Autocad xref not displaying.
Nov 13, 2015 · I am currently working with 2016.
Autocad xref not displaying. The blocks from the level plan Oct 17, 2011 · Forum Discussions and Support Civil Engineering AutoCAD Civil 3D Support AutoCAD Civil 3D - General Annotative objects not showing up in xref Mar 22, 2021 · For some reason, my xref'd drawing is not appearing in a paper space layout. I xref'd a new file and the xref is displaying in 2 of the viewports but now the third. Certain objects display as single-line or double-line. Q. Layer line thickness. Open your Xref, and then System variable INDEXCTL set to 0 Linetype, Linewight set to Default. Can some Sep 8, 2025 · When opening a main drawing in AutoCAD, downstream nested xrefs do not appear and are not shown in the External References palette. Both files have the same reference coordina Sep 25, 2020 · Hi! I've problem with xref (map) which is drawn in meters - all my drawings are in centimeters. Mar 15, 2017 · All the line type scale data resides in the individual drawing, so it is quite likely for an xref to display differently than the master, that and Eldon's example of the ISO vs Imperial line types are tied for 1st place among likely reasons. You only see a boundary frame for the picture with a text pointing to the file path. Troubleshooting Xref Display Issues If layers from xrefs are not appearing as expected, check the variable VISRETAIN. Sep 17, 2025 · Issue: After attaching an XREF to a drawing, the XREF is inserted at the wrong place in AutoCAD or AutoCAD-based product. Please help! I can not get my xref transparency to print DWG to PDF? May 13, 2003 · Hello everyone This is a strange one. I have the layer in xref and in drawing turned on and thawed. Any ideas? Using 2015 on a Windows 7. Detach the xref, clean both drawings, rebuild any layer states in use, and reattach the drawing. I am working with acad 2000, and the rest of the my coworkers are only working in 14. Turn on and thaw all xref layers, and enable them to be plotted. In the Drawing Explorer, locate the view drawing for which to display external references. The object may appear briefly and then disappear when zooming in or out. Is this a known issues with a known fix or do I have to attach it directly to the host file instead of as a nested XREF so that I can still XREF Clip it when needed? Sep 9, 2025 · Open the Drawing in AutoCAD or Civil 3D Type Xref and check for broken and circular references, and resolve them. The layer appears on and thawed in the viewport but it still won't display. DWG Migration for Docs For uploading a large number of DWG files with xrefs, use the Autodesk® DWG Migration for Docs app. This section will delve into the common causes of this problem and provide solutions to help users resolve these visibility issues effectively. The text is visible in the drawing. It doesn't appear to May 30, 2018 · Solved: have created an DWG file that I want to as an XREF file. You might see the proper file names or paths of the Xrefs in the External References Manager, but you will not be able to reload or reattach the problematic Xrefs. Consider which path option you are using and whether that is your problem. Click the Views tab. Then nothing happens. It should be set to 1 to retain xref layer settings. section will give you the answer to your question in step-by-step form and, most importantly, a complete answer! RELOAD: Updates the xref in case any changes have been made. And am having a problem with my XREF command, it literally does nothing. Any ideas? It is a nested xref. Anyone know what's going on? Mar 22, 2023 · Hi everyone, as you can read in the title, i'm having some problem with printing a PDF because is not showing the xref on the preview or in the PDF. They appear as a continuous line when they are not. May 16, 2013 · I use 2013. However, when you plot it, the PDF does not plot. I have a few drawings that I need some help with. But when I try to open the drawing again after saving and closing. Adjust the slider for “Xref display” according to your preference to enhance visual clarity. A warning message appears: References - Not Found Files 'One or more referenced files could not be located or read. Reference Type is Attachement. I'm using the xref command to load the building outline on some building lighting plans. 