Attaching and Detaching Referenced Drawings (Xrefs)

You can attach any drawing file as an external reference or xref in the current drawing.

Attached xrefs are links to the model space of a specified drawing file. Changes made to the referenced drawing are automatically reflected in the current drawing when it's opened or if the xref is reloaded. Attached xrefs do not significantly increase the size of your current drawing.

By using referenced drawings, you can

• Coordinate your work with the work of others by referencing other drawings in your drawing to keep up with the changes being made by other designers. You can also assemble a master drawing from component drawings that will change as a project develops.
• Ensure that the most recent version of the referenced drawing is displayed. When you open your drawing, each referenced drawing is automatically reloaded, so it reflects the latest state of the referenced drawing file.
• Keep the names of layers, dimensioning styles, text styles, and other named elements in your drawing separate from those in referenced drawings.
• Merge (bind) attached referenced drawings permanently with your current drawing when the project is complete and ready to be archived.

Note: An external reference can be a drawing file, image, PDF, or one of several other file types. An xref is an external reference that's specifically a DWG file.

Tools for Attaching Xrefs

You can use several methods to attach an xref:

• Click View tabPalettes panelExternal References Palette.
• Click Tools menuPalettesReference Manager.
• At the Command prompt, enter EXTERNALREFERENCES.
• At the Command prompt, enter XATTACH.

When using the External References palette, it is recommended that you turn on the Auto-hide feature or anchor the palette. The palette will then hide automatically when you specify the insertion point of the external reference.

You can also use DesignCenter ^™ to attach xrefs to a drawing. Use DesignCenter for simple attachments, previewing drawing references and their descriptions, and quick placement by dragging. You can attach an xref by dragging it from DesignCenter or by clicking Attach as Xref on the shortcut menu.

Note: A drawing file can be attached as an xref to multiple drawings at the same time. Conversely, multiple drawings can be attached as referenced drawings to a single drawing. If an xref contains any variable block attributes, they are ignored.

Managing Xref Paths

The saved path used to locate the xref can be a relative (partially specified) path, the full path, or no path. The default path type is relative. Use the REFPATHTYPE system variable to change the default path type. If the host drawing is not saved yet, the saved path column displays a full path with an asterisk prefix to indicate that a change will take place after the host drawing is saved. Before the file is saved, a new read-only property called pending relative path is added to the Details pane of the Xref palette. When the file is saved, the pending relative path property is removed.

Receive Notification of Attached Xrefs

An xref icon is displayed in the status bar when xrefs are attached to the drawing.

When one or more xrefs are not found, an exclamation point is added to the Xref icon. If you click the Xref icon, the External References palette is displayed.

Detaching Referenced Drawings

To completely remove an xref from your drawing, you need to detach it rather than erase it. Using the Detach option removes the xrefs and all associated information such as layer definitions.

If you have nested xrefs in your host drawing, you have to open the xref that it's nested in and detach it from there instead of trying to detach it from the host drawing. Use the Tree View control in the upper-right side of the External References palette to see how xrefs are nested within each other.

Highlight External References in a Drawing

To find an external reference in a complex drawing, select an item in the External References palette to highlight all visible instances in the drawing. Conversely, select an external reference in the drawing to highlight its name in the External References palette.

Note: The ERHIGHLIGHT system variable controls whether referenced objects are highlighted. You can turn highlighting off to improve performance.

To find an external reference in a complex drawing, select an item in the Reference Manager palette to highlight all visible instances in the drawing. Conversely, select an external reference in the drawing to highlight its name in the Reference Manager palette.

Control the Properties of Referenced Layers

You can control the visibility, color, linetype, and other properties of an xref's layers and make these changes temporary or permanent in your current drawing. If the VISRETAIN system variable is set to 0, these changes apply only to the current drawing session. They are discarded when you end the drawing session, or when you reload or detach the xref.

You can also control the level of fading of the xref. The XDWGFADECTL system variable defines the fade percentage for all xrefs in your drawing.

Xref Clipping Boundaries

Drawings can include xrefs that are clipped. If you want to see the clipping boundary, you can turn on the XCLIPFRAME system variable.

