Converting blocks to external references

There are two ways you can convert and replace blocks with external references in the current drawing:

    Replace all block occurrences with a new external reference that is created from the block.

    Replace all block occurrences with an existing external reference.

To convert and replace a block with a new external reference

   1   Do one of the following to choose Convert Block to Xref ():

    On the ribbon, choose Express Tools > Convert Block to Xref (in Blocks).

    On the menu, choose Express Tools > Blocks > Convert Block to Xref.

    Type blocktoxref and then press Enter.

   2   In Block to Convert, select the block that you want to convert, or click Pick to select the block directly in the drawing area.

   3   Choose Convert Block to Xref.

   4   Click OK.

   5   In the Save Block to File dialog box, enter the file name for the external reference, then click Save.

To convert and replace a block with an existing external reference

   1   Do one of the following to choose Convert Block to Xref ():

    On the ribbon, choose Express Tools > Convert Block to Xref (in Blocks).

    On the menu, choose Express Tools > Blocks > Convert Block to Xref.

    Type blocktoxref and then press Enter.

   2   In Block to Convert, select the block that you want to convert, or click Pick to select the block directly in the drawing area.

   3   Choose Replace Block with Existing Xref.

   4   Click OK.

   5   In the Select Xref File dialog box, select the drawing file for replacing the selected block, then click Open.

   6   To remove the unreferenced block definition from the drawing, choose Yes. To keep the block definition in the drawing, choose No.