A “workgroup” is several people who work together on a project. Group members may work on the same file or on different files for the same project. Additionally, it is often necessary to create standard elements and reuse them in different files. It can be difficult to share these standards with other members of a workgroup and to keep up with changes to them.
Referencing is the ability to link the current (target) file to a master file that contains the standards. Layers, classes, and resources (such as hatches, worksheets, or symbols) in other VectorWorks files can be referenced. In the VectorWorks Design Series, image files and PDF files can also be referenced. When a referenced item in a master file changes, the changes are reflected in the target file. Updates to target files can be performed automatically or only when manually requested.
VectorWorks can reference specific layers with all of the classes and resources used in those layers, as well as any resources from a master file. Workgroup-referenced design layers can be displayed in viewports.
Referenced items are indicated in the Resource Browser and in the Organization dialog box by italicized names. Referenced items in the target file are locked; they can be unlocked and edited, but the changes will be temporary. Each time a target file’s references are updated, referenced items are over-written to reflect the master file. Therefore, any permanent change to a referenced item must be made in the master file.
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In VectorWorks Fundamentals, design layers are imported into the target file when they are referenced. For backward compatibility, VectorWorks Design Series supports this method; see Setting the Referencing Options.
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In VectorWorks Design Series, the recommended method is to create a design layer viewport and then reference the desired design layers from the master file. See Creating a Referenced Design Layer Viewport for details about this type of reference.
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This might not be obvious, since it appears that referenced layers can be edited. Moreover, it is possible to add information to referenced layers in the target document. However, any changes to referenced information and any information added to referenced layers are removed the next time the referenced layer is updated.
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Sheet layer viewports cannot directly reference layers in external master files. If you are using layer import referencing, create a reference to the master file, and select the external layers to import into the target file; then make the imported layers visible in a sheet layer viewport. If you are using design layer viewport referencing (Design Series required), create a design layer viewport from the master file and make the desired layers visible; then make the design layer that contains the viewport visible in a sheet layer viewport.
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Communication within the workgroup is essential when workgroup referencing is in use. Discuss a strategy for how to name, maintain, and update master files. Keep each other informed of major changes—especially the deletion of a master file or resources, which can affect multiple files.
If either the file name or the location of a referenced file is changed, the reference is broken. Items referenced from that file cannot be updated until the broken reference is corrected.