topic Re: Feild updates when xrefed. in AutoCAD Forum

Feild updates when xrefed.

kbucknam — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:23:22 GMT

I have set up detail files and xrefed them into a plot sheet. I want the detail number to be run by the detail file name. I have used this diesel expression in my field within the xref to do this.

$(substr, $(getvar, dwgname), 1, 5)

Which displays the first 4 characters of the file name as the detail number. (File Name: 100B - Detail Name)

The problem is when I xref this detail into my plot sheet then the field looks to the host file name and not the xref file name. If it looks to the source file then the plot sheet would show every detail as having the same number.

How do I get the field to only look at the source file and not the host file?

FYI - I don't want to prevent the xref from updating either. The purpose is to be able to change the detail number by only changing the file name and not having to change it multiple places. When the detail number was just text we had several occasions where the detail number wasn't updated when the file names were changed.

Re: Feild updates when xrefed.

cadffm — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:30:58 GMT

Hi,

you can't

$(getvar, dwgname) displays the name of the current drawing and this is the host file name.

You can do nothing inside your xref file to get what you want.

Re: Feild updates when xrefed.

pendean — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:40:24 GMT

@kbucknam Q: why xref into another drawing just to plot?

Has this method ever worked? Of is this a new workflow you are trying based on something you've researched, studied and tested out first?

Q2: Have you folks ever considered using SSM at all? It has details tags and sheet numbering, but you have to commit to using layouts as Autodesk intended.

Re: Feild updates when xrefed.

kbucknam — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:53:17 GMT

I have used this system for years. There are hundreds of individual detail files that are drawn to different scales. I can xref only the ones I need into my plot sheet file for my particular project. When a detail is updated it automatically updates in my project. I realize Autocad has the SSM but that would require further setup and we are transitioning to Revit. We'll still be using Autocad for our details though. Is there a way to do what I'm asking or not?

Re: Feild updates when xrefed.

pendean — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:19:51 GMT

@kbucknam If xrefing that specific FIELD has always worked for you in the past and is only now broken, please share a sample DWG file and confirm which year version it last worked in for others to test for you.

Fur the rest of us, in our own files, not so much. So you might have something else going on that is not quite expressed in your posts to date.

SSM is basically the simplified method built into REVIT to manage sheets and details: you'll be using a more advanced and integrated with no way out of it in that software. Enjoy that ride.

Re: Feild updates when xrefed.

paullimapa — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:38:12 GMT

Try this assuming in the plot sheet dwg you don’t use fields then only in that dwg set fieldeval to 0. The fields from those xref dwgs would not update.

AutoCAD 2024 Help | FIELDEVAL (System Variable) | Autodesk

Re: Feild updates when xrefed.

kbucknam — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:49:12 GMT

Thanks Paul! That did resolve the issue however I do have sheet numbers that update with the ctab field. I guess I'll have to decide which one I want more. Thanks!

Re: Feild updates when xrefed.

paullimapa — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:56:40 GMT

you are welcome...cheers!!!