Revit has long understood the difference between a DWG having an attached or overlay external reference (Xref). It uses the same logic for its own linking behavior for RVT files. Recently a client began reporting seeing DWG files including Xref layers in Object Styles and Visibility/Graphics even though the DWG has only an overlay Xref. Revit seems to be converting the overlay Xref to a block element and including it and all the layers in the process.
We noticed it happening first with projects hosted on BIM360. That led me to consider it was because this firm isn’t using Autodesk Desktop Connector. Not too surprising considering Autodesk recommends using it for linked DWG support on BIM360.
That’s irrelevant now that I’ve reproduced it on a project file based on a stock template, doesn’t use worksets and the all files are on a single PC. It’s related to how Revit is reloading the…