DXF/DWG and DWF References

When you import a single DXF, DWG, or DWF file, you can create a reference to the original file, if the original file may change, and you want to keep the imported objects up to date.

You can create the reference during the import process, or create it from the Organization dialog box. The Organization dialog box is also used to edit, update, and delete references. See Workgroups and Referencing for more information.

This type of reference is similar to the type of reference that you can create to a design layer in another Vectorworks file. You can import from the referenced file into a design layer, or into a design layer viewport (Vectorworks Design Series required). The import method is set in the Organization dialog box.

After the reference is created, you may need to edit it. To edit references from the Organization dialog box, select the reference and click Edit. The Edit Reference dialog box opens.

Parameter	Description
Source File	Displays the path and file name of the referenced master file; click Browse to edit the file location
Save reference location as	Maintains either an absolute or relative file path reference from the current file to the referenced file. Use the absolute path when the location of the referenced file with respect to the current file is not going to change. Use the relative path when the files might be moved to another computer or platform; as long as the relative path between the files remains the same, the reference can be found. Both files must be saved on the same volume to select this option. The Source File path displays either an absolute or relative path, depending on the selection.
Save referenced cache to disk	Saves a copy of the referenced data with the target file. When this option is deselected, a copy of the referenced data is not saved, which means that the target file size is smaller; the referenced data is updated when the target file is opened.
Automatically update out of date reference during file open	Updates the reference each time the target file is opened; when deselected, the reference is updated only when Update is clicked from the References tab of the Organization dialog box
Import Settings	Opens the Import Options dialog box, to adjust the settings. The next time the reference is updated, the new import settings will be used.

If the reference is a design layer viewport, you can also edit the viewport as follows (also see Modifying Viewports):

● From the Object Info palette, edit the classes and layers shown in the viewport.

● Right-click on the viewport and select the Edit Crop command to edit the viewport crop.