Edit Drawing Properties in Database

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to edit the title block attributes that are normally edited in the Drawing Properties into a database to do the editing? I frequently copy a project and only a couple of items change from 1 drawing set to another. So I would like the data to be in a place where find and replace can change the data accross the whole set at 1 time. Then do a whole project title block update so the changes show in the drawing files. Is this possible? I use ACADE 2010 on XP.

Thanks,

Stosh414

[dougmcalexander · Accepted solution]

No need for a database edit.  The data is stored in the hidden WD_M block at coordinates 0,0 of each drawing.  When you edit Drawing Properties you are editing the WD_M block.  You can edit your copied project's Project Properties Defaults and Apply the Project Defaults to all drawings in the project.  Just select all drawings using SHFT or CTRL, then right-click>Properties>Apply Project Defaults.  This updates the WD_M block attributes with the values stored in the Project Properties, which are kept in the projectname.wdp file. 

Hint: Use Settings Compare if you wish to match Project Properties with a particular drawing's Drawing Properties.  Drawing Properties are always active, Project Properties are not.  Think of Project Properties as a storage tank for properties that can be applied to all or certain drawings as desired.  When you insert a New Drawing and you are prompted to Apply Project Defaults, you are being asked if you wish to over-ride the values of the drawing's hidden WD_M block with those from Project Properties.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Doug! It solved most of my issues. Also while playing with your solution, it also dawned on me that an attribute that is the same on every sheet can also be set up so it can be edited in descriptions and left blank in the drawing properties. Sometimes a hammer against the head helps! Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Hi Doug,

I may be mis-understanding your suggested method here, but I'm wondering how you would deal with the following:

Let's say that accross a project you wanted to change just one text entry in a title line. For example, you copy a project, then want to change all the instances of MCC-8000 to MCC-9000 on one line. The rest of the text for that line is unique to each drawing. Is it possible to do this type of global change using AE, without editing each drawing individually at the Drawing Properties level?

Using 2011 with XP.

Thanks,

Mike

[Icemanau]

Going on the assumption that you have your title block set up properly for use with ACADE, you may get more milage changing the project descriptions and then doing a title block update for the project.

This is one of the main features of the project desciptions and title block updates. It allows you to do things like change title descriptions quickly and easily across all dwgs in the project with no problems IF the title block is set up correctly with no need to go to any external database or lisp functions.

You can even select which items you want to be updated. The only problem occurs when you utilise the individual drawing descriptions and other data in the title block. With those, you have to open each dwg and change the required information in the drawing properties tab before running the title block update.

If it's just the drawing description that needs changing, you could also just open the WDP file in a text editor (make sure ACADE has it closed first) and go to the end of the file. There you will find a list of dwgs that the project looks for and the dwg descriptions. You can edit these and then save the WDP file before opening the project in ACADE again. Check the drawing properties for one of the dwgs you just modified, and then do a title block update to transfer those changes to the dwgs themselves.

Regards Brad

[testsubject]

I agree with Brad as far as changing the .wdp file. I use that technique all the time when it comes to just changing the titleblock DESCX values across a bunch of drawings. I was going to suggest until I got to Brad's post...

[Anonymous]

Just tried it now Brad - worked like a charm! Thanks.

I see you have changed your name? I have changed countries. We had a few conversations back a couple of years when I was in Tasmania. Now in Calgary and trying to get AE up and running with my new employer...

Thanks again

[Icemanau]

The name changed when they moved from the old style forum to the new style.....

Have fun with the setup in Calgary. And don't forget to pause for minutes silence at 11AM today for Rememberance Day.

LEST WE FORGET

Regards Brad

[Anonymous]

Absolutely will pause at 11:00. Rememberance day is as big or bigger here in Canada as it is in Aus...