topic Re: Using system variable to xref path in AutoCAD Forum

Using system variable to xref path

m_simonettoBLR3F — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:50:30 GMT

Hi all,

I've a problem with xref in AutoCAD. We basically have the main .dwg file on our server and the xref files in a shared OneDrive folder. Every time someone opens it AutoCAD doesn't find the reference because it search in C:\Users\User\etc even if the path is set to relative. It's possible to use a system variable inside the path to give make AutoCAD automatically fill the user part of the path so that the error is not present anymore?

I've tried with %USERPROFILE% etc but AutoCAD complain that the path isn't correct.

Any chance to solve it?

Re: Using system variable to xref path

Valentin_CAD — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 16:15:29 GMT

@m_simonettoBLR3F ,

@m_simonettoBLR3F wrote:
... xref files in a shared OneDrive folder
... AutoCAD doesn't find the reference
... even if the path is set to relative.

Seems you have tried the suggestion from these links, but read the variables mentioned within:

Another suggestion would be the ones mentioned here:

Sync files with OneDrive in Windows

Files stored in OneDrive cloud fail to open

Re: Using system variable to xref path

paullimapa — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 18:12:09 GMT

You can use projectname system variable to setup different paths per user.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-9C5FB777-337C-433A-9562-F395BF77186D

As long as the dwg has the projectname set, then each user under AutoCAD Options > Files > Project Files Search Path can be set with a unique folder structure per that user.

So for example, using your company name as project name in each dwg set projectname to CompanyNameFolder. Then each user under Project Files Search Path would setup their own path for CompanyNameFolder like: C:\Users\Paul\AppData\Roaming\AutoDWG

Now as each user opens the drawing, their Options setup will search in whatever folder that's been specified based on projectname.

You can also read another example on this implementation here:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/understanding-projectname/m-p/7042960#M876586

Re: Using system variable to xref path

m_simonettoBLR3F — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:42:15 GMT

Thanks a lot, works very well!

Re: Using system variable to xref path

paullimapa — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:22:37 GMT

Glad to have helped…cheers!!!