Moving project files, need to re-path Xrefs

[kclarke]

We run a mixed environment from LT2000i up to Autocad 2004 Lt 2005.
I have inherited a project file which is chaos and need to move it to a different server location but I am worried as we depend very heavily on the use of xrefs.
If I move the project folders will my xrefs get lost or will they get found automatically.

[robert.1.hall72202]

I have done similar and one issue I had was with drive mapping. In order to have the
xrefs loaded I had to map the correct drive letter to the place where the xrefs resided.
If the files reside in the F: drive, make sure when you move everything they are still set up as an F: drive. Windows XP may have to have the F: drive mapped correctly on every machine that intends to pull up the drawings.

[arcadia_x27]

As long as all the required Xrefs are contained within that one Project folder tall that will be required is to have them repathed when the project file is worked on again. If the Xrefs are located in other folders or locations it would be wise to track them down before you move the project folder

[michael.12445]

You can also use relative notation rather than the default absolute notation for the xref paths. You would need to change this before moving the files.

If the Xref Manager shows an xref's path as, for example,

F:\Projects\project1\plans\firstfloor\xref.dwg

you can change this to

..\plans\firstfloor\xref.dwg

and then create a "project1" folder, wth the appropriate sub-folders, in the project's new location. Once you copy all the xrefs to their correct sub-folders at that location, as long as the paths are saved with relative notation, AutoCAD will find the xrefs.

Unfortunately, AFAIK you have to edit the path of each xref individually. AutoCAD doesn't have a built-in way to make drawings portable, other than ETRANSMIT or PACKNGO.

Michael Evans
Togawa & Smith, Inc.

[Mike.Perry]

We run a mixed environment from LT2000i up to Autocad 2004 Lt 2005.Hi

Sorry I'm a little confused with the above statement, is one of the above a full AutoCAD version?

If yes, and it's either AutoCAD 2004 or 2005 you will have -

The Reference Manager utility that should prove very useful.

Express Tools, therefore the XPATH command could also prove very useful.

Have a good one, Mike