AutoCAD XREF command
Shortcut: XROrganise
Attaches external drawings as references so shared backgrounds stay in one file. The core of multi-discipline coordination in AutoCAD.
Syntax
XREF → attach DWG → choose Attachment or Overlay → set path typeStep by step
- Type XR and press Enter to open the External References palette.
- Attach the drawing and choose Attachment or Overlay.
- Set the path type to Relative so the reference survives a move to another machine or server.
- Insert at 0,0 with scale 1 if both drawings share a project origin.
- Use Reload after the consultant issues a revision, and Bind only when issuing a standalone file.
Architectural background under a services plan
Attach the architectural DWG as an Overlay with a relative path, then draw services in your own file. When the architect reissues, one Reload updates every sheet instead of a manual copy-paste.
Common mistakes
- Full paths, which break the moment the project folder moves — use relative paths.
- Attachment where Overlay is needed, which nests references circularly across disciplines.
- Binding references early, which turns coordination into duplicated geometry.
- Inserting at an arbitrary point instead of the agreed project origin.
Questions
What is the difference between attach and overlay for an xref?
Attachments carry through when your file is itself referenced elsewhere. Overlays do not, which prevents circular nesting when several disciplines reference each other.
Why does my xref show as not found?
The saved path no longer resolves. Set the path type to Relative, or repath the reference in the External References palette. Check the file has not been renamed.