AutoCAD Architecture 2007 Tutorial

AutoCAD is a standard tool in the engineering, architecture and design fields. As work in these fields is inherently team-based, oftentimes multiple drafters are working on the same drawing on different computers. Smooth collaboration between these workers and their drawings is vital in a successful drafting team. An important tool used to maintain a smooth workflow between AutoCAD drafters is the XREF command, short for External Reference. This command allows workers to use outside AutoCAD drawings and images as an underlay for their current drawing, resulting in cleaner, more organized drawing sets.

Instructions

1. Open the drawing to which you want to reference a file. You can start with a blank file if you want to use the reference file as a base to begin drafting over.

2. Type "XREF" in the command bar. A small box should pop up titled "External References" with a list of "File References." If you are working with a new file, then the title of that file will be the only name on this list.

3. Click on the top left button in the External References box that is an icon of a blank sheet. Another box should pop up titled "Select Reference File."

4. Navigate to the location on your computer where the reference drawing is located. Click on the drawing and select "Open." A new window will pop up titled "External Reference."

5. Select "Attachment" as the "Reference Type" in the dialog box. There are three sets of options within the box that determine the placement, scale and rotation of the referenced drawing in your current file. Check the "Specify On-screen" box under "Insertion Point," then enter the desired scale and rotation of the external reference in the dialog box and select "OK."

6. Type in the coordinates of where you want to insert your reference drawing. If you want to use a more visual approach, you can click on a point where you want your reference to be inserted. This method can be much more intuitive for users and can be combined with commands such as OSNAP (Object Snap) to quickly and precisely place the reference drawing into your file.

Resources

• Autodesk: AutoCAD