Referencing Resources

The resources of files listed in the References tab of the Organization dialog box, as well as the resources in any Vectorworks file of the same version number, can be referenced through the Resource Manager.

To reference the resources of a master file:

  1. To display the resources of the master file in the Resource Manager, either use the Browse a Document command on the file options menu, or use the file browser pane to access the master file if it is a favorite or library file (see Resource Manager: File Browser Pane).

  2. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the desired resource, and select Reference from the context menu.

  3. If the resource is a symbol or plug-in object, the Reference Symbol dialog box opens. Specify the location of the referenced symbol and click OK.

  4. If the master file has never been referenced in the current file, the New Reference dialog box opens. Specify the reference parameters and click OK.

  5. The resource is added to the target file. Referenced resources display with italicized names in the Resource Manager.

The following rules apply to referenced resources.

Situation
Description

Editing a referenced resource

If in-place editing is enabled in the target file, a referenced resource can be modified from the target file (see Setting the Referencing Options). Even when in-place editing is enabled, the master file must not be open, the reference must not be broken, and the resource must not be out of date. Changes to the referenced resource are automatically exported to the master file; while in edit mode, the master file is locked.

The following resources can be edited within the referenced file:

    Gradients

    Hatches

    Images

    Line types

    Record formats

    Renderworks backgrounds, styles, and textures

    Plant symbols (Vectorworks Landmark required)

    Symbol definitions

    Text styles

    Tiles

    Sketch styles

    Roof, slab, and wall styles (Vectorworks Design Series required)

Resource name conflict

If there is a name conflict between a referenced object and another object when you are creating a reference, an alert displays and you have the option to replace the object in the current document. (If the other object is also a referenced object, it cannot be replaced and the update fails.)

Change user origin of master file

If the user origin of a master file is changed, the location of the referenced resources do not change, if Ignore source user origin is selected in the Edit Reference dialog box

Change master file classes

Changes to the class of a referenced resource are only reflected in the target file after an update if Update class definitions is selected in the New Reference dialog box

Resource deleted in master file

If a referenced resource is deleted in a master file and the resource does not exist in any other master file included in an update, when the reference to the master file is updated, an alert displays. Click OK to confirm that the resource is an “orphan,” or click OK to All to hide all alerts about orphaned resources during the current update. Orphaned resources are no longer referenced.

To break a reference, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the desired resource, and select Break Reference from the context menu. The resource remains in the target file, but it is no longer referenced to the master file.

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Adding and Editing Layer Import References

Creating a Referenced Design Layer Viewport

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