Because xrefs are display-only, they provide no access to object data, such as surface elevations or alignment length. For example, you cannot create a surface profile from a surface in an xref. Both data shortcuts and Vault object references provide access to object data.
Xrefs provide no inherent security. Anyone can break links by moving or renaming referenced files.
When a Vault DWG contains an xref, you must perform all Xref Manager user operations in the parent DWG, not the xref DWG.
