New Features and Enhancements in External References in AutoCAD 2024

New Features and Enhancements in External References in AutoCAD 2024

AutoCAD 2024 introduces several enhancements to the management and use of external references (xrefs), aiming to streamline workflows and improve efficiency. Here's an overview of the key updates and features:

Improved Xref Management

AutoCAD 2024 enhances xref management with more intuitive and flexible options for attaching, detaching, and modifying external references. You can attach various file types as xrefs, including DWG files, PDFs, and images, directly through the External References palette. This palette allows for easy navigation and control over the xrefs, displaying detailed information and preview images for each referenced file​ (Autodesk Help)​​ (Autodesk)​​ (Autodesk Help)​.

Path Management

Managing paths for xrefs has been made simpler. You can set the path type (relative, full, or no path) directly from the External References palette. Additionally, you can edit, remove, or make paths relative or absolute, depending on your project needs. This flexibility helps maintain the integrity of your references even when files are moved or renamed​ (Autodesk Help)​​ (Engineering.com)​.

Xref Clipping

The clipping feature in AutoCAD 2024 allows for more efficient organization of your drawings by hiding unnecessary parts of the xref. You can create clipping boundaries using various shapes, such as polygons, to display only the relevant portions of the xref. This feature helps in managing complex drawings and improving visual clarity​ (Engineering.com)​.

Notification and Reloading

AutoCAD 2024 includes enhanced notifications for changes in xrefs. If an xref is modified, a notification balloon appears, prompting you to reload the reference to see the updates. This ensures that your drawing always reflects the most current information without manually checking each xref​ (Engineering.com)​.

Editing Xrefs In-Place

One of the notable improvements is the ability to edit xrefs in-place within the host drawing. This means you can make changes to the xref without opening it in a separate window, streamlining the editing process and reducing the need to switch between files. This feature includes a new "Edit Reference In-Place" option in the External Reference tab​ (Engineering.com)​.

Highlighting and Control of Properties

The ERHIGHLIGHT system variable controls the highlighting of xrefs within your drawing, making it easier to locate and manage them. You can also control the visibility, color, and linetype of xref layers, making changes temporary or permanent depending on your needs. The XDWGFADECTL system variable allows for adjusting the fade level of xrefs, helping to differentiate between the main drawing and references​ (Autodesk Help)​​ (Autodesk Help)​.

These updates in AutoCAD 2024 significantly enhance the workflow for managing external references, making it easier to maintain organized, accurate, and efficient drawings. For more detailed information and step-by-step instructions, you can visit the Autodesk Help page or the Engineering.com article on xrefs.

Each new release of AutoCAD brings with it a number of significant enhancements. For instance the 2020  version introduces incredible tools such as Design Feed and Live Maps from Bing. As useful as these are, I oftentimes find the smaller, less celebrated features to be among my favorites. One such enhancement in AutoCAD 2020 is the new external reference (xref) tools we find in this release

From
https://intitute.blogspot.com/2018/10/external-referensi-tool-terbaru-autocad.html

Since xref’s are the way I typically assemble projects, I find these new, less celebrated, tools incredibly handy. Specifically, AutoCAD 2020 provides us with the ability to change both the xref type (attach/overlay), and the xref path type (full, relative, no path) for xref’s already in your drawing.

Changing Xref Attachment Types

Based on the way I assemble my plans, I prefer using the Overlay path type when setting up xref’s for my projects (this helps me avoid the dreaded circular xref’s). Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, you’ve undoubtedly run into an instance where an xref in your drawing was opposite from your preferences. In my case, I have a drawing that’s been attached to my drawing:

Prior to AutoCAD 2020, fixing this typically meant detaching the xref, and then reattaching it – losing any custom settings like layer states in the process. With AutoCAD 2020 there’s no need to apply such a cumbersome process, as the type cell in the Details panel of the External References Manager is now a dropdown list. All you need to do is click on this dropdown list, and choose your preferred path type:

Changing Path Types

I have been a strong advocate for Relative Path xref’s ever since their introduction many years ago. Unfortunately, even the most diligent project setup was easily destroyed by fixing a broken xref path by browsing to it (as this converted the path to a Full path xref). Thanks to AutoCAD 2020, these all-too-common changes do not have to destroy your project setup any longer. Provided AutoCAD can find the reference file, you can now change the Path Type of any reference by right-clicking its name in the External References Manager. In the example below, I want to change from the current Full path to a Relative path xref:

While this integration into the External References Manager is great, it’s also important to point out the Path Type function has also been added to the -XREF (command line version) command. Starting the command-line version of the command now gives you the option to select a PATHTYPE function.

Even if you don’t typically type your commands, this is an important inclusion as it allows you to write a script to manage xref path types in your drawing.