Xref - Full vs. Relative Path for external references

[Anonymous]

Riddle me this, O AutoCAD Gurus...

Sometimes when I insert/attach a file into model space it comes up as a relative path, which is what I prefer in most cases. Sometimes it comes up as a full path and I can change it to relative. Sometimes it comes up as a full path and I cannot change it. What's different?

There appears to be no rhyme or reason driving this variable; often I attach a file and it comes up as relative and then when I go to get a second file of the same type in the same directory, it comes up as a full path and I cannot change it to relative.

This is frustrating because I often create a new design from a copy of an old one. When I copy and rename the directory to make the new design, all the inserted/attached files that were imported as relative are fine but all the ones that came in with a full path are broken.

[pendean]

Depends on what command you used to XREF in the files and what options you selected. "copy" is probably not giving you the control you want, just brings along things you don't want.

Otherwise about the only time you cannot repath an XREF is when it's a child of an XREF already in the top file you are in.

[Anonymous]

As far as I can tell I am doing exactly the same thing (I select the insert tab and I select the attach icon. I use the dialog box to navigate to the file I want.) and it has three possible outcomes - relative, full with the option to change to relative, and full without that option - and I never know which it will be. 

Usually the file is in a directory which resides within the directory where the AutoCAD file is. Often there are two jpegs in that same directory that I want to import, and one will allow a relative path and the other won't. File type the same, directory the same. What's different?

[pendean · Accepted solution]

CLASSICXREF command, try it for xref attachments, you might like it's simpler and more straight-forward pop-up with a very simple to use SAVE PATH button too.

[Emmsleys]

HI @Anonymous, 

Following up on your thread, were you able to try the suggestions made?

Reply with additional information if the problem persists or pease select Accept as Solution if any post in this thread helped answer you question.