Problem opening XREFs

[Sbeth85]

Hi All-

 

I get 3rd party zip files from our consultants.

They contain the consultant's DWG, plus our office's initial plans in DWG, logos, fonts, etc.

 

I used to be able to simply Extract the zipped file and then open up the main DWG. Then the main DWG and all associated XREFs would open smoothly. Now, when I open the consultant DWG, none of the XRefs are opening and being placed automatically, and I can only see the consultant's DWG, which looks like a bunch of blips because there's no context.

 

Any ideas how I can get things back to normal? One click that will automatically open and re-associate/re-attach all the XREFs needed?

 

I tried attaching a zip file as an example but it exceeds the maximum allowed

[cadsmarter]

Hi Sbeth85

Sounds like you are getting eTransmits with bound xrefs previously and that has changed now and they are choosing another option. Maybe another person is doing the eTransmit.

In terms of possible solutions:

1. Ask them to re-send with all xrefs bound.

2. Do you have all their xrefs? If so you could re-link them from wherever you've filed them.

3. Can you upload to DropBox so I can see?

Regards

Paul Stafford

http://cadsmarter.com

[Sbeth85]

I should add, if I manually Un Zip and then copy-and-paste all the DWGs within into the same folder as the "main" DWG, then all the XREFs open when I open up the main DWG. But I can't do this for hundreds of zipped files! Why did they open automatically before and now won't?

[RobDraw]

The difference probably has to do with the way that the .zip files were created. The folder structure is now being included. You could ask the sender to not include the folder structure.

[Sbeth85]

Is there a quick way for them to convert their files?

 

Right now if you open the zip file you see:

- main DWG file

- folder --> xref dwg

- folder --> xref dwg

- folder --> xref logo image file

- folder --> fonts used in their CAD drawing

- folder --> CTB files used in their CAD drawing

 

It seems like they have some automated system to bundle all this up and pack it up as a Zip file?

[RobDraw]

Two options;

 

1. If they are using ETransmit, they can turn off the option to maintain the folder structure.

2. Change the pathing type of the XREFs to Relative. I believe this can be done programmatically on your part fairly quickly. Probably not the one-click option you are looking for but faster than doing it manually. There are a couple of solutions here at CADTutuor. I'm sure someone will come along with one of them or you can for them search yourself. I believe one method utilizes the Reference Manager and another uses lisp.

[cadsmarter]

I think that it is probably a different person doing the eTransmit this time around and has chosen a different option - they have included the folder structure as RobDraw said. This option has benefits and I use it a lot - but not in your case.

 

My first reaction would be to push it back on them and ask for them to send the files with the xrefs bound. I'm not sure what the agreement is and who is the client (ie paying for the work).

 

You can certainly do it via the reference manager. This is very powerful and can also create problems if you're not sure what you're doing.

 

Regards

Paul Stafford

Edited November 12, 2013 by Tiger

[Sbeth85]

Rob Draw-

I tried changing all the paths to Relative in the XREF manager and then reloading, no luch

 

Cadsmarter-

If I find the paths to their XREFs myself, how will I know where to specify their placement?

 

Ok, I put one of the ZIP files on DropBox, here's the public link, hope it works!:

 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35736375/Misc/8209EH-FLOOR-2_-_Standard.zip

[cadsmarter]

Hi Sbeth85

My previous reply still hasn't appeared yet but I've made a short screen capture video of how I would re-link the xrefs.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iw3r4fqkry2ehy3/CADtutor_ProblemOpeningXrefs.avi

Regards

Paul Stafford

http://cadsmarter.com

[RobDraw]

I don't have access to AutoCAD today so I can't take a look at that until tomorrow. Seeing that the folder structure you posted is not complicated. I can't see it taking much time at all moving all the files up to the same folder. I don't see it taking any longer than a minute depending on size of the files and the speed of you computer/network.

 

I don't understand cadsmarter's method. He seems to be changing the saved path to something similar to the format that AutoCAD does when you use relative pathing and depending on the number of XREFs, can be quite tedious.

 

What do you do with these files?

 

You said that the consultant is just sending back the stuff that you sent them with the addition of their file. If you are using this for reference/coordination, why don't you XREF their file into yours?

[cadsmarter]

Haha...that's correct RobDraw. I was changing the path to relative - old habits!

But Sbeth85 you wanted to know how to relink the xrefs...well that's how, but don't worry about changing the paths like I did at the end. But I would only go through this process if it was necessary and for an active project.

 

If these are just reference files for a finished project then quick is best. As RobDraw said I'd just move all the xrefs out into the same folder as the main drawing file. Then when you open the file it will find the xrefs.