xref binding problem

[ccasal]

"Just ran into an issue. some of us are using autocad architecture 2013, but some others are using autocad architecture 2012 and they are unable to bind certain xrefs. drawings have been audited & purged and still the problem exists. those of us using 2013 can bind xrefs just fine. Anyone ran into this issue yet? Can anyone help?"

[leothebuilder]

ACA and Autocad 2013 have a different file format from 2012 versions, this could be the problem binding 2013 files to a 2012 file format drawing

[ccasal]

......but they are both ACA, one is 2012 & the other 2013

[leothebuilder]

ACA 2013 has different file format from ACA 2012

Every three years or so file formats change.

[pendean]

ACA is AutoCAD with Architecture tools added: when AutoCAD changes format, so do all it's variants, including ACA.

2013 is a new format for ALL AutoCAD versions. All.

[ccasal]

so basically the solution is to do all the binding with ACA 2013 in spite of the fact that we are saving our dwgs down to 2010 format so others can work on them.   Oh well.... thanks everyone!

[pendean · Accepted solution]

We might as well make you aware and discuss the MAJOR problem with an office using both 2013 and 2012 on a project, especially if everyone is saving to the 2010 format. This is probably why 2012 cannot bind.

By saving the file in 2013, you upgraded all the AEC content to a newer format: I bet all your 2012 users get prompts to such an effect when they open these files (and I'm sure they turned these off premanently so now they don't get the reminder of what just happened). There is not fix or patch or download, and it does not matter what you set SAVE to in OPTIONS in 2013, the upgrade is automatic and final.

So, if you do not need or use ACA as intended, but just as an over-priced plain AutoCAD 2012-2013, you can use

-EXPORTTOAUTOCAD command (there is a dash in the name) on all your files and knock them down to either 2010 format, or 2007, or 2004 or 2000 or R14 formats (this incldues all your XREF file separately) to expldoe these AEC objects back to plain AutoCAD object types. Then you should be able to bind in R2012 as you wish until the next time 2013 adds or upgrades content when a file is saved.

it's a vicious cycle you all set yourselves up with mixing two formats like that.

Since this is likely to be your next question, ACA2012 does this to files from 2009 or lower, and ACA2009 does this to files from 2006 and lower, and ADT2006 does this to files from R2000 format.

ACA2010 through ACA2012 are the same DWG format and there is no issue.

ADT2007 through ACA2009 are the same DWG format and there is no issue.

ADT 2004 through ADT2006 are the same DWG format and there is no issue.

[ccasal]

Great, thanks for the clarification!