X-ref Dependent Layer

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm working on site plan layout, am relatively new to X-refs and all their power, so please be gentle with me...

I need to add a number to the drawing to show an extra building (76).  Thinking everything is X-ref'd, I opened the drawing ready to detach the file, add my number, then attach it again.  But when I check through, the layer I need is NOT attached to any X-ref, but then I go to select one of the other numbers to copy, and the entire plan layout becomes highlighted too.

How do I separate these things just long enough to add my number with location, then sew it all back together so it will show properly?   Stupid question, but would it help if I send the drawing?

Many thanks,

Marco

[john.vellek]

Hi Marco,

Welcome to the Community.

Xrefs are pretty powerful. If you want to make a change in the Xref file you do not need to unload or detach it.  Simply open the file, make your change, and then save the file. The parent file (the one that attaches the Xref will either prompt you to reload the xref if it was already open or will automatically update if you open it after your xref update.

Is this what you are asking about? If not, please give me some more detail.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your speedy reply John.

It's not a separate drawing, it's a layer within the drawing.  I turned off all the X-ref layers, but when I go to select the number to amend it, it's still linked to the layered X-refs, the error message says it cannot be accessed for change due to it being an X-ref dependent layer.  I don't want to explode it, right...?

Would it help for me to send the DWG?

Thanks,

Mark

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Yes, please attach the dwgs and tell me which item and which layer you are trying to alter so I can give you a solution.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@Anonymous wrote:

....

I need to add a number to the drawing to show an extra building (76).  Thinking everything is X-ref'd, I opened the drawing ready to detach the file, add my number, then attach it again.  But when I check through, the layer I need is NOT attached to any X-ref, but then I go to select one of the other numbers to copy, and the entire plan layout becomes highlighted too.

How do I separate these things just long enough to add my number with location, then sew it all back together so it will show properly?  ....

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If it's an element in an Xref that you want to Copy, you can use REFEDIT to change the content of that external drawing from within one that it's Xref'd into.  You should be able to get into REFEDITing by just double-clicking on any part of the Xref.  [But I'm not sure I really understand correctly what you are trying to do, based on your descriptions in Post 3.]

[RobDraw]

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mfitzpa wrote:

It's not a separate drawing, it's a layer within the drawing.

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Then it is not an XREF. It could have been one that has now been bound to the drawing. If this is the case, it would now be a block that can be edited like any other block.

Please be careful with terminology. Layers in AutoCAD are different than layers in other programs. It is not "a layer within the drawing" but it can be on it's own unique layer and contain a number of other layers.

Now, check the properties to verify if it is a block or an external reference. You have enough information to make the edit in either case.

[Anonymous]

Gentlemen,   please find the drawing attached.

As can be seen by the PAPER space image, this is approximately how I want he drawing to look, the table is a little big, but I'm working on that as we type.

My original question was how do I add the number 76 onto the drawing, thinking it was an X-ref.  But when I click on the X-ref "External Reference" box, it's not listed.  The text is on layer:

WAX-SITE-20-1-100|CJ-ANNO-TEXT

We took it down to the root layer added the number, and then reloaded it back into it's original drawing.

I think, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but part of the problem is that I need to add a number, not just change it, so it's not currently shown.

I managed to sort out the problem for this with help from a contract consultant, who just happened to be in the office yesterday afternoon. 

A second, possibly unrelated, question, but still dealing with X-refs, I believe.  Is there an easy or obvious way to add the table into the finished drawing, such that it covers whatever detail is underneath?  Like adding a sheet of paper over the top of the drawing (old, old school).  It was suggested that I CLIP the overall drawing boundary as a polygon, leaving space to add the table over the top after the fact - as you see between the model space and paper space versions of the drawing (I drew the table in paper space).

Quick question on this, SHOULD I do all the drawing in Model space and then transfer the finished product to Paper space?

I have a CAD book arriving in the mail today, I'm hoping that will solve this and any future questions.  Or at least make me a lot more knowledgeable so as not to ask dumb questions.

I'm thinking, what I really need, having been away from ACAD for about the last 15 years, is a course on X-refs, Model space & Paper space, and the interaction therein.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

The file you attached is missing the externally referenced file. 

the layer you refer to is reflecting the name of the layer(CJ-ANNO-TEXT)  in the external reference file WAX-SITE-20-1-100)

You can see that it is a reference file by the | between the names. (WAX-SITE-20-1-100|CJ-ANNO-TEXT).

So, to add or edit the number, you could either open the external reference file (WAX-SITE-20-1-100) and make the changes there or you could use REFEDIT in the parent darawing to make the change and then use REFCLOSE to save and exit the editing session of the refernce file.

To cover the drawing in model space with the table you could eitherXCLIP or use a MASK.

There are some good courses on YouTube and on Lynda.com

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

From terminology to solution, I thank you all, gentlemen.

You've given me some room for thought, and some new commands for me to experiment with.

Thankyou, especially, John, for the extra info, it just so happens I have the afternoon free to search such things.

*tips hat*  Gents.  Have a good 4th of July, happy Independence Day, I'll be spending my day inside, quietly - not a good day to be a Brit living this side of the pond...

Thanks again for all your help, and the fast replies!

Mark