xref's LINETYPE doesn't update even with reload

[Anonymous]

When I changed the LINETYPE for a layer in the file that was an xref, the change didn't make it's way to the drawing that it was referenced to. Even using the XREF - RELOAD command or restarting the computer didn't help. The only solution seemed to be to DETACH the xref-drawing and then to ATTACH it again. That resulted in the new LINETYPE be activated for the layer, but seemed like an unnecessarily
time-consuming solution to the problem.

Is this a problem with LT2000 or with the man at the keyboard?

John

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

VISRETAIN variable probably was never set in the master file: HELP in
AutoCAD or LT can explain usage.

Turn it on, Re-attach the Xref after that, then you should be OK. Remember
to SAVE.

--
Dean Saadallah
www.pendean.com
--


"winquist" wrote in message
news:f05e93d.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> When I changed the LINETYPE for a layer in the file that was an xref, the
change didn't make it's way to the drawing that it was referenced to. Even
using the XREF - RELOAD command or restarting the computer didn't help. The
only solution seemed to be to DETACH the xref-drawing and then to ATTACH it
again. That resulted in the new LINETYPE be activated for the layer, but
seemed like an unnecessarily
> time-consuming solution to the problem.
> Is this a problem with LT2000 or with the man at the keyboard?
>
> John
>
>

[Anonymous]

VISRETAIN is the variable you need to set in your master file to
keep all XREF changes from going back to default settings.

AutoCAD's built in HELP command can explain usage: also explore
reading the XREF chapters in depth for more tips and
explanations.

--
Dean Saadallah
www.pendean.com
---
"winquist" wrote in message
news:f05e93d.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> When I changed the LINETYPE for a layer in the file that was an
xref, the change didn't make it's way to the drawing that it was
referenced to. Even using the XREF - RELOAD command or restarting
the computer didn't help. The only solution seemed to be to
DETACH the xref-drawing and then to ATTACH it again. That
resulted in the new LINETYPE be activated for the layer, but
seemed like an unnecessarily
> time-consuming solution to the problem.
> Is this a problem with LT2000 or with the man at the keyboard?
>
> John
>
>

[Anonymous]

I've now experimented with VISRETAIN a bit and it does seem to be the key to my problem. I had thought that VISRETAIN only controlled whether or not changes to the layers in the xref MADE FROM THE REFERENCING DRAWING were retained. It also controls whether changes in linetype made directly in the referenced drawing itself are shown in the referencing drawing.

Setting VISRETAIN=0 and reloading the xref results not only in the linetypes being updated, but also in losing the freeze on any layers in an ACTIVE viewport. I think it would have been much more convenient (and logical) if changes to the LINETYPE made directly in the xref were to appear in the referencing drawing without being controlled by the VISRETAIN variable.

John

[Anonymous]

I don't think this really is a VISRETAIN issue. I have VISRETAIN=1 so that layer changes are retained after the session is over.

This is a problem with the drawing not recognizing LINETYPE changes in the XREF-drawing even when reloaded. For example, suppose that layer100 was dashed in drawing-A. When I then would attach drawing-A to drawing-B, I'd see that the layer drawing-A/layer100 was dashed. If I then were in drawing-A and changed layer100 to dash-dot, I would expect that to show up in drawing-B the next time it was opened.

Instead, all other changes made in drawing-A are seen when I reopen drawing-B (or reload drawing-A in drawing-B), but drawing-A/layer100 is still dashed. It's like it can't get the old LINETYPE associated with layer100 out of its memory unless the xref is completed detached and then attached again.

John

[rkmcswain · Accepted solution]

winquist wrote:
I don't think this really is a VISRETAIN issue. I have VISRETAIN=1 so that layer changes are retained after the session is over.

This is a problem with the drawing not recognizing LINETYPE changes in the XREF-drawing even when reloaded. For example, suppose that layer100 was dashed in drawing-A. When I then would attach drawing-A to drawing-B, I'd see that the layer drawing-A/layer100 was dashed. If I then were in drawing-A and changed layer100 to dash-dot, I would expect that to show up in drawing-B the next time it was opened.

It is a VISRETAIN issue. What you describe above is VISRETAIN doing its job when set to 1. When VISRETAIN = 1 in the parent drawing, it "retains" the layer properties set in the parent drawing. At the moment you xref in drawing-B, those properties are set in drawing-A and maintained. Making changes to layer properties in drawing-B has no effect on those objects in drawing-A. (However, if you change an *object* property such as linetype or color in drawing-B, as opposed to a *layer* property, then that change will be seen in drawing-A, after the next reload of drawing-B)

winquist wrote:

Instead, all other changes made in drawing-A are seen when I reopen drawing-B (or reload drawing-A in drawing-B), but drawing-A/layer100 is still dashed. It's like it can't get the old LINETYPE associated with layer100 out of its memory unless the xref is completed detached and then attached again.

Again, this is VISRETAIN = 1 doing its job. Layer changes are not going to update because the parent drawing-A is storing them, not reading them from the drawing-B.  If you change VISRETAIN = 0, and reload the Xref, then layer properties are read in from the child drawing and updated.

---

Yes, I know this is a 12+ year old thread, but it showed up at the top of a Google search and it contains mis-information, which could mislead a new AutoCAD user who finds it. 

[ian.mag]

Thank you so much. This helped me as I had this problem as well.

Here is what I did:-

1) I set the VISRETAIN to 0 both in my model space and my sheet set sheet paper space

2) I then went ahead to save the drawing in the model space

3) Finally I reloaded the file in the xref dialogue launcher

---

@Anonymous wrote:
VISRETAIN is the variable you need to set in your master file to
keep all XREF changes from going back to default settings.

AutoCAD's built in HELP command can explain usage: also explore
reading the XREF chapters in depth for more tips and
explanations.

--
Dean Saadallah
www.pendean.com
---
"winquist" wrote in message
news:f05e93d.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> When I changed the LINETYPE for a layer in the file that was an
xref, the change didn't make it's way to the drawing that it was
referenced to. Even using the XREF - RELOAD command or restarting
the computer didn't help. The only solution seemed to be to
DETACH the xref-drawing and then to ATTACH it again. That
resulted in the new LINETYPE be activated for the layer, but
seemed like an unnecessarily
> time-consuming solution to the problem.
> Is this a problem with LT2000 or with the man at the keyboard?
>
> John
>
>

---

Hope this also helps anyone with this kind of problem, who uses sheet sets.

[teriAYMR6]

The characteristic of the specific lines may be overridden in the host file.  Overrides for an xref'd file can only override characteristics that are BYLAYER in the host file.  It will not override characteristics that have already been overridden within the host file.  Select the line you want to change in the host file and make sure the line type &/or color (in the host file) are set to BYLAYER.  The overrides in the the xref should then update.

[cadffm]

Hi,

thanks for sharing.

>20years ago, they talked about the Layer Linetype property, not about the visible linetype of objects.

Offtopic but you are right.

Additional: Today >20years later, Acad incl. new features [F1]

VISRETAINMODE, to make properties exceptions for visretain 1

XREFOVERRIDE, to force XREF-objects acting like 'ByLayer'

😀