How do you Search Multiple Cad Drawings for Text

I have multiple cad drawings (300 *dwg's)that need some items changed, is there a way to seach multiple cad drawing in my project for specific instances of text in each drawing?

Do the drawings have to be open?

Can you seach just thru the project with out opening each drawing, how does this work?

Thank YOU in advance!

I think you can use Windows search using the option 'A word or phrase in the file:'

I have vista and can't see how to seach for text with in documents and/or DWG's?

I think you can use Windows search using the option 'A word or phrase in the file:'

I'm assuming you already know how to do a global search and replace within one drawing?

I am hoping what I write below makes sense.

You can easily open 300 dwg's using a script, that script would then run either a lisp or vba to make the text changes then save and close dwg.

eg

open dwg1 (load "findmytext") close y

open dwg2 (load "findmytext") close y

etc

A couple of hints if you use the command mode (click start button lower left of screen) you can get to your drawing directory then do DIR *.dwg >mylist exit command mode

Using word or notepad you can edit the file mylist to create your script. you need to know a bit about navigating directories the old DOS way. I am sure though if you search there is code here to do dwg lists.

I am pretty sure I asked here previously about using "find" within scripts and did not get an answer hence suggested lisp or vba.

Some one may know a way to do "find"

Just in finishing I have left out about the gotchas like a directory with spaces in the name will not work you need some VBA to get around that.

here is an example of making slides

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open S:\AUTODESK\BLOCKS\AMBULANCe\ambalance_access.dwg zoom extents zoom 0.9x mslide ambalance_access
open S:\AUTODESK\BLOCKS\AMBULANCe\ambalance_access_side.dwg zoom extents zoom 0.9x mslide ambalance_access_side
open S:\AUTODESK\BLOCKS\AMBULANCe\ambalance_access_side1.dwg zoom extents zoom 0.9x mslide ambalance_access_side1
open S:\AUTODESK\BLOCKS\AMBULANCe\ambalance_perspective.dwg zoom extents zoom 0.9x mslide ambalance_perspective
open S:\AUTODESK\BLOCKS\AMBULANCe\ambo zoom extents zoom 0.9x mslide ambo
open S:\AUTODESK\BLOCKS\AMBULANCe\Ambulance.dwg zoom extents zoom 0.9x mslide Ambulance
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Hi there,

I wrote a LSP a few years ago in which you put a bunch of find and replace strings into a txt file then you can add the lsp to your startup suite and essentially do a batch find and replace on as many drawings as you want. If you are interested I could send it to you and give you a brief explaination of how to use it.

Regards,

Erik

I have multiple cad drawings (300 *dwg's)that need some items changed, is there a way to seach multiple cad drawing in my project for specific instances of text in each drawing?

ToolPac includes a search and replace tool that will operate on any number of drawings.

eric,

I just saw your message, and I have a similar problem.

Would you please send me your code?

Hi there,

 

I wrote a LSP a few years ago in which you put a bunch of find and replace strings into a txt file then you can add the lsp to your startup suite and essentially do a batch find and replace on as many drawings as you want. If you are interested I could send it to you and give you a brief explaination of how to use it.

 

Regards,

 

Erik

plzz send this code for me

plzz send this code for me

You should check out this wonderful lisp by Lee Mac http://www.lee-mac.com/bfind.html it is just one of the numerous great lisps which Lee very generously makes available, for free, on his site. Thanks Lee!

Check out Multi-Batch and run a search/replace lisp www.multi-batch.com

I have a written small utility provided as a stand alone exe file which allows you to search multiple drawing files for a specific occurrence of any specified text. The program returns a list off all drawings containg the specified text. Utility can also search accross network folders & drives.

The utility requires AutoCAD to be installed on the client PC or on the network to be searched. No setup required can be run directly from a USB.

If anyone interested please email me at andy_a_graham@hotmail.com

I have a written small utility provided as a stand alone exe file which allows you to search multiple drawing files for a specific occurrence of any specified text. The program returns a list off all drawings containg the specified text. Utility can also search accross network folders & drives.

 

The utility requires AutoCAD to be installed on the client PC or on the network to be searched. No setup required can be run directly from a USB.

 

If anyone interested please email me at andy_a_graham@hotmail.com

** I have now updated the above utility to include a 'Search & Replace' function on the text within AutoCAD drawing files **