Update and Bind Referenced Drawings

All DWG references (XREF) are updated automatically, when you open a drawing. You can also use the Reload option from the External References palette (EXTERNALREFERENCES) or dialog box.

Notification of Changed Xrefs

When you attach xrefs to a drawing, the program periodically checks if the referenced files have changed since the last time the xrefs were loaded or reloaded. If a referenced file is changed, a balloon message is displayed. You can reload all changed xrefs by clicking the link in the balloon.

Update Xrefs with Demand Loading Turned On

If demand loading is turned on when you load or reload an xref:

The referenced drawing is kept open and locked, when the XLOADCTL system variable is set to 1. The referenced drawing can not be modified by anyone else.

A temporary copy of the most recently saved version of the referenced file is opened and locked, when XLOADCTL is set to 2. The referenced drawing can be opened and modified by others.

Bind Xrefs

When you archive final drawings that contain xrefs, you have two choices:
Store the xref drawings along with the final drawing
Bind the xref drawings to the final drawing as block
Binding the xref makes the xref a permanent part of the drawing and similar to inserting a separate drawing as a block.