Viewing 3D Objects

You can specify a fixed or an interactive view of your drawing in the current viewport.

Using the 3D viewing and navigation tools, you can navigate through a drawing, set up a camera for a specific view, and create animations to share your design with others. You can orbit, swivel, walk, and fly around a 3D model, set up a camera, create a preview animation, and record motion path animations that you can distribute to others to visually convey the intent of your design.

Using the 3D viewing and navigation tools, you can navigate through a drawing. You can orbit, zoom, and swivel around a 3D model.

Note:

• Rather than using the 2D Wireframe visual style, use one of the other visual styles for better 3D performance.
• 3D models can be opened in AutoCAD LT. However, 3D view and navigation tools are not available.

Methods for Specifying Views of 3D Models

For interactive 3D viewing, use the 3DORBIT command. In the shortcut menu, standard views are accessible from the Present Views submenu. (This feature is not available in AutoCAD LT.)

Other options include the following:

• For precise control in setting up a 3D view, including specifying the Camera and Target points, use the DVIEW or CAMERA commands.
• For a perspective view with a specified lens length, use the PERSPECTIVE and LENSLENGTH system variables.

You can also display standard views for 3D models using the following command inputs:

• Isometric view: -VPOINT 1,-1,1
• Top view: -VPOINT 0,0,1 or PLAN
• Front view: -VPOINT 0,-1,0
• Right side view: 1,0,0

Important: AutoCAD uses the architectural convention for view definition: the XY plane of the UCS is the top or plan view.

3D Navigation Tools

3D navigation tools allow you to view objects in a drawing from different angles, heights, and distances.

Use the following 3D tools to orbit, swivel, adjust distance, zoom, and pan in a 3D view.

• 3D Orbit. Moves around a target. The target of the view stays stationary while the camera location, or point of view, moves. The target point displays temporarily as a small, dark sphere. The method used for locating the target point is determined by the ORBITAUTOTARGET system variable.
• Constrained Orbit. Constrains 3D Orbit along the XY plane or the Z axis.
• Free Orbit. Orbits in any direction without reference to the planes. The point of view is not constrained along the XY plane of the Z axis.
• Continuous Orbit. Orbits continuously. Click and drag in the direction you want the continuous orbit to move, and then release the mouse button. The orbit continues to move in that direction.
• Adjust Distance. Changes the distance of objects as you move the cursor vertically. You can make objects appear larger or smaller, and you can adjust the distance.
• Swivel. Simulates panning with a camera in the direction that you drag. The target of the view changes. You can swivel the view along the XY plane or along the Z axis.
• Zoom. Simulates moving the camera closer to an object or farther away. Zooming in magnifies the image.
• Pan. Starts the interactive 3D view and enables you to drag the view horizontally and vertically.

Creating Road Corridor - AutoCAD Civil 3D

Specify the basic corridor information

1. Open Corridor-1a.dwg, which is located in the tutorials drawings folder.
2. Click Home tab Create Design panel Corridor  Find.
3. In the Create Corridor dialog box, specify the following parameters. Alternatively, you can use the  buttons to pick the objects from the drawing.
   • Name: First Street
   • Baseline Type: Alignment and Profile
   • Alignment: First Street
     
   • Profile: Finished Grade Centerline - First Street
     
     

     (Profile view grid lines removed for clarity)
   • Assembly: Primary Road Full Section
     
   • Target Surface: EG
     
   • Set Baseline and Region Parameters: Selected
4. Click OK.

Specify the baseline and region parameters

1. In the Baseline and Region Parameters dialog box, in the RG-Primary Road Full Section - (1) row, in the End Station cell, enter 0+440.00.
2. In the Frequency cell, click .
3. In the Frequency To Apply Assemblies dialog box, under Apply Assembly, for Along Curves, verify that At An Increment is selected.
4. For Curve Increment, enter 3.000. Click OK.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Corridor Properties - Rebuild task dialog box, click Rebuild the Corridor.
   Note: If the task dialog box is not displayed, the corridor is still built.
   The corridor model is built and looks like this:
   

Note:

This tutorial uses the corridor assembly that you built in the Creating an Assembly exercise.

