Attach External Reference dialog box

Opens via: XATTACH command (after selecting a Reference file)

The Attach External Reference dialog box allows you to attach externally referenced drawings to the current drawing.

  1. Name
  2. Browse
  3. Path
  4. Path type
  5. External reference
  6. Insertion Point
  7. Scale
  8. Rotation
  9. Block Unit

Name

Displays the name of the selected DWG file to be attached to the current drawing.

Note: If multiple DWG files are selected, the name is displayed as *Varies*, the number of selected blocks appears, and their names are listed.

Browse

Opens the Select Reference File dialog box and allows you to choose different DWG files.

Path

Displays the path of the selected drawing file.

Note: If multiple DWG files are selected, the path is displayed as *Varies*.

Path type

Allows you to choose how the path is stored.

Full path
Stores the drive and folder names of the DWG file as an absolute reference, such as c:\cad\dwg\filename.dwg.
Relative path
Stores the path from the parent drawing’s location to the referenced drawing's location, such as ..\filename.dwg. The .. refers to the folder above the current one. The drawing must be saved before you can use this option.
No path
Strips the drive and folder names, leaving just the DWG file name, such as filename.dwg.

External reference

Allows you to choose the method for attaching the external reference.

Attachment
Attaches the Xref and nested Xrefs.
Overlay
Attaches only the first level of Xref.

Insertion Point

Specifies the location of the Xrefs lower-left corner.

Specify On-screen
Determines how to specify the insertion point.
  • On: specify the insertion point in the drawing after the dialog box is closed.
  • Off: specify the insertion point in the dialog box using the X, Y, and Z fields.
Note: If multiple DWG files are selected to be attached to the current drawing, the Specify On-screen option is grayed out.
X, Y, or Z
Specifies the X, Y, and Z coordinates for the Xrefs insertion point. Use 0,0,0 to insert the Xref at the drawing's origin.

Scale

Specifies the size of the Xref.

Specify On-screen
Determines how to specify the scale factors.
  • On: specify the scale factors in the drawing after the dialog box is closed.
  • Off: specify the scale factors in the dialog box using the X, Y, and Z fields.
X, Y, or Z
Specifies the X, Y, and Z scale factors of the Xref in the X, Y, and Z directions. Use 1,1,1 to keep the Xref at its original size.
Uniform Scale
Makes the Y and Z scale factors equal to X.

Rotation

Specifies the rotation angle of the Xref.

Specify On-screen
Determines how to specify the rotation angle.
  • On: specify the angle in the drawing after the dialog box is closed.
  • Off: specify the angle in the dialog box using the Angle field.
Angle
Specifies the rotation angle about the insertion point. Positive angles rotate the Xref counterclockwise. Negative angles rotate the Xref clockwise. Use 0 to keep the Xref at its original orientation.

Block Unit

Performs the automatic scaling of the block with respect to the INSUNITS and INSUNITSSCALING system variables of the current drawing.