topic AutoCAD file using the "place external drawing" tool in Collaboration with other software

AutoCAD file using the "place external drawing" tool

Velocipede2022 — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:18:44 GMT

Hello -

As a former AutoCAD user I am trying to figure out how best to transition. I have a project that I would like to half-do in Archicad while sill using primarily AutoCAD. I know I can use the "Xref" tool but his tool is complicated. All I want is to be able to have my autocad files as an underlay in a worksheet. The "import drawing tool" appears to be exactly what I want, except... When I import and the autocad file that I want to import has an attached "xref" both the AutoCAD files are imported - both the file I selected and the "xref". Am I correct in understanding that there is no way to tell archicad to exclude "xref"d file?? I understand I can turn off the layers in the Xref, but I am guessing(?) that this eats up memory? Perhaps this should be a wishlist..seems like it would be an easy add for archicad as it already asks for missing xref's

Thanks,

Operating system used: Windows 10

Re: AutoCAD file using the "place external drawing" tool

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:25:37 GMT

Can you open the DWG that has the XREFs in it, save it under a new name, delete the XREFs, and use this new DWG without the XREF data as the source of the Drawing you place?

Re: AutoCAD file using the "place external drawing" tool

Lingwisyer — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 08:33:35 GMT

Pretty sure that is works the same as when xref-ing a drawing containing another in AutoCAD. Just set the xref to Overlay if you do not want it to appear in subsiquent xrefs.

Ling.