How to link a drawing to another drawing
A link is useful for building more complex drawings or for showing detailed insets. For example, to show on a larger drawing detailed drawings for handles or drilling patterns.
Only drawings set as Links can be used in other drawings.
To create a link drawing:-
At the Drawing library screen:-
● Select: File - New
● Select type from sub-menu
or
● Move to a drawing
● Select: File - Drawing Properties
● Select drawing type as: Link
Notes
The insertion point of a link obeys the snap setting and when a link is moved it is treated like a rectangle.
Inserted drawing is linked to the original drawing on which it is based so that if the original drawing changes the current drawing also changes.
A link cannot contain another link, a drawing containing a link has the Link check box disabled and a drawing which is defined as a link has the Link tool option disabled.
The length and width of the link are the sides of the imaginary rectangle that bounds the link. The corners and sides of this rectangle can be used as snap points and the link can be rotated around the centre of the rectangle. That is, you can rotate the complete drawing.
To select a link click near the boundary of the bounding rectangle.
Snap points within product / link drawings - When a product plan / elevation drawing is used within a Cad drawing, snapping can be used to connect drawing instructions to drawing instructions within the product drawing.
Drawing instructions can also be snapped to drawing instructions within link drawings.
Snap points are not available for link drawing instructions within product drawings when they are placed in a Cad drawing.
A limited set of snap points is offered for drawing instructions within a product or link drawing. e.g. for an ellipse in the drawing the snap points are the 4 mid points of the bounding rectangle and the centre point. For an ellipse in a product drawing / link drawing, only the centre point is available as a snap point.
Grouping of links - At the 'Machining library - links' dialog there are extra options to group the links.
A Link drawing cannot itself link to other drawings
A drawing can be linked to more than one Link drawing.
Layer - Used to put two sets of instructions within a link. One set is for instructions to be performed on the main part and the second set is for instructions to be performed on the adjacent part (Layer 2).
When creating a link, each instruction can be put on the main (layer 1) or other (layer 2) part. The default is on the main part (layer 1). A link can then be inserted into another drawing. The Layer 2 field for the link is then used to either use the Layer 1 instructions or the Layer 2 instructions from the link.
Length / Width - When a link is used within a drawing and it contains parametric instructions the X/Y values are based on the machining drawing size. The Length / Width fields allow the user to specify X/Y values for the link drawing within the machining drawing. If the Length / Width fields are filled in a blue rectangle will be shown on screen.
Angle - The angle field is used to specify a rotation value around the centre of the link rectangle. If the Length and Width fields are empty, no rotation takes place. If the rotation value is not 0 degrees, then an arrow is shown to indicate the rotation direction.
Reflect in X / Y - The instructions in a link can be reflected in either the X-axis, Y-axis or both. This reflection is about the link rectangle specified by the Length / Width fields. If the Length and Width fields are empty, no rotation takes place. Annotation lines are used on the sides of the link rectangle to indicate reflection in the X-Axis, Y-Axis or both.
Layer - A whole contour can be set to either layer 1 or layer 2 within a link. The elements of a contour can not be set for different layers. This link can then be used in a machining drawing and the contour can appear/disappear depending on the link layer setting.
Use the mouse to alter the size / position of the link rectangle. Once the link is selected right click for the pop-up menu. The move menu item is used to move the link rectangle. This will update the offset values. The edit menu item is used to edit one of the four sides of the link rectangle.
Review Machining - To differentiate between drawing instructions and link instructions, link instructions are put into groups in review machining drawings.
Links with cutouts and pockets rotated (angle > 0 degrees). Rotated links with Cutouts can be transferred to all machining centres. Links with Rotated pockets can be transferred to all DXF transfer modes and Woodwop 4.0.
Woodwop 2.5 can handle non-rotated pockets but if a machining drawing is transferred to Woodwop 2.5 containing rotated pockets an error is shown.
