How do I lay one drawing over another

[myshtern]

I'm new to autocad as in I havent drafted a single thing in my entire life. However, I'm pretty savvy and I can't imagine this is very difficult so I was hoping someone could help. I'm using autocad 2008.

I have one dwg file that is a tree plan which shows the locations of existing trees. I have another dwg file that is a site plan which shows where the future homes and roads will be. I'd like to lay one on top of the other and erase the trees that are in the same locations as the homes are.

Would someone be kind enough to walk me through this or point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

[Dipali]

Hi,
You can xref the site plan into your tree layout plan. Always use relative path for xref.
You can also use insert comooand & brose for the drawing you want to overlap & insert it. it will attach to your drawing as block.

Xref is better option.

[ReMark]

Just out of curiosity.

Are you familar with the INSERT command?

Are both drawings at the same scale or different scales?

Do both drawings have the same origin point?

[myshtern]

The drawings are both on the same scale but not the point of origin.

I'm not familiar with any commands.

[ReMark]

Is there one object common to both drawings that would allow you to merge them correctly?

The INSERT command can be used to insert one drawing into another. It will prompt you for the drawing name, insertion point, scale and rotation.

[ReMark]

Note that for each of the parameters (insertion point, scale and rotation) you have the option to Specify On-screen in the INSERT pop up window.

One other thing. When you've inserted one drawing into the other it is treated as a Block. If you try to erase something, one object, within the drawing that was inserted, the entire drawing will be highlighted then erased. To work with individual objects either check off the box (lower left corner of the INSERT pop up window) that says Explode or once the drawing has been inserted, use the Explode command. Explode can be found at the bottom of the Modify pull-down menu or on the Modify II toolbar. It looks like a red firecracker.

[smorales02]

Why not just find a common point and do a copy-paste????

[myshtern]

Alright, so I went to insert block. Referenced to the file correct file. It then prompted me for X scale factor, I said one, then the Y scale factor, and I said one also. Then nothing happened.

Would either of you be kind enough to look at the files?

[smorales02]

Post the files and we will take a look

[Tiger]

how about just upload them here and see if someone can take a look at them?

[myshtern]

how about just upload them here and see if someone can take a look at them?
Unfortunately both are higher than the limit, I'll have to link to them from the outside.

edit:

Here we go:
http://www.toiletmarket.com/dl/Site.dwg
http://www.toiletmarket.com/dl/Tree-Location-Plan.dwg

[ReMark]

As they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Copy-paste works for me too. In the first drawing, click on the object(s) you wish to copy. Right click and select either Copy or Copy with Base Point. In the second drawing, right click in an empty area, then use Paste, Paste as Block or Paste to Original Coordinates. Each choice has its own advantages and disadvantages. You should learn the nuances of each so in the future you can make a more intelligent choice depending on what it is you are trying to accomplish.

[myshtern]

As they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Copy-paste works for me too. In the first drawing, click on the object(s) you wish to copy. Right click and select either Copy or Copy with Base Point. In the second drawing, right click in an empty area, then use Paste, Paste as Block or Paste to Original Coordinates. Each choice has its own advantages and disadvantages. You should learn the nuances of each so in the future you can make a more intelligent choice depending on what it is you are trying to accomplish.
Yeah I'll probably pickup a book next week and start learning the basics so that I can actually do some of this myself.

[myshtern]

Anyone have a chance to look at the files?

[CarlB]

Yes, I also had no problems copying from one to another to perform the "overlay". Well actually at first I did, when I tried to paste into the layout/paperspace, nothing would happen. oops, swith to modelsace, paste works fine.

Used "copy with base point", using property corner as base point.

[myshtern]

I open the tree plan and go to edit, copy with base point. Then I open the site plan, go to edit, paste. It pastes text that I copied and pasted last.

How do I select what I'm actually trying to copy?

[CarlB]

Read the command line while doing this. After selectiig "copy with base point" it prompts you to pick base point, then select objects. THEN activate the other drawing & do the paste.

[myshtern]

Read the command line while doing this. After selectiig "copy with base point" it prompts you to pick base point, then select objects. THEN activate the other drawing & do the paste.
Does it matter if I do it in what's called the model or the something else in the bottom tab?

It's asking me to select objects, I have no clue really what the hell I'm doing

http://xs224.xs.to/xs224/08075/untitled-1356.jpg (http://xs.to)

Command: _copybase Specify base point:
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 0 found
Select objects: *Cancel*
Command:
Command: _copybase Specify base point:
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: *Cancel*
0 found

[CarlB]

Yes you should click the "model" tab and work in modelspace, both when copying & pasting.

