layers in A to whatever you want them inside that dwg. Then open C and in the layer states manager restore the xref layer state you created for A. Any other drawing you reference A into you can restore the xref layer state of A. Also set visretain to 1 in the dwgs.

[jdelavarga]

Thank you for your answers guys, but either my AutoCAD is not working as expected or VISRETAIN is not the issue. I am quite familiar with that command and I am quite sure it is not the point.

As Ed said, B controls the way A looks since I modified the way A looked in B. Now, I want to keep this modified A, when I attach B as a reference in C. But instead, when I attach B in C, I get the original A, not the modified one, as I would like. (Such a mess)

Maybe it is just not possible to maintain the modifications made to a reference in further references?

[jdelavarga]

Thank you! That was it

[user181]

You're welcome. 

[Anonymous]

The REAL solution is don't monkey with layers in source files.  Always set VISRETAIN to 1 and handle layer control in the target drawing.  Besides that we NEVER "ATTACH" reference files we ALWAYS "OVERLAY" them.  If you ATTACH A to B then B to C, C has no choice but to contain A.  If I want A in C I can overlay it there, but if its ATTACH'ed to B, I'm stuck with it whether I want it or not.