Can an XREF Be Locked?

by Dan
(mass)

I'd like to stop someone else from making changes to my XREF.

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Jan 14, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Open the XREF
by: Anonymous

Have you tried opening the XREF?

I'm pretty sure AutoCAD would let any other user know, who is trying to access your XREF, that the drawing file is already in use and is "Read Only" to them.

They would not be able to make any changes at that point.

The problem with doing it this way is, it only works while it's open.

So if you shut down your work for the day, but "Ernie Edit" is still working, he would be able to make changes once you shut down.

Although you could always keep your machine on and the drawing Open I suppose.

All in all though, if someone is accessing a file that you need NOT to be changed, sounds like a CAD management problem.

Maybe some permissions should be changed on your network, if that is how you are setup.

Check out this Article
https://www.icadtec.com/autocad-document-management.html
Jan 17, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks
by: Dan

Thanks, it's a management issue all the way. I was hoping to stop it on my own, no help from the bosses.
Feb 17, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		LOCK the XREF
by: Anonymous

To lock an XREF, why not just create a bogus .dwl and .dwl2 file?

Anyone attempting to open it would be forced into read only mode.
Feb 15, 2012
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starstarstarstar 		Use Windows Explorer
by: Mike D

Maybe this is oversimplification, but try changing the properties of the file itself to "Read Only" in Windows Explorer (or whatever file management system you use) while you're not working in it yourself. True, your 'Ernie Edit' could come behind you and change it back, but at least he'd have to SEE the "Read Only" message before doing so...

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