Xref manager question

machadojum · 6 Mar 2013, 13:30

Question for xref manager developer.

I installed the plugin and like the features but I am not sure how it really works.

I do noticed that it is not like xref in Autocadd or reference items in 3dmax. What's nice about those features is that your drawings are kept very small in size and you can work seamlessly in any portion of work and will be updated automatically. However, xref manager only duplicates information. Its cool because other people can work on parts and you can get their updates. The problem I have is I can work on those xref parts as well, so there is the issue of over writing newer work accidentally. Plus I do not see a decrease in size for the main file with the xref items in sketchup.

So my question is as follows: I made xrefs sketchup buildings and inserted into the main drawings. It seems easier to modify the supposed xref in the main file rather than changing it from the xref source. However xref manager continually asks that the xref be updated. I don't want to update because the old outside xref will delete any new changes I made within the main drawings. How do I update the xref from the main drawing so the outside xref is updated and won't accidentally erase newer stuff made within the main file, or better yet how do I delete the xref reference altogether so it doesn't ask anymore (since xref manager doesn't seem to be helping to down size the main file, just duplicates everything)?

Jay-email: machadojum@aol.com

TIG · 11 Mar 2013, 15:10

You misunderstand its function.
Unlike ACAD... you cannot insert a SKP 'reference' into another SKP file and thereby reduce that container's size.
You must always add/load an instance of the external SKP [full size].
If you need to use Xrefs you should work on the individual files and not the main-container.
The idea is that several users can work on individual external component SKPs and them refresh the main container SKP, reloading them as needed.
As you say if you edit the component in the main-container it might be newer than the external version, changing the external version will then prompt a possible update which would overwrite data...
You do not need to use Xref manager unless you have several external SKP components that are combined into one file.
There is no file size advantage in doing so.