A corridor can be used to model a variety of features, such as highways, channels, and runways. In this tutorial, you will model a residential road.

A corridor model builds on and uses various AutoCAD Civil 3D objects and data, including subassemblies, assemblies, alignments, feature lines, surfaces, and profiles.

Corridor objects are created along one or more horizontal baselines by placing a 2D section (assembly) at incremental locations and creating matching slopes that reach a surface model at each incremental location.

creating road corridor - autocad civil 3d

autocad civil 3d training

civil 3d training

autocad civil 3d

civil 3d

civil 3d corridor

civil 3d tutorial

autodesk civil 3d

road design

autocad civil 3d tutorial

corridor civil 3d

autocad tutorial pdf

civil 3d assembly

civil 3d 2017

autocad civil 3d 2017

civil 3d grading

create assembly civil 3d

civil 3d sections

civil design software

corridor model

civil 3d cross sections

autocad civil

civil 3d intersection

creating corridors in civil 3d

using autocad

civil 3d retaining wall subassembly

autocad civil 3d student

civil 3d feature line

civil 3d subassembly

learn autocad civil 3d

civil 3d survey database

civil 3d daylight to surface

autocad civil 3d 2015

autodesk civil 3d 2017

civil 3d software

autocad civil 3d cross sections

civil 3d intersection design

civil 3d alignment

autocad civil 3d training manual pdf

creating cross sections in civil 3d

civil 3d feature lines

civil 3d corridor surface

autocad tutorial for beginners pdf

civil 3d road design

autocad civil 3d free download

civil 3d autocad

assembly civil 3d

civil autocad

autocad civil 3d 2016 tutorial pdf

autocad 3d civil

civil 3d superelevation

autocad tutorial 3d

civil 3d tutorials for beginners

autocad 3d tutorial pdf

feature lines civil 3d

subassemblies civil 3d

civil 3d create assembly

autocad civil 3d tutorial pdf

intersection design civil 3d

autocad civil 3d alignment

subassembly composer

civil 3d profile

autodesk autocad civil 3d

create intersection civil 3d

3d autocad tutorial

civil 3d transition between assemblies

learn civil 3d

acad civil 3d

civil 3d download

superelevation civil 3d

3d corridor

autocad 3d commands with examples pdf

autocad 3d design

subassembly civil 3d

autocad 3d pdf

what is autocad civil 3d

daylight civil 3d

road profile design autocad

road alignment

creating a corridor in civil 3d

autocad 3d basics

create subassembly from polyline

create alignment civil 3d

civil 3d grading between feature lines

section view civil 3d

autocad assembly

civil 3d corridor cut and fill

civil 3d tutorial pdf

autocad civil 3d 2015 tutorial pdf

alignment civil 3d

civil 3d corridor transition

create profile civil 3d

autocad 3d assembly

what is civil 3d

autocad for civil engineering

civil 3d section view

intersection civil 3d

types of roads in civil engineering

autocad 2015 3d tutorial pdf

autocad 3d exercises pdf

3d road

autocad 3d civil tutorial

civil 3d manual

autocad civil 3d manual pdf free download

offset profile civil 3d

civil 3d 2017 new features

civil 3d basics autocad section view autocad civil 3d 2013 civil 3d retaining wall autocad 2015 tutorial for beginners pdf 3d civil autocad civil 3d free download full version autodesk civil 3d tutorial how to design a road civil 3d offset profile autocad road design autocad civil 3d tutorial pdf free download autocad civil 3d profile autocad 3d tutorial pdf free download civil 3d training pdf profile civil 3d how to use civil 3d autocad civil 3d 2016 pdf cut and fill civil 3d autocad civil 3d basics how to learn civil 3d autodesk civil autocad 2014 3d tutorial pdf civil cad 3d how to use autocad civil 3d autocad 2013 3d tutorial pdf civil 3d pdf creating alignments in civil 3d autocad civil 3d road design autocad civil 3d book pdf creating a surface in civil 3d civil 3d vertical alignment autocad align civil 3d parking lot grading civil 3d road design tutorial pdf autocad civil 3d 2015 tutorial autocad 3d drawings