# Read linked instance definitions

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/read-linked-instance-definitions/43981>\
**Category:** openNURBS\
**Created:** [May 10, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/read-linked-instance-definitions/43981 "2017-05-10T14:00:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Angel1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/angel1/32/491350_2.png) [@Angel1](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Angel1)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/read-linked-instance-definitions/43981/1 "2017-05-10T14:00:33Z")

</div>

Hello,  
I try to read all instance definitions from a 3dm file, but I am not sure about the approach I have to follow for the linked ones. Generally, I use the procedure described above [  
Instance References with Non-Uniform Scales](http://developer.rhino3d.com/guides/opennurbs/instance-references-with-non-uniform-scales/).  
However, it does not seem to fit the case of linked definitions, since the only information that is available is the source archive name.  
Is there a way to force the api load them when reading a 3dm file? If not, what is the appropriate method in order to read such instance definitions?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/dale/32/685184_2.png) [@dale](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/dale)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/read-linked-instance-definitions/43981/2 "2017-05-11T18:46:19Z")

</div>

> [@Angel1](#):
>
> Is there a way to force the api load them when reading a 3dm file?

No, you will need to use openNURBS to open the linked definition’s source archive and read the 3dm file yourself.

– Dale

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Angel1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/angel1/32/491350_2.png) [@Angel1](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Angel1)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 8:49am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/read-linked-instance-definitions/43981/3 "2017-05-12T08:49:54Z")

</div>

OK, thank you Dale.