It is useful to add external references to the family tree of a model for a family of assemblies when a component refers to the generic assembly or another component in the generic assembly.

Changes in the reference assembly or component can cause changes to the geometry of the component with the external reference.

To ensure that the geometry of the component with the external reference is updated, create a Family Table for the component with the external reference in which each instance has an external reference to the appropriate assembly instance. The assembly Family Table must also have a corresponding item for the component with the external reference.