Topic: XREFs

[hudster]

I'm writing our CAD manual and have reached the part on xrefs. I'm thinking about changing to overlayed xrefs as I prefer them as it removes the possibility of nested xrefs.

Whats your preference and why?

[jonesy]

Most of our xrefs are overlayed to stop circular referencing/nesting etc.

Saying that, there are also a couple of older jobs that use the attach method.

[Greg B]

Can you elaborate on the differences between Attached, Overlay, and what the third one was?

I know I use DataCAD, but we do have xref's and I want to see which is relevent.

[ronjonp]

Can you elaborate on the differences between Attached, Overlay, and what the third one was?

I know I use DataCAD, but we do have xref's and I want to see which is relevent.

Check out this thread:

http://www.theswamp.org/forum/index.php?topic=6156.msg75044#msg75044

[glee]

We use overlays too.
Keeps our sheets simpler without possibility of something not meant to be there popping up in the sheet when no one is paying attention. 

[deegeecees]

A general conclusion I've found to be true:

Attach - Used for Assembles/Sub-assemblies
Overlay - Used for reference information

This may be the mechanical drafter coming out but it is a generalization which will hold water with any discipline that uses different semantics.

[Greg B]

So the main difference is whether it allows nesting or not.

Hmm...DataCAD's xref manager has a toggle to allow nesting or not.  This toggle also shows up when you shift right-click on an xref.

So to be honest I'd have to go with attached.

As for block...why when you'd want it updated with changes?

[Greg B]

I was thinking that if you wanted something attached, wouldn't that be more in the line of binding?  Or am I off my mark?

[Chuck Gabriel]

You are off the mark.

Attach:  A is xrefed into B.  B is xrefed into C.  A is brought along for the ride into C.

Overlay:  A is xrefed into B.  B is xrefed into C.  A is not visible in C.

Bind:  External link is broken and the xref becomes a block reference.

[pmvliet]

we use overlay majority of the time.
When you attach, your layer dialog box can become huge depending on how many other reference files are brought in.

Small jobs you could use attach, and attach could save you some time depending on how you set up your files.
example: if in your sheet file A-101, you have the arch base, mech base, structural base, electrical base referenced in.
But your arch base also have those same files referenced in. so if you used attached, you wouldn't have to reference the
same files in again...

Pieter

[Greg B]

You are off the mark.

Attach:  A is xrefed into B.  B is xrefed into C.  A is brought along for the ride into C.

Overlay:  A is xrefed into B.  B is xrefed into C.  A is not visible in C.

Bind:  External link is broken and the xref becomes a block reference.

Thanks Chuck...

Pieter

DataCAD does not include the layers of the xref within the layer manager of that current drawing.  To change the layers in the xref we have to use the Xref manager.

[CADaver]

overlay only
with a couple of hundred designers working with several thousand files you trip over yourself using attach.

[pmvliet]

DataCAD does not include the layers of the xref within the layer manager of that current drawing.  To change the layers in the xref we have to use the Xref manager.

Much like how Microstation J was/is.

[CottageCGirl]

We have only used attach to date, but that is probably due to the wide range of skill levels in my dept.  I actually have never tried overlay, but from what was said about A xref into B -B xref into C then A is not visible---I'm not sure we would want that, since I still have people confused when something gets locked........Overlay seems like it would be better for complicated-multi/purpose drawings......

[hudster]

Yeah, but wait till you have to bind an xref and it's nested in a drawing, which has a nested xref, which has a nested xref, which has a nested xref etc etc.

I've seen that and it wasn't pretty