AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

[#1]

I just installed 2010 on my computer and am having some issues with xrefs. When I open a drawing with xrefs in it, I get the warning that "one or more referenced files could not be located or read. What do you want to do?" Options are to ignore the missing xrefs, or update the location of the missing files. Of course, I'd like to update the files, as opposed to ignoring them.

The problem is (apparently), I am working as part of a team of 3 people, all working from different locations. Therefore, even though the path is set as "relative", it isn't always the same from person to person. CAD keeps trying to retain the settings from my co-worker's computers. For the path, I keep seeing their path, not mine. Is there a way to fix this?

I've already downloaded and installed the Update from Autodesk, thinking that may help, but it hasn't.

Thanks in advance!

[#2]

No fix, you ALL need to be working with files with common/shared locations
to all of you.

Sometimes FULL PATH as oppose to 'relative' can solve the problem if you all
truly are separate and the files never move. If the files travel when you
each work on them, double-check the relative paths and any sub-folder names.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[#3]

I think I may need to clarify, it's hard to explain, since I'm trying to troubleshoot for all 3 of us and I created the original files, so I'm not having as many issues. We recently upgraded to 2010 from 2006 and didn't have these issues.

I think the main problem is that when we go to check out the path of the "missing" file, it keeps the path from my co-worker's computer (even though the file is on my computer, and in the same place as last time) and won't let me change it to be my path. The only way to change the path (and get the x-ref to show) is to detach the x-ref and re-attach it.

[#4]

how do you usually attach your XREF Files

full path
relative path
no path...................did you use to use this option but have the paths defined in tools options....?

the other users are using your computer as the server? how are they mapping to your computer if they are mapping drives? is everyone mapping consistent drives?....may be your co workers are having the same problem but they browse to reattach the xref then when you open the file again you can not see it as it has been remapped by the other user

[#5]

1. You have a folder.
You have a file in it.
Same folder has the xref in it.

Relative pathing works here by removing all location references except for
xref file name. Anything else can fail if opened by someone else.

2. You have a folder.
You have a file in it.
Same folder has a sub-folder and the xref in it.

Relative pathing works here by removing all location references except for
the subfolder name and the xref file name. Anything else can fail if opened
by someone else.

3. You have a Folder X.
You have a file in it.
You have a folder Y.
Your Xref is in Y.

Relative pathing does not work. Full pathing works only if written as
c:\y\xref and accessed as c:\y\xref but fails if the other person can only
see or access the file as \\klgwhite\y\xref

Where is yours failing?

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[#6]

Ok, here's an update from one of my co-workers who, I think, explains it better.

"Essentially what happens when I open a file we're sharing is that the xref path is displayed, but cannot be modified. When I open a pathed dwg that I created on my cpu, I can click on and modify the location in the details screen."

There is no way to modify the path of the "missing" x-refs to change it - you have to detach and re-attach.

[#7]

ACAD2010
Can any of you guys tell me how to convert a legacy drg from 'full path' to 'relative path' in one simple and quick operation?
Cheers ... Chris

[#8]

Use UNC (Uniform Naming Convention) pathing: \\master\Drawings\mechanical.dwg, instead of C:\Drawings\mechanical.dwg

[#9]

Metron4,
Thanks, I'll try it on future drgs.
Meantime, how do I change all the xref's in an existing drg that was packed-up and emailed to me, but has all broken path-links, using a global command?
Cheers ... Chris

[#10]

AutoCAD 2010 comes with Reference Manager, an external program you can find in the program group for Autodesk in the Windows Start menu. I haven't had reason to use it but it sounds like it might do the trick. The only other alternative I know of is to keep all the files in the same directory as the main file. The drawing will look there when it can't find the original xref paths. This works for all referenced files, images, pdf's, etc.