[solved] Layer from Another File

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dickbob
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[solved] Layer from Another File

Post by dickbob » Thu May 20, 2021 9:48 am

Can I add a layer from another file to my drawing?

I have an existing building drawing file that I'd like to add as a background layer to a new drawing file of alternative schemes of work.

Is that possible?

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andrew
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by andrew » Thu May 20, 2021 9:54 am

1. Open your first drawing.
2. Right-click on the layer to copy and choose Select Layer Entities.
3. Edit > Copy with Reference, choose coordinate 0/0 as reference.

4. Open your second drawing
5. Edit > Paste. Make sure the option To current layer in the options toolbar is NOT checked. Click 0/0 as target point.

dickbob
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by dickbob » Thu May 20, 2021 10:02 am

Ah, so the trick is Copy with Reference?

If I make changes to my existing building drawing they will automatically be seen in my alternative scheme drawing?

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andrew
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by andrew » Thu May 20, 2021 10:04 am

dickbob wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 10:02 am
If I make changes to my existing building drawing they will automatically be seen in my alternative scheme drawing?
No. This makes a copy of the layer (the state at the time of copying).

dickbob
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by dickbob » Thu May 20, 2021 10:09 am

Ah, I misunderstood the use of the word Reference. So copying the original and then copying updates to the underlay existing drawing to the alternative scheme drawing is the only option?

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andrew
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by andrew » Thu May 20, 2021 10:10 am

Yes.

dickbob
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by dickbob » Thu May 20, 2021 10:18 am

OK, thanks for the insight.

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ryancousins
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by ryancousins » Thu May 20, 2021 12:55 pm

dickbob wrote:
Thu May 20, 2021 10:02 am
Ah, so the trick is Copy with Reference?
The "with Reference" means with respect to some specific X,Y coordinate value. It allows you to specify the specific point where you're "grabbing" the geometry at the time it gets copied, so when you go to paste it, you're pasting it relative to that specified X,Y coordinate.

dickbob
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Re: Layer from Another File

Post by dickbob » Thu May 20, 2021 6:31 pm

Thanks, I get that now. I was interpreting it as a reference layer.

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