[myshtern]

Okay, I went into model. Went to edit, copy with base point. I was told to specify base point and I clicked on the corner of the property. Then it said select objects so I started clicking on trees. I went to paste it an nothing went in.

Command:
Command: _copybase Specify base point:
Select objects: 1 found
Select objects: 1 found, 2 total
Select objects: 1 found, 3 total
Select objects: 1 found (1 duplicate), 3 total
Select objects: 1 found, 4 total
Select objects: 1 found, 5 total
Select objects: 1 found, 6 total
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 106 found, 112 total
Select objects: 1 found (1 duplicate), 112 total
Select objects: 1 found (1 duplicate), 112 total
Select objects: 1 found (1 duplicate), 112 total
Select objects: 1 found, 113 total
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 150 found (2 duplicate), 261 total
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 87 found (41 duplicate), 307 total
Select objects: 1 found, 308 total
Select objects: 1 found (1 duplicate), 308 total
Select objects: 1 found, 309 total
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 108 found (91 duplicate), 326 total
Select objects: Specify opposite corner: 258 found (133 duplicate), 451 total
Select objects: 1 found (1 duplicate), 451 total
Select objects: 1 found (1 duplicate), 451 total
Select objects: 1 found, 452 total

[CarlB]

Did you hit "enter" to end the initial copy command; then in the other drawing, were you in modelspace before "pasting"?

[PS_Port]

No probs here, copy/paste the files in 2008..

The drawings were originally created in 2004 ?:?

and the site plan has 143 hours of editing time :shock:

[myshtern]

No probs here, copy/paste the files in 2008..

The drawings were originally created in 2004 ?:?

and the site plan has 143 hours of editing time :shock:
I cannot believe I'm having so much trouble with something so simple. I just can't copy and paste this $^*&, I'm getting nothing everytime.

Can someone send me the over layed file?

[Tiger]

One more try - step by step-instructions here, let's see if it works:

1: Have both drawings open and in Model-space in both drawings.

1A: Make sure you have you OSNAP setting (righclick on the OSNAP button at the bottom of the screen and select Settings) Endpoint ticked - and the OSNAP turned ON

2: In Site.dwg press Ctrl+Shift+C to start the command Copy With Basepoint

3: Select a basepoint (I chose the top of the triangluar area) - make sure it's a OSNAP point (a small square should be visible when you hover over the lineend

4: at the prompt 'Select Objects' type ALL

5: Hit enter to finish the command,

6. Go into Tree-Location-Plan.dwg

7: Press Ctrl+Shift+V to start the command Paste as Block

8: At the prompt "Specify Insertion Point" pick the same point that you picked as Basepoint earlier (the top of the triangular part in my case)

9: Done - right?

[GE13579]

COPYBASE is CTRL+SHIFT+C not S so long as you don't play around with your shortcuts!!! :wink:

[ReMark]

When he selects his base point in the original drawing (trees) and the insertion point in the drawing of the roadways he better have used one of the OSnap settings (endpoint, intersection, etc.) otherwise the overlaid drawings will be ever so slightly off.

[Tiger]

Amended - thanks guys :)

[myshtern]

Okay, making some progress :)

I was missing the step #4 on the copy side.

However when I go to paste, I'm not prompted for an origination point:

Command:
Command: _pasteblock
That's it, not prompting me for anything

[Tiger]

do you use Ctrl+Shift+V for it? If I'm not mistaken it should be the command 'Paste as Block with Basepoint', but I haven't got ACAD here right now so can't check.

But does this mean you get it in the drawing but at the wrong place? If that is the case use the command Zoom Extents (type Z - enter - E - enter) to find where it is and simply use MOVE to get it to the right spot.

[GE13579]

It sounds like you don't have anything on the clipboard when you hit CTRL+SHIFT+V- are you specifying a base point when you COPYBASE? If so you should get in the command line:


Command: _pasteblock Specify insertion point:

And yes... I am working on a Saturday :cry:

[BStreiss]

Ummm, did anyone else happen to notice that drawing are not the same size. :) The root of the copy/paste troubles is that. Personally, I like to xref one drawing into the other so that I don't have multiple places to make changes if something gets change on one drawing.

Here are my step by step instructions:

Open drawing A (which ever you want to be working in)
type xr and click on the little folder in the tool pallet. you want be inserting a dwg
select drawing b
make sure the "reference type" is set to "overlay", the insertion point should be set to 0,0,0, and the scale factor set to 1,1,1.
now type z <enter> e <enter>
select drawing b by clicking on a line (it should turn dashed)
type m and select a point on the drawing that matched one on drawing a
drag drawing b to match up with drawing a (it helps if you have osnap on). NOTE: only this one point will match at this point
select drawing b again, and type sc <enter> now click on the common point, type r click on the common point again, then click on the opposite end of one of the lines in drawing b extending from this point.
Lastly, click on the corisponding point in drawing a.
Viola!

