User cannot explode inserted blocks

[kstate92]

We have a user working remotely that has run into a problem we can't figure out.  We had set him up with a copy of our library of non-dynamic blocks we've used for decades, but he cannot explode them after insertion:

I have been trying to insert other symbols with the same results.  I can bring the symbol in and position it, rotate it, mirror it, and even copy it to another location.  When I go to explode the original or the copy, it states: 

Select objects: 1 found

1 was an external reference.

I have searched on line and not really found anything matching, other than instances of a specific block created with the cannot explode flag set, which we never had set (or was aware of, TBH), but this is every block he tries.

I'm a little fuzzy in recalling, but we basically set up a SSD with the same files and paths we already have, but re-mapped to the SSD drive letter instead. Perhaps it's a permissions thing, but would read-only block files be transparently converted into an xref?  I can't find any definitive proof of this.  I've asked him to check the Xref dialog after a block insertion to see if it is showing as an xref but haven't heard back yet.

[pendean]

"1 was an external reference" is a clue that your block is actually an XREF: it needs to be bound first as an "insert" to explode it.

Start the XREF command and see what is going on.

[imadHabash]

Hi,

I'm curious to know more about this issue ... BUT while i reading your issue a lot of ideas jumps :

• MINSERT command has this behavior , i mean blocks cannot be exploded and cannot deal with annotative blocks. 
• did he check Allow Exploding in the Block Definition dialog ? 
• if he close AutoCAD and reopen a new empty CAD dwg , any changes ?
• Attached xref instead of a Block …  this is weird ?!!!  maybe working remotely cause that !!! i don't know .

[kstate92]

It's done through an old school image tile menu system (^C^C-insert "file path & name" \1;1;0) which works for us locally without issue.  Probably is some mapping or permissions issue but the results of an insert / explode seem odd at best.

[RobDraw]

The first thing I would check is the properties of the blocks within the drawing. Are they blocks or XREFs? The answer will determine how to proceed.