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Are you working with Xrefs in AutoCAD and need to flatten them? Flattening an Xref can be useful in certain situations, such as when you want to convert the Xref into a single, editable entity. In this tutorial, we will explore the steps to flatten an Xref in AutoCAD using some simple commands.
Step 1: Open the Xref Manager
To begin, open the Xref Manager by typing XREF in the command line or by selecting Insert > Reference > External Reference Manager from the menu. The Xref Manager allows you to manage all external references in your drawing.
Step 2: Select the Xref to Flatten
In the Xref Manager, locate and select the Xref that you want to flatten. You can identify an Xref by its name and path displayed in the list. Once selected, click on the “Bind” button at the bottom of the window.
Note:
Before proceeding with flattening an Xref, it is important to note that this action will permanently merge all objects from the external reference into your current drawing. Therefore, it is recommended to create a backup of your drawing before performing this operation.
Step 3: Specify Binding Options
After clicking on “Bind,” a dialog box will appear with binding options. Here, you can choose how you want AutoCAD to handle layers and blocks from the Xref during binding.
- Insert: This option inserts all objects from the external reference as separate blocks into your drawing while maintaining their original layer structure.
- Insert and Maintain: This option inserts all objects from the external reference as separate blocks into your drawing, but also maintains a link to the original Xref. Any changes made in the Xref will be reflected in your drawing.
- Explode: This option explodes all objects from the external reference, converting them into individual entities within your drawing. The layer structure will be merged with your current layer settings.
Select the desired binding option based on your requirements and click on “OK” to proceed.
Step 4: Flatten the Xref
Once you have specified the binding options, AutoCAD will begin flattening the Xref. Depending on the complexity and size of the Xref, this process may take some time.
After completion, you will notice that all objects from the external reference are now part of your current drawing. You can modify and manipulate them just like any other entities within your drawing.
If you chose to bind using the “Insert and Maintain” option, any changes made to the original Xref file will still be reflected in your drawing. To break this link and make further modifications independent of the Xref, you can use AutoCAD’s “Detach” command.
In conclusion, flattening an Xref in AutoCAD can be done easily by following these steps: open the Xref Manager, select the Xref to flatten, specify binding options, and finally flatten it. Remember to exercise caution when flattening an Xref as it permanently merges it into your current drawing. Happy designing!