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    AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

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    New Member
    Posts: 2
    Registered: ‎10-21-2009

    Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    1842 Views, 11 Replies
    05-16-2011 12:30 PM

    Hello;

     

    We are running Autocad 2012 (64 bit) on Windows 7. Does anyone know how to get Windows Explorer to search for text inside of DWG files?

     

    Sincerely;

    Michelle

     

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    *Expert Elite*
    3wood
    Posts: 610
    Registered: ‎03-25-2009

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    05-17-2011 05:26 AM in reply to: michellemcpeek6324

    As far as I know, Window can perform content search in some old version of dwg files such AutoCAD 2004.

    You can save a dwg file in different versions and test.

     

    3wood

    CAD KITS

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    New Member
    Posts: 2
    Registered: ‎10-21-2009

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    05-17-2011 05:18 PM in reply to: 3wood

    Thankyou for the suggestion - tried several different DWG versions and found no joy....looking for more ideas.

     

    Sincerely;

    Michelle

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    Employee
    Craig.Godfrey
    Posts: 32
    Registered: ‎06-07-2010

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    05-17-2011 06:01 PM in reply to: michellemcpeek6324

    Michelle,

     

    Have you tried using Content Explorer which is new in 2012? It allows you to search for various objects within a dwg file such as text, blocks, attributes, layers, dimensions, etc. You can find it in the Plug-Ins tab or by typing contentexplorer in the command line. Once you configure Content Explorer to watch a folder that contains your design files it will index them and you can then search for your information.

     

    There are a few videos on Exchange that show what you can do with Content Explorer.

     



    Craig S. Godfrey
    Software QA Engineer
    Autodesk, Inc.

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    Active Member
    Posts: 7
    Registered: ‎03-12-2007

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    04-08-2012 12:19 PM in reply to: Craig.Godfrey

    Thank you Craig. Found the text I wanted in my drawing files. Lot easier than doing it from Win 7 Explorer!!!

     

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    Active Contributor
    Posts: 27
    Registered: ‎08-13-2008

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    10-15-2012 09:35 AM in reply to: Craig.Godfrey

    Contentexplorer is good but it's very limited in functionality.  I tried to use it but it does not allow network folders.  To me this is very odd, most companies put their drawings on network folders.

    Is there any other way of searching for text inside of a drawing?

     

    Thanks,

    Don

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    *Expert Elite*
    Posts: 6,404
    Registered: ‎06-29-2007

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    10-15-2012 09:38 AM in reply to: donjacobsen

    Hi,

     

    >> I tried to use it but it does not allow network folders

    As long as the server has a Windows operating system you can install the Content-Explorer service on every server and connect to this service then from your workstation.

     

    - alfred -

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Alfred NESWADBA
    Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS ... www.hollaus.at
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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    Active Contributor
    Posts: 27
    Registered: ‎08-13-2008

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    10-15-2012 09:50 AM in reply to: alfred.neswadba

    Thanks for the info Alfred.  I guess I need to get with my IT Dept to get this done.

    Wish me luck - lol.

     

    Don

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    *Expert Elite*
    Posts: 6,404
    Registered: ‎06-29-2007

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    10-15-2012 10:05 AM in reply to: donjacobsen

    Hi,

     

    >> Wish me luck

    I do :smileywink:

     

    - alfred -

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Alfred NESWADBA
    Ingenieur Studio HOLLAUS ... www.hollaus.at
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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    Valued Mentor
    TerryDotson
    Posts: 386
    Registered: ‎06-06-2010

    Re: Using Windows Explorer to Search for text in DWG files

    10-15-2012 11:55 AM in reply to: donjacobsen

    Is there any other way of searching for text inside of a drawing?

     

    Take a look at the DwgSearch tool in DotSoft's ToolPac, it will let you search DWG files without needing to build external indexes or anything running on a server, etc.

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