2K subscribers 32 Im not sure thats even possible :P Usually, if its not showing in the XREF Manager, its been bound or inserted. Ensuring that all Xref files are correctly located and accessible is crucial for a successful binding process. Note: If you specified that the drawing should always use its own display configurations when it is inserted as an xref overlay, you cannot change the display configuration used to display the xref objects in the host drawing. A. Sheet Set Manager Are images not loading, or Xrefs being shown as unreferenced in your AutoCAD drawings? Is an image gone, missing, or won't load. The detail notes and their leaders will not show in paper space. I have tried copying the desired information directly from the xref to the drawing, but Jan 9, 2012 · Yes- if everything in the XREF is XREF'ed from other files as overlays, they will not appear when you XREF that file. The image was moved to a different location. The nested xrefs were attached to the upstream xref using the 'Overlay' type, instead of 'Attach'. Jan 8, 2018 · Hi, I'm having an issue with a Xref clip where parts of the Xref outside of the inverted boundary are not displaying. (All lighting equipment on various layers, building outline on just one layer, and xref'd). The Attach External Reference file dialog does not appear. If the objects that are not showing up are Block, Go into the Block editor, and check their Layers. Layer color. First thing that was strange was that the dialog box didn't auto-hide, then it just disappeared. All seemed fine until I imported another drawing using XREF. Apr 29, 2024 · Linetypes display correctly in a drawing, but referencing it into another one causes them to display incorrectly, such as: Continuous instead of dashed or dotted. Layer transparency. Here’s a breakdown of the possible reasons and their solutions: Oct 12, 2006 · I'm using autocad map 2000. Beside above, why is my xref not found? Open the External References Manager by typing XREF in the Command line and pressing Enter. Some of the XREF shows but parts of it is are missing. gaps don't display properly), and I have to reassign the Jul 10, 2018 · I am having a weird issue. The command line shows that Civil 3D ran _XATTACH. Sep 11, 2024 · Hi all, I have attached a dwg file into a new dwg drawing. (see attached photo). The xref layer names are all grey out, I can still see them in model space and paper space. Move them to another screen, it flickers or disappears. Jan 20, 2018 · HI, from Xref command a palette will appears , from saved path press the dots to re-path your image and see if any changes. How do I plot it with my xref layer. Annotation scale (CANNOSCALE) does not match between drawings. When I XREF it into drawing B it it does not show up in the correct coordinates. After the file is bound, it is still displaying as XREF. I went to adjust this viewport and it is not showing the new drawing that has been imported into model space (I can see the three drawings Aug 10, 2020 · My team uses an XREF border on all of our drawings - each border file has a legend on them showing the different layers. my xrefs are not displaying colors Aug 19, 2022 · You will learn here Xref not showing up in the viewport and know Why is How do you put Xref in the AutoCAD. The layer is mis Note: If you specified that the drawing should always use its own display configurations when inserted as an xref overlay, you cannot change the display configuration used to display the xref objects in the host drawing. In the hosting drawing, VISRETAIN = 1, and the Xref-layers were altered. In this video, I show how to solve the missing titleblock issue when trying to xref a sheet from another file. The drawing file may be corrupted. Confirm that your scale settings are appropriate. Jun 1, 2018 · A viewport not showing the hatch pattern for an xref drawing (Layout 001 example from Lay_C_011_500. CAD Forum explains why Xref objects appear in different colors and provides solutions for AutoCAD users. Now my existing titleblock is unloaded and won't come back either. Although you can attach a drawing without saving a path, that xref will not be found the next time a drawing is opened unless the path is on the set of folders in the options command. It requires Desktop Connector. The first image shows the Xref, which only includes the solid grey hatch, and the closed magenta polyline used to clip it. Nested Xrefs show different Saved location vs Found at path. I will then Attach the XREF into a drawing which has all the same linetypes loaded, and everything looks fine. Anyone else experiencing this? See Feb 20, 2025 · When attaching a drawing as an external reference (XREF) in AutoCAD products, we notice that certain drawing objects, including blocks and OLE, are missing. Jul 31, 2017 · Hello Guys, My xref manager dialog box is not showing when I type Xref. If this does not work, change the name of the xref and then try to attach it again. Here the xref background is still visible. All layers from the xref are on and thawed. It works fine in previous versions. At the bottom-right, find the “Fade Control” section. I have a layout with a viewport of these drawings. B is xref'd to C. Remember to check file paths, layer settings, viewport configurations, and attachment options to keep your CAD drawings organized and efficient. Try one or more of the following: Type LTSCALE on Mar 13, 2024 · i have a