xref possible nightmare

[Cadfused]

Here is the situation I am facing and am unsure of:
I work in an architectural firm where-as we use the typical base drawing floor plans as xref's to all other drawings we do for the floor plans. Our client just recently stated that they want the floors not to be listed and numbered as 'Ground floor', 'First floor' and 'Second floor' but would rather it be 'First floor', 'Second floor' and 'Third floor'. not a difficult thing to ask with exception that it means renaming the base drawing xref's. My question is, is there a fast and simple way to rename the base drawing xref's and have them update throughout the drawing set without the tedious opening of each drawing and detaching the xref and reattaching the new named xref? :glare: We used 2005 A.D.

Thanks,
Cadfused

[chulse]

You should be able to update the reference location (and filename) without needing to detach/reatach...

[Cadfused]

Can that be done if you are changing the base drawing name (ie. x-00_ground changes to x-01_first)? won't the drawings that use that base drawing xref show that it is orphand or not found? :?
Thank you for your quick reply.

[LElkins]

cadfused,

you could do this using a script file, then running that on the appropraite drawings using a batch file.
To create a script file just use notepad (or similar), enter the script that you want and then save, ensuring that the file type is set to all files, then add .scr at the end of the filename.

basic script file for what you want would be.



-xref
p
name of your xref to change
New path of your xref
(repeat this for all xrefs)
qsave
exit
quit


This isn't the best way to do it as your machine will be pretty much unusable whilst the script is running, but is it better than the tedious task of going through each drawing, and is very simple to set up.

If you need any help with this then just ask.

Cheers

[Cadfused]

:) Thank you for that. I have not attempted scripts before but am more than ready to expand my CAD knowledge. I'll run it past my boss and give it a try. Thanks again.

[chulse]

Can that be done if you are changing the base drawing name (ie. x-00_ground changes to x-01_first)? won't the drawings that use that base drawing xref show that it is orphand or not found? :?
Thank you for your quick reply.

I'm not sure if 2005 is the same, but you can change the reference file without detaching...regardless of it's file name. IE- when I get an updated base with a new date, I can change the xref to load the new dwg in place of the old one without detaching/reattaching.
And all the settings stay the same- layers on/off, colors, base point etc...

[LElkins]

I'm not sure if 2005 is the same, but you can change the reference file without detaching...regardless of it's file name. IE- when I get an updated base with a new date, I can change the xref to load the new dwg in place of the old one without detaching/reattaching.
And all the settings stay the same- layers on/off, colors, base point etc...

Cary, you are totally right, and this is fine if you only need to change it in 1 or 2 files. But when it gets to be 10,15, + files it can get very tedious.

Cadfused, if you have any IT experts which you are particularly chummy with in the office, talk to them about batch (*.bat) files. Tell them that what the .bat needs to do is open a drawing in a directory, run the script file, then open the next, and so on.

Again, if you need any help with this then just ask and I will post a few examples.

Cheers

[Cadfused]

Thank you. i'll be keeping note of the options and give them to my supervisor and see what he decides. i really appreciate the input.

[chulse]

Cary, you are totally right, and this is fine if you only need to change it in 1 or 2 files. But when it gets to be 10,15, + files it can get very tedious.

Cadfused, if you have any IT experts which you are particularly chummy with in the office, talk to them about batch (*.bat) files. Tell them that what the .bat needs to do is open a drawing in a directory, run the script file, then open the next, and so on.

Again, if you need any help with this then just ask and I will post a few examples.

Cheers

Yeah, I'm sure there are better ways. My IT people have helped me out more than once with these things.
But this was the only way I knew and you beat me to it with a better solution!

Thanks

[Cadfused]

Thank you both for the input. it gives some options and, yes, I can approach our IT about the possibility of setting up a batch file. Thanks again.

[smorales02]

I just use Reference Manager to change my xrefs.

[Cadfused]

Thank you for all of the advice, Guys. My manager and I did settle with going through the xref manager and renaming. :geek: