exploding layers in an external reference

[lauriemck]

Hi...I am using AutoCAD 2010. I inserted an external reference of topography lines into my drawing and I am trying to explode the layers whilst in my drawing but everything appears to be in one block. what am I missing? Thanks.

[Tiger]

If I am reading this correctly, you have inserted a dwg as an External Reference in your drawing and now you want that drawing as individual lines?

 

If that is the case, while in the Xref-manager, righ-click on the x-ref and select Bind. That changes the X-ref to a Block. Now you can explode (command EXPLODE) and get the lines as individual lines.

[lauriemck]

Hi Tiger...I tried what you suggested however everything it still in one block. I need to be able to click on a line in my drawing and know what elevation it is. Therefore all the lines need to be separate entities, just like they are in the x-referenced dwg. I just don't get.

[t1320t]

I work in Civil too, so I can understand your goal of simply clicking on a line to see it's z. Have you tried exploding it twice?

[lpseifert]

I work in Civil too, so I can understand your goal of simply clicking on a line to see it's z.

Try this

;;;returns elevation of (nested) contour 
(defun c:ev (/ elev)
 (setq elev (cdr (assoc 38 (entget (car (nentsel))))))
 (princ (strcat "\nElevation= " (rtos elev 2 2)))
 (princ)
 )

[rkent]

Hi Tiger...I tried what you suggested however everything it still in one block. I need to be able to click on a line in my drawing and know what elevation it is. Therefore all the lines need to be separate entities, just like they are in the x-referenced dwg. I just don't get.

 

Rather than explode use the ID command.

[t1320t]

Yeah, I don't like the idea of exploding a block or reference just bc it makes the dwg dirty.... forcing more layers, either way, it's dirty. We use Carlson software w/ ACAD and have an INVERSE command that I use... just inverse to the endpt, nearest, whatever & the z is displayed.

[Tiger]

If you just want to know the elevation, do what Rkent suggested, use the ID command - that works even if it's a x-ref.

 

to be clear, the program is not doing anything wrong, when you insert a dwg as an external reference it is displayed as a block and you can't do anything with it. To make changes to it you need to open the dwg itself and then reload it in your drawing.

 

If you want to have the dwg directly in your dwg, as just lines and no block, you can use a normal Copy -> Paste from one drawing to the next. Use 0,0,0 as basepoint and insertpoint to get it at the same location.