drawing with xrefs in model space and a viewport in paper space with a client border. Example: referencing a newer version of a specific drawing into an older version displays the content shifted. Aug 25, 2024 · AEC Objects and MVParts are not displaying as expected or at all in AutoCAD Architecture or AutoCAD MEP These can be certain Wall objects or other AEC objects. I am able to back Jun 29, 2017 · You have to select all of your annotative text in the xref drawing and right click and go to annotative object scale area and pick add/delete scales. Some hatch shows correct and some not in one-layout tab. I've turned every layer on, audited and purged the file being referenced, and it's still not showing up. Even the current and new VP are on and thawed. Jan 23, 2025 · XRef'd text not displaying in sheet tab dbartholPQYPW Advocate 01-23-202510:04 AM I created text in drawing "C-SP001-USACE". Nov 13, 2015 · I am currently working with 2016. multiple users can open the drawing and everything functions as expected but just one user opens the drawing and the xrefs are not visible or just partially loaded. This will happen if you are trying to reference a plot sheet - ie: a sheet that has no native modelspace objects and is essentially an amalgam of other files assembled for plotting purposes. I recently opened a file 2 weeks old to replace some xrefs. Also the question is, how do you refresh an xref? Click View tab How do Attach Xref How do Relink an Xref in AutoCADHow do I fix unresolved xref in AutoCADHow do you make XREF more visibleTo Update an Attached Xref#autoca Aug 21, 2024 · When you reference a drawing in AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT into a specific working drawing, the XRef content appears shifted or displaced from the expected location despite the insertion point of the XRef being correct (origin point). Also, when I type 'xref' at the command line, the xref dialog box does not appear. C displays A in 2 of the viewports in the layout but not the third. The xref is named xDetails. try to put the image in the same place that your drawing exist. Apr 8, 2024 · Sounds like a reference location change or deletion. Sep 5, 2017 · Anonymous Not applicable in reply to Anonymous 09-05-201706:43 PM Check your CTB or STB file status in plot dialog box. Another benefit of using Xref is that changes made to the referenced drawings are automatically reflected in the cu If AutoCAD can’t attach an Xref (External Reference), several issues could be causing this problem. When I attached as an overlay XREF no elements are visible. the weird thing is that all my co-workers Feb 13, 2018 · There are several ways to xref a drawing: 1)With an absolute path, 2)With a relative path, and 3) without a path. The note layer is called A-anno-dims. Display the xrefs using either of the following methods: Right-click, and Apr 16, 2025 · When using the AutoCAD's PUBLISH command in a drawing file (A) that contains nested xrefs, some of the nested Xrefs are not published and are missing from the PDF or physical print. Visibility Variable Settings: If problems persist, examine visibility settings like the Visretain variable, which should typically be set to “1” to retain layer settings of Xrefs. Therefore, their Oct 8, 2023 · A hatch object from an XREF is visible in the host drawing but is not visible in the source file when the XREF is opened. I can get the layer to show up by detaching and re-attaching xref. I have the object enabler installed on my Autocad 2004, my proxy variable is on and after checking the xref file I have no proxy entities or objects inside the Oct 15, 2021 · The External References palette appears when I run the XREF command. Such changes include: Layer line type. I select the Attach Drawing button and select a . Make sure that the xref is attached as Overlay. DWG attached). Kory Skoog CAD Technician Nov 11, 2024 · Changes to an External Reference (Xref) do not show up when reloading the Xref in AutoCAD products. then add the annotative scales that the drawing you're xrefing into it set to. And when they are plotted or exported to PDF, they are not transparent. Jun 9, 2005 · Hello to all, I have a architectural background xref-ed on my file, everything is fine on model space, I changed all colors & turned off all unnecessary layers, when I move to layout and create a viewport, the xref file is not visible. In model view I have inserted a map as an external reference. Check the entry in the Status column for the missing Xref. You may also receive one Oct 8, 2023 · You have attached attributes to a block, and added text. Sheet Set Manager Oct 7, 2025 · Palettes do not display in AutoCAD products when trying to: Open them, nothing happens. I also am using multiple screens, and have scoured the available screen space Dec 7, 2009 · Hi, I have a frustrating problem with my Acad Map 3D 2008 