How to Remove Xref Border in AutoCAD?

Understanding Xref Borders in AutoCAD

When working with external references (Xrefs) in AutoCAD, you may encounter visible borders around your referenced objects that can clutter your workspace. This guide will provide detailed steps to efficiently remove Xref borders in AutoCAD.

Steps to Remove Xref Borders

1. Access the Command Line:
   Begin by activating the command line at the bottom of your AutoCAD screen. If it’s not visible, you can toggle it by pressing Ctrl + 9.

2. Initiate the XCLIP Command:
   Type XCLIP in the command line and hit Enter. This command allows you to manage clipping for your external references.

3. Select the Xref:
   After initiating the command, you’ll need to select the Xref you want to modify. Click on the object or input its name when prompted, then press Enter.

4. Choose to Delete the Boundary:
   A series of options will appear. Select the option that allows you to delete the clipping boundary. This choice typically appears as “Delete” when you navigate through the prompts.

5. Confirm the Deletion:
   Press Enter to confirm your selection. The boundary will be removed, restoring the Xref to its original extent.

Hiding Image Frame Boundaries

If you’re working with images instead of Xrefs, you might also want to hide their frames.

1. Use the IMAGEFRAME Command:
   Type IMAGEFRAME in the command line and hit Enter.

2. Set Visibility Settings:
   The command will prompt you to set the visibility of image frames. Enter 0 to hide the boundaries. This setting ensures that the image frame is not displayed within your drawing.

3. Optional Adjustments:
   If you wish to view the boundaries again, return to the IMAGEFRAME command and set the visibility to 1 or 2, depending on your desired settings for displaying and plotting.

Removing PDF Borders from AutoCAD

When dealing with PDF underlays, borders can also be removed similarly:

1. Adjust PDFFRAME Settings:
   Type PDFFRAME into the command line. This will allow you to manage the visibility of PDF underlay frames.

2. Set Value to 0:
   Enter 0 at the prompt to hide the PDF frame. This change will eliminate any visible borders associated with your PDF underlay.

3. Visual Confirmation:
   After making this adjustment, ensure that your PDF is still visible without the surrounding frame by reviewing your drawing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How do I know if my Xref boundaries are removed?
After completing the steps to delete the boundary, the Xref should appear without any visible limits. You can verify this by zooming in on the area where the Xref was previously clipped to ensure it is displaying in full.

Q2: Can I set AutoCAD to automatically hide Xref boundaries?
While AutoCAD does not provide an automatic setting for this, you can quickly change the visibility through the IMAGEFRAME or PDFFRAME commands as needed for your workflow.

Q3: What if I want to re-create a boundary later after removal?
You can easily restore or create a new boundary using the XCLIP command again, where you can specify a new clipping area based on your requirements.