ARCHLine.XP allows you to link various file formats for referencing.
The specific file formats you can link fall into the following categories:
Revit Models: .rvt
CAD Formats: .dwg, .dxf
Point Clouds: .rcp, .rcs, e57, .las, etc
Industry Foundation Classes: .ifc (for open BIM collaboration)
Markup: .pdf.
Attaching files in ARCHLine.XP is a fundamental workflow for collaborative design, large projects and site planning. Since attached files are external files, they do not increase the size of the host project, they are displayed accurately and can be referenced using Shared coordinates.
Linking vs. Importing
• Link: The link to the original file is maintained, and the link is updated when the original file is updated.
• Import: The imported file becomes a separate item. It is no longer related to the original file.
Can linked files be edited?
Linked iles cannot be modified directly within the host model.
How to Link a Revit File
Open your host (master) project.
Go to the File menu on the ribbon and click Link - Link RVT.
Select the .rvt file you want to bring in.
Choose your positioning: In the Positioning dialog, select the alignment method.
Options: (from ARCHLine.XP 2026)
| Auto - Origin to Origin: | Position the origin of the link at the origin of host model. Ignore Geolocation. |
| Auto - Center to Center: | Position the center of the link at the center of host model. Ignore Geolocation. |
| Auto - By Shared Coordinates: | The host model and the link must share the same coordinate system. |
| Auto - Project Base Point to Project Base Point | Position the Project Base Point of the link at the Project Base Point of host model. Project Base Point has no meaning when it comes to geolocation and coordinates |
| Manual - Origin | Manual positioning means that the user uses the cursor to place the internal origin (0,0,0) point of the linked model. |
| Manual - Project Base Point | Manual by Project Base Point positioning means that the user uses the cursor to place the Project Base Point of the linked model. |
Managing and Visibility Settings
Visibility Settings on floor plan: Activate the floor plan view. To control visibility go to the File - Options - Control the visibility of linked file, inactive building or visible level.
You can set the link to "Replacement Color", "Halftone", or "Original Color" to see it exactly as configured in the linked file itself.
Manage Links dialog
The Manage Links dialog box has tabs for ARCHLine.XP and Revit models, IFC connections, CAD files, point clouds, PDFs, and images. The rows are accompanied by columns that provide information about the connection.
| Options | Description |
| Type | CAD, RVT, IFC, PDF, ARCHLine.XP project, Point Cloud |
| Position Method | Origin to Origin, Center to Center, By Shared Coordinates, Project Base Point, Manual - Origin, Manual - Project Base Point |
| Ref name | The name of the model or file being linked |
| Status | Indicates whether the link is loaded in the host model. The field will display as Loaded, Not Loaded or Not Found. |
| Size | File size |
| Date | When the linked file was generated or altered |
| Relative path (linked) | Indicates whether the links saved path is relative or absolute path. This column does not apply to point clouds. |
| Path | Location of the linked file or model. |
Linking CAD files
CAD file formats that can be imported or linked are DWG and DXF files.
• When linking or importing a CAD file, you can specify the linking or import units (e.g., feet, meter, etc).
Linking IFC files
Linking IFC files is suggested for coordination purposes. It does not generate native ARCHLine.XP elements because all elements remain IFCElement.
Representation of levels
You can choose to display the IFC model as a unit on the floor plan when all elements are displayed at the active level when merging, or the program tries to associate the project levels with the levels specified in the IFC model. In the second case, the associated IFC elements appear separated at the project levels.
Positioning
When you link a model to the ARCHLine.XP project,
you can specify how the incoming geometry is placed relative to the host model.
Use automatic positioning to place the incoming geometry with original coordinates.
Manual positioning allows you to place the the origin of incoming geometry to a specific point.
Info
Properties panel shows information about selected component, its parameters.
IFC
Link IFC file inserts an IFC model into the current project as external reference (link). You cannot edit the IFC model when it is linked, but linking IFC file allows to see and snap the model in 2D/3D. You can adapt your design to the work of another design team, e.g. interior design to architectural model. When the original IFC file was updated you can refresh your link when you reload it in the Link Manager dialog. Properties panel shows information about selected component, its parameters.
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