where the command _EXTERNALREFERENCES (XR or XREF) for short does not bring up the XREF manager dialogue box. Then I have created a plot in paper view. Neither does the command from the 'Insert' menu. Sometimes, it is not possible to select the xref (which does not plot) in both model space or viewport despite the xref not being on a locked layer. The disappearing attributes may have the Tag and Prompt fields filled out, but the Value field may be blank. It was on and unfrozen, but did not show up in the drawing. Additionally, the Xref may update in the base drawing without issue when a different layer with the same properties is chosen. All layers are on and thawed. Is there any w Oct 8, 2023 · After attaching your XRefs correctly to your drawing they do not display in model space Non Autodesk DWG To solve this issue: Clean Your Xrefs before Attaching Them Feb 4, 2025 · When you open some drawings in AutoCAD, attached images, pictures such PNG, JPG, JPEG are not displayed. . I've altered and resaved the xref file in an attempt to "reset" the file. suddenly when opening the drawings, the border file's line types have not been showing up. Open them, an "Unknown command" message appears on the command line. On the Quick Access toolbar, click Project Navigator . Access the Xref Manager: Click on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon and select the “External References” button. Simply because an attached PDF is different to an attached DWG (XRef). Try reset your AutoCAD (Link) Jun 3, 2025 · Issue: When opening a DWG in AutoCAD, Xref images show as "unreadable" and are not displayed. The content of the referenced drawing consists of nonstandard AutoCAD objects, but rather AEC-objects, MEP-objects, CIVIL-objects Nov 7, 2016 · I am having a problem with a xref not displaying a civil-3d label layer in Autocad. This issue might appear in the MEP, Architecture, or other toolsets of AutoCAD. dwg file from the file dialog. Jan 25, 2018 · My xrefs in this project generally work fine, but in this one case, the walls from my xref are partly not show. For the attached XRef you do have the layers within the XRef's to control (each can be set to a different color, lineweight Apr 16, 2025 · When Xrefs are attached to a drawing, AutoCAD keeps track of their file locations. To view Xrefs attached to your current drawing, follow these steps: Navigate to Your Drawing: Open AutoCAD and locate the drawing file that contains your Xrefs. Apr 16, 2019 · Hello, I'm having an issue with my Xrefs not showing up when I go to plot. I have tried every xr, xref, -xref, external reference, ect command possible and cannot find the xref palette. The drawing shows up in paper space on my title block but when I plot nothing is showing up. It is in model space, Jul 27, 2015 · I have keynotes xrefed into three different drawing files. A is xref'd to B. The file path is not valid or for a location not available on the system. Oct 27, 2023 · When I go to load the file, the name of the file appears in the xref manager but nothing appears in model or layout space. I have attached a jpg with the xref and the original file display. For some reason, although the title block objects are referencing fine into my parent drawing, the city logo is not coming through in the XREF, even it sho Jun 12, 2025 · I use hatch transparency in xref files (such as a title block) that do not display the transparency settings (such as with hatches) in the file that the xref is being referenced in. But referencing both versions into a new drawing displays May 26, 2009 · Gentlemen, and Ladies. Also, if I use the "ClassicXref" command, the manager box pops up, but it doesn't show any xrefs in the menu even though they are shown in the drawing. Typing xref in the command line does nothing. Verify all the Datashortcuts that are referenced are repaired and not broken. LTSCALE variable in the master drawing set incorrectly relative to the referenced drawing. Means other items and hatch patterns on that same layer show up. If I try to type "XREF", the manager box does not appear even though there are xrefs shown on the screen. Best bet would probably be to reattach the XREF and, if the "original" is still there, delete it. And so the display entities within the different files have to be handled differently. When I'am attaching xref i have information that xref in is meters, and when it's placed to my file (centimeters unit) map is in correc Jul 7, 2017 · Solved: Just loaded AutoCAD 2018. To find the object in the source file, try the following: In the host file, type XLIST and Feb 20, 2019 · I opened the xref manager window and everything appears loaded, up-to-date, correct path, etc. For example, from the Layer Manager. The Xrefs show as a file path or border only. Feb 15, 2010 · Hello, I am trying to XREF a particular file--which contains a border/title block