Showing annotative texts from an Xref file with a different unit

[sepideh.m]

Hi everyone, I have a file in which the unit is in millimetres and has been drawn in millimetres. I have set the scale of annotative texts (eg: 1:20_mm (1 paper unit=20 drawing unit)). (let's call it Xref file)

I want to attach this file to another file in which the unit is in meter, and then create viewports in layouts. (let's call it sheet file)

But, the xref file's texts don't appear in the sheet file. I have tried setting the exact same name (1:20_mm), albeit with a different setting (1 paper unit= 0.02 drawing unit) to suit the unit of the file.

I would appreciate your help on how I can fix it. 

I do not want to change the ANNOALLVISIBLE variable to 1.

Thanks in advance.

[paullimapa]

According to this thread the annotative scale name needs to be exactly the same in the sheet dwg as it’s set in the xref inorder for them to display. Since there’s a change in units from mm to M then you’ll end up with a different annotative scale name:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/annotative-text-in-xref-file-won-t-appear/td-p/7191743

[sepideh.m]

Thanks for the reply.

The names are exactly the same in both drawings. As I mentioned, I have only changed the settings of the units. As far as I know, AutoCAD just checks the name and shows the objects with scales of the same name, regardless of what the unit settings are. But in my case, it doesn't work. I have set the name to TEST in both drawings, and it doesn't appear in the sheet file...

[paullimapa]

Do you encounter this problem only when xreferencing the mm unit drawing into an M unit drawing?

Have you tried xreferencing the mm unit drawing into another mm unit drawing as a test to see if that works?

Perhaps share your dwgs (xref + sheet) for others here to try?

[sepideh.m]

Thanks for the idea. I tried as you said and it worked well.

Then I tried some basic files and it turns out that it's not just the name that matters, but the setting is also important to be the same. This might be different in the full version. I am new to the LT version. I used to work in the full version where only the name mattered. It's a shame.

Unfortunately due to the policies, I cannot share the files.

I hope I am missing something and a solution is somewhere there.

[sepideh.m]

I should add that this also sometimes doesn't work at all! and sometimes it is required to close and reopen the file to take effect! 

something wrong...

[paullimapa]

Odd that it would sometimes work and then other times don’t. Perhaps enter About command do a screen shot and share that here so others can confirm if you’ve installed the latest updates

[pendean]

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@sepideh.m wrote:

...I do not want to change the ANNOALLVISIBLE variable to 1....

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So by chance does that fix the problem then?

Or was that just a random statement you added?

What is ANNOAUTOSCALE (System Variable) set to in both files?

What if you set CANNOSCALE to 1:1 then back to 1:20 (or whatever it i you want)?

And lastly, using DWGUNITS command in each of your two files, can you confirm they are indeed mm and m for units?

[sepideh.m]

Yes, it's odd.

Here is a screenshot of the About:

[sepideh.m]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, setting the ANNOALLVISIBLE to 1, will show all the texts. But then there is no point in having annotative texts, and I need to keep one scale for each object...

The ANNOAUTOSCALE is -4 in both.

The CANNOSCALE is 1:1 in both, and I change it to 1:20 and didn't work 😞

DWGUNITS! I didn't know about that command at all! Thanks for letting me know.

I always change the unit using UN command (Drawing Units)

Interestingly, the Sheet file which is set to meter, is on (2) (Feet), and the Xref file which is set to mm, is on (6) (meters)!

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.

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I changed them both to the correct unit, but it didn't fix the appearance of the annotative objects. I left the other settings as it was, so not sure if they can be a solution??

[cadffm]

Hi,

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@sepideh.m  schrieb:

 I have tried setting the exact same name (1:20_mm), albeit with a different setting (1 paper unit= 0.02 drawing unit) to suit the unit of the file.

I would appreciate your help on how I can fix it. 

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You need the same Name AND the same definition, otherwise it doesn't work.

[paullimapa]

So you do have the latest 2024 LT updates

There should not be a reason why sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't when the drawing unit is the same and not different in the xref vs the sheet.

Well as a test for this go around what if you scaled down your xref mm unit drawing by 1000 so that it becomes a M unit drawing, setup the proper matching named annotative text, save it with a new dwg name and then xref this new test drawing into the M unit drawing sheet?

[pendean]

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@sepideh.m wrote:

...I always change the unit using UN command (Drawing Units)...

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That does nothing but mask you actual units set by DWGUNITS command to something else. Sorry, it's always been like that, you've always used the incorrect tool. Hope that does ruin too many of your DWG files.