bind xref but also preserve xref links?

[davesec]

hi!

 

when you bind an xref the link disappears from the xref manager.

 

is it possible to bind an xref, but preserve that link in the xref manager? i realize that will lead to two copies of the same object in the drawing (one xref, plus the new block). everyone's okay with that happening.

 

thank you!

[Tiger]

Hmm... I doubt it. AutoCAD will see it as two objects with the same name which is a big no-no. Perhaps if you rename one of them slightly, but I don't see how that can be done smoothly. I do have the highest faith in the programming minds of people on this site so I will not say it can't be done.

 

I do not quite understand what the benefit of this maneouver would be though.

[davesec]

hi!

 

if it helps, here's the situation:

 

i xref a drawing (drawing A) on a remote server. drawing A has about a billion xrefs in it. none of them work when i open the drawing, because what's the C:\drawings drive on the remote server looks like $23230002jshjsfhjsh\drawings on my computer. so when i open drawing A, half the drawing is missing.

 

rather that reset the xref links for a thousand xrefs (and there are also hundreds of drawings), i've advised the CAD guy to bind all his xrefs, so that when i open the drawing everything is contained in the drawing. he's okay with that, but he wants to keep his XREFs intact for his own purposes.

 

what i would like is to be able to do is xref drawing A, select all of those xrefs and unload them (which is fast/easy), and still have a bound copy of them on the drawing. on his end, i was hoping he could put all the bound xrefs on a layer and turn them off or something, and keep using his enormous xref system.

 

any thoughts/suggestions? i really don't want to have to reset like 10,000 xref links...

[RobDraw]

I would not suggest doing what you are suggesting.

 

There may be a better way. If you put all the XREF files into the same folder as the base file, AutoCAD will find them automatically.

[davesec]

hi robdraw!

 

thanks for the idea... one reason i don't think this would work is because there are probably 250+ drawings all referencing the same xrefs... the guy i'm talking to would have to dump the same billion xrefs into about 250 different folders, and i don't think he'll want to do that.

 

but on those lines, is there a way i could (on my end) write a macro or something that would automatically sift through lets say 100 different xrefs and re-assign their file path, changing it from C:\Xrefs\xref1.dwg to $nddhd882hd2\Xrefs\xref1.dwg (or whatever the path looks like on my machine?)

 

or is there a way to write a macro/script something that would.. hmm... do something like this:

 

open drawing1.dwg

save as drawing1a.dwg

bind all xrefs and put them on a single layer called 'BOUND_XREF' or something

copy 'BOUND_XREF' layer

open drawing1.dwg

paste 'BOUND_XREF' layer

delete drawing1a.dwg

 

?

 

something like that, maybe? i'm game for just about any workaround!

[RobDraw]

I'm pretty sure it is possible using the reference manager, not the XREF manager, but I don't use it. Maybe someone else will come along and give you more details.

[Tiger]

Yes, the Reference Manager can do that. You can load your drawings (multiple) with their x-refs and then do a fairly simple Search and Replace to get the correct paths. You can Search/Replace part of the path so you should be able to go through all your drawings at a brisk pace.

 

Regarding your comment: the guy i'm talking to would have to dump the same billion xrefs into about 250 different folders, and i don't think he'll want to do that.

You don't need to dump the same drawing in 250 different folders, AutoCAD can find it on different parts of the network if need be. I don't say I recommend it, but it can be done.

[Dadgad]

Yes, the Reference Manager can do that. You can load your drawings (multiple) with their x-refs and then ... unlike EXPLODING dimensions ... I don't say I recommend it, but it can be done.

 

Sorry Tiger, I took some liberties quoting you, couldn't help myself.

Maybe this lisp from Lee Mac would open a new avenue from which to approach this dilemna.

 

http://www.lee-mac.com/copyblock.html

 

Just throwing it out there, as more grist for the thread mill.

It works on xrefs too, so maybe this will turn the tide.

 

Thanks Lee!

[SLW210]

Why not just create a copy of the drawing and Bind them in the copy, then the original will still maintain the Xrefs?

[Tiger]

Why not just create a copy of the drawing and Bind them in the copy, then the original will still maintain the Xrefs?

 

(on me that is)