[myshtern]

It sounds like you don't have anything on the clipboard when you hit CTRL+SHIFT+V- are you specifying a base point when you COPYBASE? If so you should get in the command line:

I have no flipping idea

http://xs224.xs.to/xs224/08076/auto810.jpg (http://xs.to)

[myshtern]

Ummm, did anyone else happen to notice that drawing are not the same size. :) The root of the copy/paste troubles is that. Personally, I like to xref one drawing into the other so that I don't have multiple places to make changes if something gets change on one drawing.

Here are my step by step instructions:
Open drawing A (which ever you want to be working in)
type xr and click on the little folder in the tool pallet. you want be inserting a dwg
select drawing b
make sure the "reference type" is set to "overlay", the insertion point should be set to 0,0,0, and the scale factor set to 1,1,1.
now type z <enter> e <enter>
select drawing b by clicking on a line (it should turn dashed)
type m and select a point on the drawing that matched one on drawing a
drag drawing b to match up with drawing a (it helps if you have osnap on). NOTE: only this one point will match at this point
select drawing b again, and type sc <enter> now click on the common point, type r click on the common point again, then click on the opposite end of one of the lines in drawing b extending from this point.
Lastly, click on the corisponding point in drawing a.Viola!
This kind of worked, only I copied the tree plan onto the tree plan in the wrong place. I'll keep messing with this

[myshtern]

now type z <enter> e <enter>
This part does not work.

Command: _XATTACH
Overlay Xref "Tree-Location-Plan":
C:\Users\Admin\Documents\Arvada\Trees\2\Tree-Location-Plan.dwg
"Tree-Location-Plan" loaded.
Specify insertion point or [Scale/X/Y/Z/Rotate/PScale/PX/PY/PZ/PRotate]: Z
Specify Z Scale factor: E
Requires numeric distance or two points.

[BStreiss]

Sorry for the confusion

type the z <enter> e <enter> AFTER you've completed the inserting of the x-ref.

[myshtern]

Okay, so that's gotten them both in the same model space, far from one another. How do I drag? When I click on the hand, it drags them both at the same time.

[BStreiss]

Ummm!

Here are two easy ways:

METHOD 1:

You SHOULD be able to hover the mouse over the object you want to select (and it SHOULD highlight). You would then left click on the object (and it would turn to a dashed line).

METHOD 2:

Click the left mouse button. Drag cursor up and to the left, creating a GREEN box that covers part of the object. Click the left mouse button again. The green box should disappear and the object should turn to dashed lines.


to move the now select object:
hover the mouse over the object, click and hold the left mouse button now drag the object.

If you need more step-by-step directions let me know off forum. :)

[myshtern]

Ummm!

Here are two easy ways:

METHOD 1:
You SHOULD be able to hover the mouse over the object you want to select (and it SHOULD highlight). You would then left click on the object (and it would turn to a dashed line).
METHOD 2:
Click the left mouse button. Drag cursor up and to the left, creating a GREEN box that covers part of the object. Click the left mouse button again. The green box should disappear and the object should turn to dashed lines.
to move the now select object:
hover the mouse over the object, click and hold the left mouse button now drag the object.

If you need more step-by-step directions let me know off forum. :)
Whoo, finally got it.

Next step, how do I delete some of these trees and lines off the new overlayed drawing?

[eldon]

I'm new to autocad as in I havent drafted a single thing in my entire life. However, I'm pretty savvy and I can't imagine this is very difficult so I was hoping someone could help. I'm using autocad 2008.

Would someone be kind enough to walk me through this or point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

After 38 replies, you have only got it x-refed but you should have inserted it exploded so that you can delete recalcitrant trees.

Perhaps one way is to start at the beginning. Open Tree-Location-Plan.dwg and type "BASE".
Choose the point shown by the red arrow by hovering as near to the point as you can until you see "Endpoint", click the left hand mouse button to choose that point, then save and close the drawing.

Then open Site.dwg. Choose Insert, Block, browse until you find "Tree-Location-Plan" and check the box that says "explode", then choose the insertion point as the same point by hovering the cursor over that point until you see "Endpoint", then pick with the left hand mouse button. Now you should have the Tree-Location-Plan in the Site drawing as entities, so you can now delete anything that you want to.

Perhaps I cannot speak in understandable language, but it is in AutoCAD and I might be leaving out steps that experienced users would take for granted :shock: