ExpXrefs – Bricsys Support and Help Center

A command that combines several xref-related commands through the Drawing Explorer; attaches DWG files to the current drawing and controls the state of the attachments (short for "external reference").

Accessing the Command

command bar: expxrefs
menu bar: Tools | Drawing Explorer | Xrefs...

: expxrefs

Displays the External Reference section of the Drawing Explorer:

Click New to attach a DWG file, or change the properties of existing xrefs.
Click X to close the dialog box.

Press F1 to access help.

The XDWGFADECTL system variable sets the fading of external references. Values between 0 (no fading) and 90 are accepted.

Toolbar Options

Option	Description
Attach Xref	Attaches DWG files as xrefs; prompts you in the command bar: External References: ? to list/Bind/Insert/Detach/Path/Reload/Unload/Overlay/<Attach> - (enter an option.) See the -XRef command.
Detach Xref	Erases the selected xref from the drawing without warning. This is equivalent to using the Detach option.
Reload Xref	Reloads the selected xref. This is useful when the original DWG file has changed, and you want to see the updated version in your drawing.
Unload Xref	Unloads the selected xref. This hides the xref from view. You can also click the checkboxes in the Loaded column.
Bind Xref	Binds the xref to the current drawing to make the xref part of the drawing. References to the xref disappear from the Drawing Explorer. (This option is not available for xrefs that are unloaded.) This option sets the BINDTYPE settings variable OFF (Traditional binding behavior), thus influencing the behavior of the Bind option of the -xref command.
Insert Xref	Converts xrefs into blocks. This is like using the Insert command to insert external DWG files in drawings. References to the xref disappear from the Drawing Explorer. (This option is not available for xrefs that are unloaded.)
Open Xref	Opens the xref for editing. See the XOpen command.
Detail View	Displays the details of xrefs:
Icon View	Displays the xrefs as icons:
Tree View	Displays the relationship between xrefs in a tree-like view: Current - the current drawing Column and Floor - xrefs attached to the current drawing

External Reference Options

Option	Description
Reference Name	Specifies the name of the xref. This name is assigned by BricsCAD, but can be changed by the user. Click to rename.
Loaded	Toggles the loading of the xref; click to change the load status: On - loads the xref, and makes it visible Off - unloads the xref, making it invisible
Size	Reports the size of the xref DWG files. Very large files can slow down the system.
References	Reports the number of times the xref is attached to the drawing.
Type	Reports whether the xref is attached or overlaid: Attach - all xrefs are displayed. Overlay - only the first xref of nested xrefs is displayed. To change type: Unload the xref Reload it as attached or overlaid Overlay and Attach operate the same way. The difference, however, is in how they treat xrefs that have xrefs themselves: Overlay - attaches only the first level of xref Attach - attaches all xrefs
Date	Reports the date of the file. This can be useful in determining if you ware working with the most recent revision.
Saved Path	Reports the original path to the xrefs DWG file when first loaded: If the path cannot be found, click this field, and then click the button. BricsCAD displays the Choose a File dialog box: Locate the missing DWG file Click Open To convert the xref path type, do the following: Right click the xref name Choose the path type in the context menu: or
Found Path	Reports the current path to the xrefs DWG file. This path should match the Saved Path in most cases.

Grips Editing

External references can be edited directly through grips:

Select the xref. Notice that it has one grip at its insertion point.
Drag the grip to move the xref.

Procedures

Related Commands

Insert - inserts drawings as blocks.

Explorer - opens the Drawing Explorer dialog box

PdfAttach - inserts a PDF file as an underlay into the current drawing.

-PdfAttach - inserts a PDF file as an underlay into the current drawing; displays prompts in the command bar.

Pdfclip - allows clipping of PDF underlays.

Pdflayers - allows to control the display of layers in a PDF underlay.

ExpPdfs - attaches PDF files to the current drawing through the Drawing Explorer.

PlaceView - places a model view selected from a source drawing into a paper space layout of the current drawing.

-XRef- attaches and controls externally referenced drawings through the command bar.

XAttach - attaches xrefs through dialog boxes.

XClip - clips externally-referenced drawings.

VpClip - clips viewports.