External references and images
An external reference (xref) shows another drawing inside this one without copying it. Raster images in a drawing are loaded from their files in the same way.
Open the External References panel
Choose View ▸ External references…, or enter XREF (XR).
| Column or button | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Name, Status, Path, Inserts | The reference, whether it loaded, the saved path, and how many times it is inserted |
| Reload | Reads the file again |
| Unload | Drops the loaded content but keeps the reference |
| Browse… | Points the reference at another file |
| Attach… | Starts XATTACH |
Status shows Not found, Unreadable or Circular reference when a file cannot be used.
Attach a drawing
- Enter
XATTACH(XA), or click Attach… in the panel. - Choose a DXF or DWG file.
- Click the insertion point.
The path is saved relative to the current drawing when both are on the same drive, so keep the files together when you move them.
Clip a reference
Enter XCLIP (XC), select the reference, and choose a rectangular, polygonal or polyline boundary. Options also turn the clip on or off, delete it, or invert it.
Missing images and references
An image whose file cannot be found is drawn as a red frame with the file name inside it. Put the file next to the drawing, then reopen the drawing. A reference that cannot be found shows Not found in the panel; use Browse… or Reload.
Files outside the drawing's folder
Only files in the drawing's folder, or below it, are read automatically. If a drawing refers to anything else, a prompt titled Files outside the drawing folder lists the paths.
- Load reads them.
- Don't load leaves them out; they appear as missing.
Important
Choose Load only for drawings you trust, because it lets the file read other places on your computer.
Note
See Opening files and units for how paths are resolved, and Troubleshooting if a reference still will not load.