and an image of the agency's seal--into my current drawing. I noticed the issue while trying to access a specific xref layer in the layer manager. See the following images. If your drawing is in paper space, consider switching to model space. Scaled up or down in size. Go to the directories and match file names and directory names to XREF. However, they’ll print fine on my 2022 version?! We have tried/check: XRef is on a named plotable layer not 0 or Defpoints -XRef is not locked or frozen -Layers inside the XRef are plotable, unfrozen, and don’t have transparency XRef transparency has been checked -Visretain is set to 1 Use this procedure to display a list of xrefs attached to a view drawing and to access the functions available for each xref. I can use _classicxref , but that is not as efficient as the typical XREF window. What do you want to do?' Note: This message will not display if the Always ignore unresolved references Issue When you open a drawing that contains Xrefs, the Xrefs are not opening correctly. View a palette that is supposed to be active. I went through the forum and did all of the "command=1" junk and that doesn't work. A mismatch can cause the Xref to appear too large or Jul 29, 2025 · Unable to bind an XREF within an AutoCAD drawing. Aug 26, 2020 · Xrefs (external references) let you view another drawing within your current drawing without actually inserting that other drawing thus keeping the original drawing size manageable. High-quality geometry is being automatically disabled when trying to locate the object in the source file. The VISRETAIN system variable is set to 0. I want attach this xref to other drawings without scaling linetypes. We recently upgraded to ACAD Arch 2018 and when we Xref in an old project (done with ACAD 2016) there are some objects that for some reason are not displaying. When the clip is appl Apr 16, 2018 · The Xref dialog box disappeared while I was working. Jan 27, 2017 · Howdy and Hello Autodeskers I am currently using 2017 Full Acad. This happens even if both the host file and the XREF have the same universal coordinates and the insertion point is at 0,0,0. Due to file size, here is Link to drawing files package Solved! Go to Jan 15, 2019 · In one of my drawings, I have a nested Xref that will plot just fine on its own, but it does not publish. Two of the files display correct. The tag and prompt fields of the attribute definition will only be visible in the drawing in which they reside. Ensure all Xref files are unzipped and stored in the same directory as the main DWG file. To ensure that your Xrefs are clearly visible: Go to the ‘OPTIONS’ dialog in AutoCAD. Jun 18, 2025 · By understanding the common causes and troubleshooting steps outlined in this topic, you can easily resolve the issue and ensure that your nested Xrefs display correctly. Examples of palettes that may be affected Tool palettes (TOOLPALETTES). Here's what to do. How do I get them back? Mar 21, 2025 · External reference file is not getting plotted from AutoCAD. Fix Xref Not Displaying in Autocad | Autocad xref tips 11 Lazy Arquitecto 18. The AutoCAD will only display model elements from the Xref, not from layout tabs. Troubleshooting Common Xref Issues Missing Xref Rendering If your Xref does not display, check the following: Ensure the Xref file contains visible elements in model space. 6 days ago · Some referenced drawings are not displayed according to their transparency settings in AutoCAD products. The problem i'm having is that the xref We have tried the usual suspects, but nothing seems to work to print the Xrefs on 2020 version on CAD. I detatched the existing xrefs and added the new ones, everything fit perfectly in model space except the xrefs were not showing up in the viewports, only th Feb 9, 2022 · Opened a sheet file today and noticed objects under certain xref layers not showing up in model or paper space, but still show as turned on and thawed in the layer properties manager tab. but it just stopped showing up on ALL files. However, when i choose plot-->full preview I can't see the xref, only the other lines I've created. Jul 13, 2021 · I have tried all possible solutions I have found on the forums and searching online. AutoCAD might be losing the Xref paths, or they may be unresolved, not referencing correctly, or simply not showing up. Oct 7, 2025 · Palettes do not display in AutoCAD products when trying to: Open them, nothing happens. If the file is showing up as Not Found, it might be because: You have a bad connection to the location where that Xref is stored, or. the client border (paper space objects) May 26, 2016 · I have an xref that is loaded, but not showing up in the drawing. To resolve the issue, try the following: Turn Background Plotting Off. In the Xref drawing, the transparency property of the objects in model space is set to certain number (for