Referencing in Bricscad

Michael Mayer

I am no more familiar with Referencing workflows.
When Projects and Files get too complex,
it is obvious that unloading the whole Site or Terrain Model
to a referenced File makes sense.
Basically things that are quite independent from each other.

But I think there are Projects like skyscrapers where Files
get separated for each Story Level (or not ?)

How do you deal with referenced Files if there need to be changes that
relate to all Files. Like when relocating a multy-Story Stair case ?

Generally I am a bit unsure about the whole Reference Workflow
in Bricscad.
Do you keep all Reference Files open beside each other or is there
some way to jump between files or temorarly open and edit References ?

Louis_Verdonck

The XOPEN command (https://help.bricsys.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006551614-XOpen) opens a reference file in a separate window.
The REFEDIT command allows to edit an XREF 'in place' (https://help.bricsys.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006765493-RefEdit)

Michael Mayer

Thank you Louis.
So Refedit allows a temporary edit Mode for fast edits.

But I am not able directly select objects separately from a Reference
and copy them into my active Files, like in Microstation ?
I am even not able to enter Refedit and select+copy Elements and
after closing Refedit, to paste in place in my main File.
I see that needs to really open the Reference beside the main file.

Tom Foster

In REFEDIT, copy-paste elements to where you want them in the surrounding main file. At this point, the copied items are still part of the Reference.
Roughly box-select the copy (doesn't matter if you select bits of the main file at same time).
Minus the copy out of the Reference (Remove from Reference command). At this point they become part of the main file.
Close REFEDIT.
It can get complicated if you forget one of those steps - have to keep wits about you!

Michael Mayer

Thanks Tom,
that seems to work.

No need to Paste (in place).
Just Selecting, Removing from Refedit; Save/Exit Refedit and everything
is already in my File. Interesting.

EDIT .
Ouch, no, that will not copy.
That will CUT from the Reference File and Paste in my Main File.
So I would better keep Referenced Files really opened.
Otherwise I would destry my Project in minutes ....

Michael Mayer

I don get the Referencing so far.

I already tried to Copy/Paste in Place Objects into a Block in Refedit and it did not work.
At least the "+" button allowed me to add a Solid to Edit Mode to Boolean Subtract some
of the Blocks Solid.
But maybe that caused my Boolean cutting Solid to be now part of the Block and I just
haven't recognized ... Will search for it ....

Michael Mayer

@Tom Foster said:
In REFEDIT, copy-paste elements to where you want them in the surrounding main file. At this point, the copied items are still part of the Reference.
Roughly box-select the copy (doesn't matter if you select bits of the main file at same time).
Minus the copy out of the Reference (Remove from Reference command). At this point they become part of the main file.
Close REFEDIT.
It can get complicated if you forget one of those steps - have to keep wits about you!

Well, your tip with these
+- buttons in the old RefEdit Tool starts to make a lot of fun for editing Blocks now.
Just important to not forget to create Duplicates before exchanging, when necessary.