How To Use Detach In AutoCAD?

Understanding the Detaching Process in AutoCAD

Detaching elements in AutoCAD is essential for managing references, ensuring your drawings stay organized and free from unwanted links. Below is a detailed guide on how to detach various components, including Xrefs, data links, and PDF underlays.

Detaching DWG References

1. Access the External References Palette:

   • Locate the View tab on the toolbar.
   • Navigate to the Palettes panel and click on External References.

2. Select the Desired DWG Reference:

   • In the External References palette that appears, find and click on the DWG reference you wish to detach.

3. Execute the Detach Command:

   • Right-click on the selected DWG reference.
   • From the context menu, choose Detach. The reference will be removed from your drawing.

Detaching an Xref

1. Open the Xref Manager:

   • Click on the Insert tab and access the Reference Manager.

2. Locate the Xref:

   • In the list presented, select the Xref you want to detach.

3. Detach the Xref:

   • Right-click on the selected Xref and choose Detach. If you encounter issues, check for locks or additional nesting within other Xrefs.

Detaching Data Links

1. Identify the Table Cell:

   • Click directly within a cell of the table that contains the data link. Ensure you’re not clicking the table’s border.

2. Right-Click for Options:

   • Right-click within the selected cell and from the menu that appears, select Data Links, followed by Detach Data Link. The link will be severed from the table.

Detaching PDF Underlays

1. Access the External References Palette Again:

   • Similar to the DWG references, find the View tab, and open the External References panel.

2. Select the PDF Underlay:

   • Within the File References section of the palette, locate the PDF underlay you wish to detach.

3. Perform the Detachment:

   • Right-click on the selected underlay and select Detach. This action will unlink the PDF from your current drawing.

Exploding an Xref (Alternative to Detaching)

1. Ctrl-Right Click:

   • For those looking to integrate the Xref content instead of detaching, you can use the Ctrl key while right-clicking on the Xref.

2. Access Xref Tools:

   • From the menu, select Xref Tools, then choose Bind and select To Original Layers. This process effectively merges the Xref into your current drawing.

Dealing with Unresolved Xrefs

1. Ensure Accessibility:

   • Confirm that the folder containing the referenced files is accessible and unzipped. Moving Xref files to the same directory as their corresponding DWG file often resolves issues.

2. Check Permissions:

   • Adjust the file permissions for full read/write access to the folder housing the referenced files. It may also be necessary to consolidate files from different servers.

Managing Orphaned Xrefs

1. Clean Up Your Drawing:

   • Confirm that no blocks containing the orphaned Xref exist in both model and paper space.

2. Use the PURGE Command:

   • Initiate the PURGE command to remove any block definitions associated with the orphaned Xref. After this, return to the Xref palette to detach it successfully.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do if I can’t detach an Xref?
If an Xref fails to detach, check to see if it is locked or if it is nested within another Xref. You may need to unlock or detach the parent reference first.

2. Can I detach multiple references at once?
Currently, AutoCAD does not support detaching multiple references simultaneously through the right-click method. Each reference must be detached individually.

3. Is there a way to preview before detaching?
While AutoCAD does not offer a direct preview function for detaching, you can check the properties of the reference in the External References Manager before deciding to detach.