For those who use XREFs, there may be times when you do not need the entire XREF to be brought into your drawing especially if the XREF is rather large. With the command XCLIP you can create a boundary around the area that you want to show (kind of like a viewport) and the outer area is “clipped” out.
Here’s how:
- XCLIP <enter>
- Select the XREF to which you want to apply the XCLIP <enter>
- N <enter> for New boudary
- Then select an option for generating the border for the XCLIP
- “Select polyline” = Select an existing polyline that defines the border of the XCLIP
- “Polygonal” = (Shown in animation) lets you create a closed polyline
- “Rectangular” = Pick 2 points to define the XCLIP border
Shown Below – contextual ribbon tab when XCLIP is selected
AutoCAD Tips 
Very good tip. One thing to add is that the polyline is not associative, so you can delete it after you clip. It can always be recreated in the XCLIP command by generating the polyline. Also, check out the inverted xclip.
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Is it less demanding for the computer to handle a small xclip of a large file than having the whole xref visible?
Definitely, The geometry that is hidden by an XCLIP isn’t being generated or processed by the computer so it will help your machine handle larger XREFs
terima kasih sekali atas tips nya…..
When I use the Xclip command on my 3D model, and I have my viewport shadeplot set to hidden, the xclip boundary is displayed in my plot. Using xclipframe does not seem to have an affect on this boundary. Is there anyway to stop this boundary from displaying in my plot?
Sorry for the slow response.
In addition to the XCLIPEFRAME system variable, try setting the FRAME system variable to 2 or 0 (zero)
~Greg
Below is a description of the options from AutoCAD:
Controls the display of frames for all images, underlays, clipped xrefs, and wipeout objects.
The FRAME setting overrides the individual IMAGEFRAME, DWFFRAME, PDFFRAME, DGNFRAME, XCLIPFRAME, and WIPEOUTFRAME settings.
0 The frame is not visible and it is not plotted. The frame temporarily reappears during selection preview or object selection.
1 Displays and plots the frame.
2 Displays but does not plot the frame.
3 The individual setting varies for all objects with frames in the current drawing (images, underlays, clipped xrefs, and wipeout objects all have different frame settings).
I would like to have more than one xclip on the same xref. how would that work?
I think that the only way to do this is to copy the XREF and then apply the clip to the copied XREF.
Just copy the xref after it is in your drawing and you should be able to do this
~Greg
How can you modify objects that are in a xclip then have the xclip back to where it was originally with the new modifications?
Gracias, por fin entendí…..
what is the command to create boundry around area to be highlight
I think the command BOUNDARY will help
my ofice already upgrade AUTOCAD2010 to 2014, I have problem why frame from XCLIP always shown after save, before save I have already set XCLIPFRAME to 0, XFRAME to 0 and FRAMESELECTION to 0 to, it’s really annoying in working because everytime opend that file need to set back again. anyone know how to solve my problem, thank …
When using this xclip it will leave the boundary line. How is a way to hide the boundary lines (as in CAD version 2009)
Here are the available settings for the Variable “XCLIPFRAME” from AutoCAD
Determines whether xref clipping boundaries are visible or plotted in the current drawing.
The default setting is 2
The FRAME system variable overrides the XCLIPFRAME setting. Use the XCLIPFRAME system variable after the FRAME system variable to reset the clipped xref frame settings.
Value Description
0 The frame is not visible and it is not plotted.
The frame temporarily reappears during selection preview or object selection.
1 The clipped xref frame is displayed and plotted.
2 The clipped xref frame is displayed but not plotted.
Thankyou soo much
A query but the problem that is presented is that after I have applied the XCLIP and want to work with what is left. I use the EXPLODE command and the block returns to its own name.
Hi sir;
How to remove outside of exclip in my plan to never comeback again? Just I need the inside of clip boundary
When I send part of my plan to someone,
My all plan is on the block section, and I don’t want it.
Thanks