Xref methodology

I just want to make sure I have this striaght.

In class I am learning that you draw a little bit, then cut it out, paste to original coordinates in a new drawing, save, then xref that back into the original drawing. Seems to work ok, but is this how the professional world does this, or is there something more (or less) to the process?

Also, my Instructor tells me that he xrefs everything including the title blck and all the tect in it. I take it this is common practice?

I just want to make sure I have this striaght.

 

In class I am learning that you draw a little bit, then cut it out, paste to original coordinates in a new drawing, save, then xref that back into the original drawing. Seems to work ok, but is this how the professional world does this, or is there something more (or less) to the process?

 

Also, my onstructor tells me that he xrefs everything including the title blck and all the tect in it. I take it this is common practice?

You do not cut/paste anything. You simply save & close the file, then in another file you XREF (aka Import) the file into it using the XREF Manager.

And yes, XREF'ing the Title Block is normal practice for some firms. Not sheet info, such as sheet numbering or sheet revisions, but all the other info that will sustain, yes.

And yes, XREF'ing the Title Block is normal practice for some firms. Not sheet info, such as sheet numbering or sheet revisions, but all the other info that will sustain, yes.

Yes but some user when have deferent scale and working in site layout him put the all annotation (text, dimension, ladder……) In the sheet this if you used AutoCAD 2007 to down

And from 2008 you can used all annotation text and dimension.... in the xref also with deferent scale

You do not cut/paste anything. You simply save & close the file, then in another file you XREF (aka Import) the file into it using the XREF Manager.

 

And yes, XREF'ing the Title Block is normal practice for some firms. Not sheet info, such as sheet numbering or sheet revisions, but all the other info that will sustain, yes.

OK, I take it you would be doing this repeatedy if there are a lot of xrefs to create?

Another question, is it common practice to create a lot of small drawings to xref into the final drawing? Say for instance for a floorplan, the walls would get their own xref, the electrical outlets would get their own xref, the refrigerator would get their own xref, etc.

OK, I take it you would be doing this repeatedy if there are a lot of xrefs to create?

 

Another question, is it common practice to create a lot of small drawings to xref into the final drawing? Say for instance for a floorplan, the walls would get their own xref, the electrical outlets would get their own xref, the refrigerator would get their own xref, etc.

Absolutely not. The most you would do is separate certain trades, such as RCP (reflected ceiling plan), Electrical, Mechanical, and thats about it. I have seen more separation in some AutoCAD files that have came through, but to do more than that is creating more hassle than its worth.

Cool! That already sounds a lot easier than I thought it was.

Correct me if wrong, but would it be easier just to do this with blocks? Or is a block basically the same thing as an xref?

Correct me if wrong, but would it be easier just to do this with blocks? Or is a block basically the same thing as an xref?

The problem with using blocks in multiple drawings is that a change attributed to a block will not update across the board, only in the current drawing that block resides. An xref will update globally. For instance, my job requires me to have Tools or Die Blocks to be used for multiple jobs. I create a "Master" drawing of the part, xref it to the jobs that require it, then if the design changes, i only have to adjust the "master" drawing. The changes are applied to all xrefs the next time the drawing is opened. This is especially convinient when showing assembly drawings that dont require dimensions. Different stages of progression for example in a forging process... Changing one drawing to update "x" views, is easier than changing the part and copy/pasting or similar...

In an office where you might have Architects and Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, the engineering group would xref in the Architectural floor plans and add their specific information in their own drawings. When the Architect changes the floor plan that will show immediately for the Mech and Elec groups and they can adjust their work accordingly. The Mech and Elec groups can xref each others work in to check for clearance problems (the xrefs would need to be Overlayed to prevent circular xref problems).

Now within each group, say Architects, they might have a file with the floor plan walls, then open another drawing and xref that in and draw their ceiling plan. That way the Engineering groups don't have to worry about dealing with that information unless they need it and then they can xref that in as well for a specific drawing.

I xref in all my titleblocks so as things change I make one change and it appears in all files. The text (attribute block) for the titleblock gets inserted in and edited for the things unique to that drawing file.

The instructors method of drawing and cutting, repeat, is an unusual one. No one I have come across xrefs that many different things into a file with the possible exception of large 3d drawings.

Thanks, rkent & JPlanera. great explanations!