The Reference Manager command opens the Autodesk Fusion Reference Manager dialog directly from the Quick Access Toolbar. Use this command to review, update, and manage all references in the active document without navigating through nested menus or the Manufacture workspace.
- View all external document references for the active design in one place.
- Update all references to their latest versions in a single action.
- Update individual references selectively, choosing which documents to update.
- Select a specific version for individual references when you need to control which version is used.
- Open any referenced document in a new Autodesk Fusion tab for editing or review.
- An Autodesk Fusion 3D Design must be active.
- The document must contain at least one external reference.
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On the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), select the Reference Manager button.
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The Autodesk Fusion Reference Manager dialog opens, displaying all references in the active document.
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Use the dialog to perform any of the following actions:
Action How to perform it Update all references Select Update All in the dialog Update one reference Select the reference row, then select Update Select a specific version Select the reference row, expand the version list, and choose the desired version Open a reference Select the reference row, then select Open -
Select OK or Close to dismiss the dialog.
Tip: The Reference Manager is a native Autodesk Fusion tool also available in the Manufacture workspace nesting workflow. This command exposes it in the QAT for quick access from any design session.
The Reference Manager command is located on the Autodesk Fusion Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), positioned next to the Get and Update button.
The following diagram shows how the Reference Manager command interacts with Autodesk Fusion.
C4Context
title Reference Manager – System Context
Person(user, "Design Engineer", "Autodesk Fusion user managing document references")
System(addin, "PowerTools Assembly", "Autodesk Fusion add-in")
System_Ext(fusion, "Autodesk Fusion", "Host application — provides ReferenceManagerCmd and manages reference versioning")
System_Ext(hub, "Autodesk Hub", "Cloud document storage and version history")
Rel(user, addin, "Clicks Reference Manager on QAT")
Rel(addin, fusion, "Executes built-in ReferenceManagerCmd")
Rel(fusion, hub, "Reads and writes reference version data")
C4Component
title Reference Manager – Component View
Person(user, "Design Engineer")
Component(cmd, "refmanager/entry.py", "PowerTools Command", "Registers QAT button and delegates to the built-in Fusion Reference Manager command")
Component(ref_mgr_cmd, "ReferenceManagerCmd", "Built-in Fusion Command", "Native Autodesk Fusion reference management dialog with version selection and update capabilities")
System_Ext(hub, "Autodesk Hub", "Provides reference version history and document metadata")
Rel(user, cmd, "Clicks Reference Manager on QAT")
Rel(cmd, ref_mgr_cmd, "Executes via ui.commandDefinitions")
Rel(ref_mgr_cmd, hub, "Retrieves and updates reference version data")
Rel(ref_mgr_cmd, user, "Displays Reference Manager dialog")
sequenceDiagram
autonumber
actor User
participant QAT as Quick Access Toolbar
participant Cmd as Reference Manager
participant RefMgr as ReferenceManagerCmd
participant Hub as Autodesk Hub
User->>QAT: Click Reference Manager
QAT->>Cmd: command_created fires
Cmd->>RefMgr: ui.commandDefinitions.itemById('ReferenceManagerCmd').execute()
RefMgr->>Hub: Read reference list and version history
Hub-->>RefMgr: Reference metadata
RefMgr-->>User: Display Reference Manager dialog
User->>RefMgr: Update all / update one / pick version / open
RefMgr->>Hub: Apply selected reference updates
Hub-->>RefMgr: New references resolved
User->>RefMgr: Close dialog
RefMgr-->>Cmd: Dialog dismissed
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