About Reference Patterns
A Reference pattern creates a pattern of a feature or group “on top of” any other patterned feature or group. You can add a Reference pattern to the following items:
• Feature or group that references the geometry of any pattern member
• Feature that references any of the holes in a hole feature that was created using sketched placement
Some references to locate the new Reference pattern feature must be to the original patterned feature or group only.
The instance number is always the same as the original pattern; therefore, the pattern parameter is not used to control this pattern.
If you add a feature that does not use the originally patterned feature to get its geometry references, you cannot use Reference patterning for the new feature.
The Reference pattern type is available on the pattern type list on the Pattern tab only if the selected feature or group references another patterned feature or group, or if the feature references any of the holes in a hole feature that was created using sketched placement.