Reference drawing layer states

[MrMuscl3]

I have wiring diagrams that use reference drawing in the background. These wiring diagrams and reference drawing are originally .dgn (micro station) files which will be converted to .dwg as they modified. Reference drawing contain layers that need to be turned off. I dont want to delete these layers. I turned off the unwanted layers from reference drawing, but when I open any wiring diagram which uses the reference - these layers are still turned on. Is there a way to import these layer settings from reference drawing to actual wiring diagram?

Is there any easy way to import / apply these reference drawing layer states to my circuit diagrams?

I use AutoCAD LT 2014.

[pendean]

1st you probably should be using FREEZE and not OFF in my opinion.
Second, in your top file with all the xrefs in it, what is your setting for VISRETAIN? It controls how layer settings from xrefs are maintained and addressed. look up the variable in HELP for usage, it's easily explained.

[MrMuscl3]

I already tried turning off, freezing and locking but I cant get it to work.

I didnt quite get the visretains function. How should be numbers be?

Visretains value was 1 in:

Reference.dwg

Circuit diagram1.dwg

Circuit diagram2.dwg

Did not work.

[pendean]

In the top file (not the xref)...

VISRETAIN set to 0 (zero): The layer settings stored in the reference drawing (xref) takes precedence.

VISRETAIN set to 1: changes made in the current top drawing file take precedence.

It's easiest if you close then reopen the top file after making VISRETAIN setting changes to see the effects.