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Attach, Scale, and Detach Underlays
Attach, Scale, and Detach Underlays
Cross-reference of MicroStation to AutoCAD Terms
Attach Files as Underlays
You can attach a DWF,
DWFx, DGN, or PDF file as an underlay to a drawing file.
You
reference and place underlay files in drawing files the same as
you do raster image files; they are not actually part of the drawing
file. Like raster files, the underlay is linked to the drawing file
through a path name. The path to the file can be changed or removed
at any time. By attaching underlays this way, you can use files
in your drawing without greatly increasing the drawing file size.
You can only view DWF and PDF underlays in the 2D Wireframe visual
style. DGN underlays can be viewed in any visual style.
NoteAlthough underlay
files are reproductions of their source drawing, they are not as
precise as drawing files. Underlays may show slight discrepancies
in precision.
Attach PDF Files
There are a few things
specific to PDF files that you do not have to consider with DWF
or DGN files. PDF files with more than one page are attached one page at
a time (as opposed to one sheet at a
time for DWF files or one model at a
time for DGN files). Also, hypertext links from PDF files are converted
to straight text and digital Signatures are not supported.
Drag Underlay Files
You can drag underlays
directly into the drawing. Once you drag the file into the drawing,
you can enter
- A sheet name (DWF and DWFx)
- A page number (PDF)
- Or a model name (DGN)
from the file at the
Command prompt and then specify an insertion point, scale factor,
and rotation.
Attaching an Underlay Multiple
Times
You can reattach an underlay
multiple times, treating it as a block. Each underlay has its own
clip boundary and settings for contrast, fade, and monochrome. However,
you cannot bind an underlay to a drawing and you cannot edit or
modify the underlay’s content.
Layers in Underlay Files
If the underlay file contains layers, you can control
how the layers display after attaching the file. If the file does
not contain layer information, the Underlay Layers dialog box does
not display any layer information.
Underlay Files in Xrefs
DWG file references (xrefs),
in a drawing can include an underlay. In this situation, objects
in the underlay are visible in the parent DWG file.
For example, drawing
A includes a DWF underlay showing some mechanical details. You need
the content of drawing A attached to your current drawing, drawing
B. If you attach drawing A as an external reference to drawing B,
the DWF underlay that was already attached to drawing A is also
be present.
All of the property settings
made to the underlay in the external reference, such as clipping
boundaries, appear as they do in the parent drawing.
Password Protected Underlay
Files
If a file you want to attach as an underlay is
password protected, you are prompted to enter the password after
you have selected the file. You cannot attach the file until you
have correctly entered the password.
After an underlay is
attached to a DWG file, you are prompted for the underlay file’s
password each time you open the DWG file. If the DWG file is also password
protected, or has several other protected drawing references attached,
you may be prompted for multiple passwords.
If you change the path
of an underlay to a file that requires a password, you are prompted
for a password as well.
NoteDWF, DWFx, and PDF
file passwords are case sensitive but DWG file passwords are not.
To make synchronization between DWG and DWF file passwords easier,
make sure the DWF, DWFx, and PDF file passwords match the DWG file password
and are entirely uppercase.
To attach a DWF or DWFx underlay
- In the Select Reference File dialog box,
select the file you want to attach.
- Click Open.
- In the Attach DWF Underlay dialog box,
select one sheet, or use SHIFT or CTRL to select multiple sheets.
- Use one of the following methods to specify
the insertion point, scale, or rotation of the underlay file:
- Select Specify On-Screen to use the pointing
device to attach the DWF underlay at the location, scale, or angle
you want.
- Clear Specify On-Screen and enter values
under Insertion Point, Scale, or Rotation.
- Click OK.
To attach a PDF underlay
- In the Select Reference File dialog box,
select the PDF file you want to attach.
- Click Open.
- In the Attach PDF Underlay dialog box,
select one page, or use SHIFT or CTRL to select multiple pages.
- Use one of the following methods to specify
the insertion point, scale, or rotation of the underlay file:
- Select Specify On-Screen to use the pointing
device to attach the underlay at the location, scale, or angle you
want.
- Clear Specify On-Screen and enter values
for Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation at the command prompt.
- Click OK.
To attach a DGN underlay
- In the Select Reference File dialog,
select the DGN file you want to attach.
- Click Open.
- In the Attach DGN Underlay dialog, select
a model name and click OK.
- Use one of the following methods to specify
the insertion point, scale, or rotation of the underlay file:
- Select Specify On-Screen to use the pointing
device to attach the underlay at the location, scale, or angle you
want.
- Clear Specify On-Screen and enter values
for Insertion Point, Scale, and Rotation at the command prompt.
- Click OK.
Commands
ATTACH
Inserts an external
reference, image, or underlay (DWF, DWFx, PDF, or DGN files) in
the current drawing.
DGNATTACH
Insert a DGN file as
an underlay into the current drawing.
DWFATTACH
Insert a DWF or DWFx
file as an underlay into the current drawing.
EXTERNALREFERENCES
Opens the External References
palette.
IMAGEATTACH
Inserts a reference
to an image file.
PDFATTACH
Insert a PDF file as
an underlay into the current drawing.
XATTACH
Inserts a DWG file as
an external reference (xref).