Apr 16, 2025 · However, when users encounter the issue of AutoCAD not being able to see xrefs, it can disrupt their workflow and lead to confusion. Only first-level xrefs are displayed in the External References palette. If visibility issues persist, consider resetting the drawing settings or refreshing the xref layers. I am using Autocad Lt 2017. The layer is on, and is not froz Jun 8, 2018 · The nested XREF in question is attached, not overlaid to the main XREF of the host file. Feb 22, 2010 · I made some annotative hatches which show up fine, but then I tried xref'ing that file and for some reason the hatches don't show up, even if I have the "show annotative objects for all scales" option enabled. If the original Xref files are moved or renamed, AutoCAD may lose the reference, making it impossible to bind them. When you xref this drawing into a second file, the text disappears. Jul 15, 2022 · I have an xref'd detail which is inserted into model space of a drawing sheet file. Sep 15, 2025 · After attaching a DWG file as an external reference (xref) into another drawing in AutoCAD, the XREF will not load (display) and the program may become unresponsive. Select the view drawing. If you the titleblock xref is correctly loaded, but it's not showing in the current Dec 17, 2019 · I have an XREF drawing of the legal lines of my site, let's call it drawing A, that I'm trying to XREF under all of my design drawings for pipes, alignments, corridors, etc. In this particularly drawing file i have a xrefthat is supposed to be showing up, but my xref manger says it is unresolved. They will not Aug 31, 2016 · Hi, >> Why this magical window doesn't appear when you type >> Xdwgfadectl is a mystery only AutoCAD can explain. I have tried various SETVARS, reloading lisp files, even repairing the installat Apr 10, 2012 · One of my co-workers had an issue with a drawing, and she had a PDF file XREF'd into model space on a layer called "XREF", and she had created a viewport in paperspace and you could see that the PDF file was there. Detach and reattach the xref. Sep 15, 2025 · On the command line in AutoCAD, type VISRETAIN and set the value to 1. But then, after I save and re-open the drawing sometime later, the Linetypes associated with the Attached XREF become messed up (ie. This only happens in AutoCAD LT for Mac 2026. Aug 13, 2024 · I've attached an XREF, but it's not appearing in model space. Image files are attached to DWG drawings as external reference files. Feb 27, 2025 · When attaching some drawing as an External Reference in AutoCAD products, the content of the XRef file is not displayed, but only boundary boxes of squares and rectangles are displayed. It displays in tab "C-001-Site Plan" but not in tab "C-002-Site Plan". All the layers are turned on and there is no viewport freeze. The following error may appear at the AutoCAD command line: Error: At least one of the specified XREFs failed to bind for an unknown reason. Oct 8, 2023 · If the object reappears, the program believes the objects is on a different xref layer and the layer state is likely corrupt. The other file does not display the text layer. Additionally, one of the following symptoms occurs: Nothing from the attachment is visible. I'm using a HP desi Mar 28, 2018 · drawing with 3 viewports on a layout. Elements added or deleted. It's a level plan of a building- the drawing I'm trying to publish is a detail sheet which references the level plan, and the level plan references a background. External references manager (XREF, IMAGE). However, when I try to plot my sheet, all xref layers are not visible. Both projects were created with the same template so before you start talking about display reps being differe Oct 24, 2025 · Users reported that when plotting from AutoCAD products, some drawing objects do not appear or are incorrect in the preview or plot. The layer is turned on, and is not frozen in the viewport or anywhere else I can s Jun 12, 2013 · I have a model space with a few XREF drawings. Feb 23, 2011 · Hi guys, having a little trouble recently with my viewport displaying my xrefs. Jun 1, 2018 · Solved: so, I've been on vacation for a couple weeks and the "fill in" guys have changed my profile. The xref pallet was docked but has disappeared. Regards, Oct 7, 2025 · When opening a drawing in AutoCAD products, one or more of the following occurs: Some or all the referenced files are not loaded. Changing the path or referencing the images doesn't work. May 12, 2005 · My XREF has numerous layers with specific linetypes assigned to these layers (so far, so good). This can occur with lines, notes, parts of blocks or external references (Xrefs) and when exporting or publishing to PDF or hard copy. Please see the attached image. This article “ Why is my XREF not showing up in AutoCAD? (Answered)” from our F. pi3eyo9yhuwpzqln5sc9wg8fxiathxpnaparcru3a