Sync new styles, layers, etc. in drawing with external .dwt or .dwg

[bcsurvey]

Perhaps there is a way to do this, but I don't think there is:

For the sake of keeping a drawing template up to date with any changes made in an existing drawing, is there a way to synchronize new styles, layers, blocks, etc. between the CURRENT drawing and another template, or even another drawing?  From what I know of xreferencing, this can't be done. If it can, please explain how.

Thank you

[michael.robertson]

I've only seen this done with 3rd party software.

Our agency has been a MicroStation shop for years and are starting to also support AutoCAD and this ability is one of the biggest features our support staff misses from MicroStation.

The ability to have a single point to manage templates on a server where any changes to the template are dynamically linked to active files greatly minimizes support calls and increases QC compliance. This keeps file sizes smaller because the definitions for levels, styles, etc are available to any active file but don't actually reside in a file until that resource is actually used. Or if the definition of one of these resources needs to change, the template can be updated on the server and the next time a person opens a file the definitions in the active file are automatically updated to match the server template.

[bcsurvey]

I had originally intended on posting this thread in the "Wishlist" forum, but thought that maybe there was a way to do it.  It looks like what you're describing is similar to what I seek, but reversed.  I'd like changes to apply upward to the template, and your system would flow downward to references in existing or new drawing.  As long as there is limited access to the upward synchronization, the downward phase could be automated, I would think.  But I have little knowledge of this stuff.  We're not working through any server-based protocol at this time, but the idea has been thrown around a bit recently.

[michael.robertson]

We are a very heavy QC compliance oriented organization due to the large amount of automated tools we use/create so having the ability for just any user to update a template goes against the flow. We currently support over 800 inhouse CADD users and over 1000 consultant users, MicroStation makes it really nice to have a single point to maintain and distribute all of our qc standards (and our other resources like fonts, line styles, etc).

Even though we have a large user base it works very well even in our small consultant shops with only a few users because you only have a single point of support (the server). Besides the CADD application itself, the user only needs a shortcut and a user preference file on their workstation.

[bcsurvey]

So you're able to accomplish this with 3rd party software - what software would that be?  Are you on C3D 2011?  800 inhouse user?  Yowza!  Not to stray off topic too much, but I'm curious what the "post Rick Scott" number of users will be.  😉  I'm in a similar boat, being a FL county employee.

[AlmasSuljevic]

Hi bcsurvey,

You may want to see this article. There is a lot of nice and cool things coming from 2012 release. Probably not the entirely what you are trying to acomplish but it could be what you are looking for: http://beingcivil.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/03/autocad-civil-3d-2012-preview-styles-management.html

[michael.robertson]

We are using Civil3D 2011 right now. The situation I described is how we support MicroStation, we don't currently have that ability with AutoCAD but we've been investigating solutions (3rd party and Inhouse development) and talking with Autodesk about this problem.

[michael.robertson]

Thanks Almas,

We've been looking at some of the features 2012 is bringing that will help but they are still mostly manual processes. What we would really like to see implemented is the ability to dynamically support workstations without having to touch workstations at all (without a bunch of custom programs/scripts).

In MicroStation we can maintain every resource and application used by a user on a server where the only thing we have to install on a workstation is a shortcut to start our workspace. No other resources ever have to be on a workstation.

[neilyj666]

..... and don't get me started on the upgrade from one version to the next and making sure it all works as it should..... perhaps one day there will be an upgrade wizard like in Windows