topic Re: Unable to import Xref in Collaboration with other software

Unable to import Xref

Andre Gaspar — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 13:15:28 GMT

Hi all,
I´m trying to import an DWG file but I´m receiving an error message.
When I try to attach a file this Warning message appears:

"An Xref with the name xxxxx already exists. Choose another file!"

That DWG is on the list "Xref Name:" but does not allow me to attach. The Attach button is grey and the Path: for the file is empty.

Also if I go to the Xref Manager menu the file I want is not there. So is not me trying to add the same Xref twice.

The file was added previously and removed.

Is there anyway to clean the list "Xref Name:" and add the file after?

Thank you.

Andre

Re: Unable to import Xref

Minh Nguyen — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:24:09 GMT

Dear Andre,

Thank you very much for the report and I am very sorry about the issue!

I was unable to find any similar report in our database, so I am wondering if it's possible for you to share the project plan PLN file and the DWG file with us for further investigation? Let me know if you need a secure place to upload the file also.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best regards,
Minh

Re: Unable to import Xref

Minh Nguyen — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:47:26 GMT

Dear All,

We have investigated this issue and concluded that it is a defect. It was quite easy to reproduce, all we need is having 2 DWGs with the same name placing at 2 different locations.

After we attach one of them, then detach it from the plan, attaching the other one from another location will result in the error message. Unfortunately, if you detach an Xref it doesn't get deleted in the background, and when you try to attach a new Xref with the same name but on a different path, it finds the previously attached one and fails. I entered it as defect DEF-3722.

Thank you very much for your understanding, and I am very sorry for the inconvenience!

Best regards,
Minh

Re: Unable to import Xref

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:26:46 GMT

We are having the same issue however we have cleared our ref manager and renamed our DWG files. Despite this we get the same message and are unable to attach a previously xref'ed file even if it was 'saved as' under a different name.

Is there a work-around to be able to address this issue and get the DWG file attached?
Thanks

Re: Unable to import Xref

Minh Nguyen — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:43:47 GMT

Hello,

Thank you for your report and I am very sorry to hear about the issue!

There was a fix for this similar issue included in Update 3 (build 5000) for Archicad 24. It is being rolled out globally. Could you give it a try to see if it works?

If it doesn't help, would it be possible for you to share with us the project file and the DWG for in-house reproduction? Please let me know if you need a secure place to upload the file.

Thank you very much!

Best regards,
Minh

Re: Unable to import Xref

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:38:23 GMT

Thanks Minh - we will try it again once we've done an update all computers to the new build.

Re: Unable to import Xref

JackIPL — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 13:05:44 GMT

Hi Minh,

We have just had a very similar if not the same problem,

I had imported an XREF into my file, to which I then detached at a later date, (none of the layers were removed so had to do this through Attribute Manager, - which I understand is another issue.

we then go to import the same xref (with the same name) but from a different folder and it says the same error as above, that another with the same name exists.

I had reported this to the Graphisoft helpline which they confirmed that had not heard of, so I sent them to this post.

Are there any fixes as yet? as we dont really want to have the change the xref name

Re: Unable to import Xref

Studio Bracket — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 16:36:19 GMT

Hi Minh,

Is this still an issue in 25/26? I just tried to reload Xrefs on a teamworks file from the local work server, but don't have access to the server a home, so I decided to detach the xref and try to reload them off my home computer. I've successfully detached them in the xref manager but now can't reload them as I get the same error message as the original post. Is there a way to clear the "xref names" list that shows when you attach a new xref?

Of course I'm working on deadline, when I discover that this would be an issue, so any help ASAP would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Cody

Re: Unable to import Xref

Larch — Thu, 22 May 2025 12:05:42 GMT

We are also experiencing the same issue in A28, exactly as described.

Re: Unable to import Xref

Barry Kelly — Fri, 23 May 2025 01:39:55 GMT

Do you need to place the DWG as an XREF?

You can just place it with the Drawing tool.

Barry.

Re: Unable to import Xref

Larch — Fri, 23 May 2025 06:01:46 GMT

Good question! Part of the reason is the workflow. Having drawings constantly turned on on top of everything else makes for a lot of situations where the drawing gets selected accidentally. I work in landscape and zoning regulations are embedded in the overlay. It is, of course, possible to turn it off and on, but it is hard to change the habits of people are the office as we're transitioning from Autodesk.

Of course, if there is a way to have the dwg there, with no chance of accidental selections (and not as a trace reference) I'd be happy to hear it!

Re: Unable to import Xref

Barry Kelly — Fri, 23 May 2025 06:19:31 GMT

@Larch wrote:

Of course, if there is a way to have the dwg there, with no chance of accidental selections (and not as a trace reference) I'd be happy to hear it!

I'm not quite sure what you mean.

If I place an Xref, I can still select it.

In fact I can select individual elements in the Xref, I just can't move or delete them.

You can 'lock' a placed drawing as well.

It will still select but will not move or delete.

And you can turn on/off the layers in the drawing in the drawing settings rather than the layer dialogue.

Barry.

Re: Unable to import Xref

Larch — Fri, 23 May 2025 06:42:57 GMT

Xrefs only get selected if I click on the actual lines. The drawings get selected when I click anywhere because the drawings are imported "sheets" rather than just lines. It is easy to avoid the dwg lines, but the drawing can't be avoided, resulting in selection cycling. We insert drawings for lots of other things, but zoning regulation lines and other municipal information always need to be present as we work the terrain.

Re: Unable to import Xref

Barry Kelly — Fri, 23 May 2025 07:39:38 GMT

Ah, I think you must work with the quick select (magnet) turned on all of the time.

I turn mine off and only use the SPACEBAR key to toggle it on when I know I want to select a surface.

Barry.

Re: Unable to import Xref

Larch — Fri, 23 May 2025 08:54:39 GMT

Since the zoning regulations are on top of everything, it still causes selection cycling to get to any object below the drawing. So it is, unfortunately, not a viable solution. Thanks for trying, though, We have to change our workflow a bit, we just have to figure out how.

Re: Unable to import Xref

Barry Kelly — Fri, 23 May 2025 09:11:39 GMT

Send the drawing to the bottom of the display order hierarchy?

Barry.

Re: Unable to import Xref

Wlad222 — Fri, 23 May 2025 09:37:04 GMT

HOW IS THIS NOT FIXED 3 VERSIONS LATER