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Making External Components Virtual

You can make externally saved components virtual, which breaks the link to the external component file. Existing references are ignored and the component is renamed.

You can make components virtual while you insert them or after you insert them into the assembly.

To make an externally saved component virtual while inserting it in an assembly:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Create a new assembly document by clicking New (Standard toolbar) or File > New .
    • In an existing assembly, click Insert Components (Assembly toolbar) or Insert > Component > Existing Part/Assembly .
  2. In the PropertyManager, under Options, select Make Virtual.
  3. Under Part/Assembly to Insert, select or browse to a component and click to place it in the graphics area.

    The software warns you that making a component virtual breaks the link to the external file.

    You can suppress the message by selecting Don't ask me again if you know that you will always choose the default response. To restore a suppressed message, see Advanced System Options.

  4. Click OK.

    The component is added to the assembly as a virtual component.

If an externally saved component is already in an assembly, you can make it virtual by right-clicking it and clicking Make Virtual.


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