Using hyperlinks

About

Hyperlinks allows you to associate various kinds of files or web pages with entities in the drawing.

The HYPERLINK command allows you to add or edit a hyperlink through the Edit Hyperlink dialog box. Hyperlinks can have full or relative paths:

  • Full hyperlink: contains the full path to a file location.
  • Relative hyperlink: contains a partial path to a file location.

Adding and editing hyperlinks to a DWG

  1. Run the HYPERLINK command to open the Edit Hyperlink dialog box.
  2. You can either add a link to a file or a URL to a web page.
    Adding a link to a file
    • Click the Browse button () to open the Select file dialog box.
    • Select the file and click Open to add the link to the Link to file or URL field.
    Adding a URL to a web page
    Type a URL to a web page in the Link to file or URL field.
    Note: To remove the attached hyperlink, click Remove link button.

Using relative path

When the Link to file or URL field is filled in, you can manually erase a part of the path (including the disk) to make it relative.

Note:
  • The Use relative path option in the Edit Hyperlink dialog box is automatically ticked after shortening the file path.
  • Relative paths only apply to file paths, not to web pages.

The HYPERLINKBASE system variable allows you to specify a path to use for all relative hyperlinks in the drawing.

Note: All the files linked with a relative path need to have the same location of a file or directory in relation to the HYPERLINKBASE system variable.

Displaying or accessing hyperlinks attached to an entity

To display or access hyperlinks use one of the following methods:

  • Accessing hyperlinks from the context menu
    Access the context menu and expand the Hyperlink option.
    Note:
    • The context menu can be accessed when the SHORTCUTMENU system variable is set to 4.
    • The HYPERLINKOPTIONS command needs to be enabled to view the Hyperlink option in the shortcut menu. With this command, you simultaneously set the ENABLEHYPERLINKMENU and ENABLEHYPERLINKTOOLTIP system variables to ON.
    Open hyperlink
    Opens the file or web page associated with the entity.
    Copy Hyperlink
    Copies the hyperlink to the Clipboard.
    Note: The hyperlink can be pasted into the drawing or other documents with the Ctrl+V shortcut or PASTECLIP command.
    Edit Hyperlink
    Opens the Edit Hyperlink dialog box.
  • Accessing hyperlinks from the Properties panel
    Select the entity and go to the Properties panel. Double-click the hyperlink in the Hyperlink field to open it.
    Note: Click the Browse button () to access the Edit Hyperlink dialog box.