for practice autocad civil 3d pdf superelevation in civil 3d cad civil how to create an alignment in civil 3d how to create a surface in autocad civil 3d combine surfaces road design pdf autocad civil 3d 2010 autocad civil 3d 2012 how to create cross sections in civil 3d autocad road design tutorial road design civil 3d civil 3d cross section template civil 3d grading best practices autocad civil 3d 2011 subassemblies definition civil 3d intersection problems civil 3d modeling civil 3d design superelevation of road create surface from points civil 3d civil 3d road design tutorial autocad civil 3d 2017 new features creating surface in civil 3d civil 3d smooth surface how to create surface in civil 3d how to create a profile in autocad civil 3d how to create a profile in autocad autocad civil 3d 2013 tutorial pdf free download autocad civil 3d 2014 tutorial pdf autocad civil drawings for practice pdf what is civil 3d used for autocad civil 3d surface plan production civil 3d civil 3d alignment station labels how to create cut and fill in civil 3d how to change point style in autocad civil 3d civil 3d create surface civil 3d intersection tutorial civil 3d user manual civil 3d code set styles what is autocad civil 3d used for combining surfaces in civil 3d create surface civil 3d align autocad how to create a surface in autocad civil 3d civil 3d manual pdf autocad 3d section view autocad civil 3 how to draw cross section in autocad civil 3d civil 3d profile view 3d elevation design road cad cut fill civil 3d road cross section drawing autocad autocad civil tutorial how to create alignment in civil 3d autocad civil 3d 2012 download quick profile civil 3d profile view civil 3d civil 3d file format civil 3d drawing civil 3d create alignment from polyline advanced road design civil 3d create alignment smooth surface civil 3d how to create contour lines in autocad civil 3d basic roadway design with civil 3d how to create data shortcuts in civil 3d road profile design types of roads in civil engineering pdf autocad civil 3d tutorial files civil 3d conditional subassemblies alignment labels civil 3d autocad civil pdf subassembly composer tutorial pdf autocad civil 3d user guide pdf autocad civil drawing how to create a profile in civil 3d civil 3d subassembly composer tutorial assembly in autocad assembly autocad civil 3d 2015 pdf how to draw contour lines in autocad civil 3d civil 3d cut fill civil 3d volume calculation civil 3d 2015 tutorial 3d road model autocad civil 3d create surface from points civil 3d alignment report conditional subassemblies civil 3d civil 3d subassembly composer tutorial pdf cross section civil 3d autocad civil 3d 2013 tutorial pdf how to make cross section in civil 3d autocad civil 3d drawings tutorial civil 3d autocad civil 3d 2012 tutorial pdf autocad civil 3d features how to create surface in autocad road design with autocad civil 3d cross section in civil 3d subassembly composer manual autodesk civil 3d tutorials pdf civil 3d 2015 tutorial pdf civil 3d subassemblies autocad for civil civil 3d daylight manual civil 3d autocad feature line autocad in civil civil 3d notes تصميم الطرق 3d civil tutorial creating cross sections in civil 3d 2014 tutorial civil 3d 2015 تصميم الطرق pdf autocad civil 3d learning how to learn autocad civil 3d autocad 3d civil tutorial pdf autocad 3d civil drawings autocad civil tutorial pdf road design using autocad civil 3d autocad 3d design samples about autocad civil 3d autocad civil 3d 2015 pdf autocad civil 3d 2016 new features road design autocad 3d civil drawings civil 3d workflow how to design road автокад цивил 3д руководство civil engineering road design pdf autocad road how to design in autocad 3d civil 3d cut and fill tutorial civil 3d tutorial pdf free download تصميم الطرق باستخدام civil 3d autocad civil 3d pdf tutorial autocad assembly tutorial autocad civil 3d cut and fill civil 3d 2014 tutorial pdf autodesk roadway design civil 3d 2015 new features civil 3d ppt tutorial civil 3d 2015 pdf tutorial autocad civil 3d 2012 pdf