Associative Patterns

Associative patterns can be created from:

elements in the active DGN file
elements in references, including nested reference and self-references
a combination of elements from the active file and references

When any of the elements used to create the patterned area are modified, whether they be from the active file or a reference, the associated patterning updates also.

Hatching the shape on the left, with Drop Pattern turned off, means that if you modify it later (right), the hatching updates automatically to the new shape.