To Check the Status of References in a Drawing

When you are working in a drawing in a data shortcut project that is stored in Autodesk Docs, and a project team member updates a file that is referenced by that drawing, you won't be notified that a reference in your drawing need to be updated. Instead, use the Check Reference Status command to check for updates.

You can display the following columns on the Autodesk Docs page of the Start tab to view reference status:

To check for updates of referenced files

  1. In Civil 3D, ensure that the data shortcut synchronization notifications are turned on.
    • When notifications are turned on, the synchronization icon appears as at the bottom-right side of the application window.
    • When notifications are turned off, the icon appears as . Click this icon to turn on notifications.

    For more information, see To Synchronize a Reference Object.

  2. Click Collaborate tab Cloud Collaboration panel Check Reference Status .

    A message dialog box is displayed to inform you whether updates were found, and each referenced file that has been updated is listed.

  3. Click OK.

    If the Check Reference Status command identified updates to data shortcuts or xrefs, you will be prompted to synchronize the references.

    It might take several minutes before updates that have been made to referenced files are available. You may not be immediately prompted to update xrefs due to the default XNOTIFYTIME.

    If updates are detected when you use the Check Reference Status command, a message will be displayed to alert you of new versions. To load new versions of referenced files, click on the link in the message, or you can close and re-open the host drawing.

    Note: In most cases, it is not necessary to close and reopen a host drawing to update its references. But sometimes the reference files may not download and you will need to close and reopen the host drawing.