Removing external references

Removing external references from the current drawing is easy with the Xref Manager. You can unload an external reference, which keeps some information about the external reference in the current drawing for easy reloading later, or you can detach the external reference entirely.  

When you unload an external reference, you remove it from the current drawing. However, its elements, such as layers and linetypes, remain in the drawing and it is still listed in the Xref Manager. By detaching an external reference you remove it and all of its elements from the current drawing, and it is no longer listed in the Xref Manager.

To unload an external reference

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

    On the ribbon, choose Insert > Xref Manager (in Reference).

    On the menu, choose Insert > Xref Manager.

    On the Tools toolbar, click the Xref Manager tool.

    Type xref and then press Enter.

    On the status bar, click Manage Xrefs, which displays when external references are linked to the drawing.

   2   Select the external reference to unload.

    3    Click Unload.

To detach an external reference

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

    On the ribbon, choose Insert > Xref Manager (in Reference).

    On the menu, choose Insert > Xref Manager.

    On the Tools toolbar, click the Xref Manager tool.

    Type xref and then press Enter.

    On the status bar, click Manage Xrefs, which displays when external references are linked to the drawing.

   2   Select the external reference to detach.

    3    Click Detach.

Nested external references cannot be detached.
Only the external references that are attached directly to the current drawing can be detached.