Find & Replace Linetype

[scott.jeffers]

Is there a way to find & replace ALL linetypes in a drawing or selection of drawings? Seems like it should be pretty straightforward, but I can't find much when I ask CAD Manager Google.

[Ed Jobe]

I don’t quite understand what you mean by replace all line types. Can you describe exactly what you mean? Line type definitions are stored in a table in the database.

[Tom Beauford]

You could save the DWG as a DXF, open it in an editor like Notepad++ replacing all the linetypes and saving it in a different location before opening it in AutoCAD again to see how it turned out.

[Opie]

Open a new drawing with the desired linetypes defined. Insert the drawing using the Explode option. This will redefine the linetypes from the affected drawing to the desired linetype drawing. Unfortunately, you will also need to use Design Center to bring in all of the layouts into the desired linetype drawing.

[tedg]

Open a new drawing with the desired linetypes defined. Insert the drawing using the Explode option. This will redefine the linetypes from the affected drawing to the desired linetype drawing. Unfortunately, you will also need to use Design Center to bring in all of the layouts into the desired linetype drawing.

Yes, I assume(d) the desired linetypes in the drawing would be assigned to layers, but I suppose if the linetype with the same name is defined differently, then it would update when inserted.

To add to Opie's suggestion, (just a thought), if you were to delete all the MS work in the problem drawing, purge all, and then bring back in the work from the "fixed" drawing, it "should" have all the updated linetypes and such.
And the layouts still should be looking at the proper MS stuff, why wouldn't that work?

If an xref, you'll need to adjust Visretain before and after too.

[Opie]

If an xref, you'll need to adjust Visretain before and after too.
That is a downside of my approach. Layer states could help alleviate this issue.

[tedg]

That is a downside of my approach. Layer states could help alleviate this issue.

Sidebar gripe regarding Layer states, and more about layer control though viewports:
I know Layer states can be useful, and I work with people who use them... especially though Viewport control including freeze/thaw layers etc.
So when you go into MS you see everything, and some stuff not needed at all anywhere in that particular set.

I like the WYSIWYG approach in MS and Xrefs (when possible), layer colors/plot styles adjusted and layers frozen/thawed in MS as you would see on the sheet.
(I don't mean in the xref base file, I mean the attached xref having layers modified in the sheet dwg)

Of course this is just my issue, and it works for others and other shops when handled properly.
Thanks for letting me gripe.

;)