Clipping References and Blocks

You can display only part of a Reference (a Referenced drawing file) or a Block. The entity is clipped at a boundary you create or specify.

You can create one clipping boundary per Reference or Block. The clipping boundary can be a polyline, a rectangle, or a polygon. Changing the boundary does not modify the entities in the Referenced drawing file.

If you select a Reference and the ribbon is active, the Reference contextual tab appears. The contextual tab groups frequently used options and tools for working with References.

To clip References or Blocks:

1. Specify the References or Blocks to which you want to apply a clipping boundary, and press Enter.
2. Click Modify > Clip > Reference (or type ClipReference).
3. On the ribbon, click Reference > Manage References > Clip.
4. Specify an option:
   • Boundary: Creates a new clipping boundary. If a clipping boundary already exists for the Reference or Block, you are prompted to delete the old boundary. Specify options:
     • Invert clip: Lets you invert the display of the clipping boundary. Use the option to display the entities outside the boundary or to return to the previous mode.
     • Polygonal: Lets you define an irregular polygonal shape as clipping boundary by specifying points.
     • Rectangular: Lets you define a rectangular clipping boundary by specifying two opposite points.
     • Select polyline: Lets you select an existing PolyLine to serve as clipping boundary. Arc segments are decurved.
   • Clip depth (used for 3D clipped References or Blocks): Sets the front and back planes parallel to the clipping boundary. You select the planes by specifying clip points. Use inferencing to select geometry. Specify options:
     • Distance: Uses specified distances from the clipping boundary to create the front and back planes.
     • Remove: Removes the clipping planes.
   • Delete: Removes the clipping boundary.
   • Off: Turns the clipping boundary off to display the Reference or Block entirely. The clipping boundary is retained so you can activate it again.
   • On: Turns the clipping boundary on to display only the portion of the Reference or Block inside the clipping boundary.
   • Polyline: Creates a PolyLine from the clipping boundary you created before (using the Rectangle and Polygonal options).

Access

Command: ClipReference

Menu: Modify > Clip > Reference

Ribbon: Insert > Reference > Clip > Reference

Contextual Ribbon: Reference > Clip