AutoCAD Architecture 2018 xref'd AEC object wrong color

[asikora_frazedesign]

I upgraded my Autocad Architecture 2017 to 2018 this morning and have a few issues. In a base drawing everything appears to be fine with the 3D walls, doors, windows, etc.  Everything has the correct color, linetype, etc for new, existing, demo, etc.  When I Xref this into another file all of the Doors, Windows, Stairs, etc come is as the same layer color as the xref.  For instance

In the Base File

• New Doors are Blue w/ continuous linetype
• Demo Doors are Red w/ HIDDEN2 linetype
• and Existing Doors are Grey w/ continuous linetype

In the xref which is placed on Layer 0 initially all of the Door listed above all turn white.  If I chance the layer the Xref is on all of these object change to match that color.  This is only happening with 3D object with the exception of the 3D walls.  All of the non 3D object lines, circle, arcs, polylines, etc are remain the original color.  The walls come in just fine with the correct colors, linetypes, and hatch patterns.

Before anyone starts to write a reply NO VISRETAIN is not an issue.  I have tired it in both 0 and 1 multiple time reloaded the xref, detached and reattached the xref, etc.  It appears that these object are not defaulting to the embedded object layers and just using the current layer the Xref is on.

If I open the base file and cut and paste the model into the drawing file it appears just fine while just to the side the xref version still had white doors, windows, and stairs. 

I have made a sample file and taken some screen shots which I have attached 3 pictures below.  #1 is the original base file,  #2 is the base file xref'ed into a new file.  #3 Is the xref and the copied version side by side in a new file.

I have never had this issue in any version of autocad I have used and I hope this is just some setting I need to change.  Aging this is only affected some the Autocad Architecture 3D objects Doors, Windows, Ceiling Grids, & Stairs. It may affect others but I have not tried everything yet.

[David_W_Koch]

Was the file into which you externally referenced the base file started in 2018?  If so, what template did you use, and are the proper Display Settings available in that file.  Without seeing the files, I would guess that the host file does not have your expected Display Settings.

[asikora_frazedesign]

The screens shots of the sample file I attached previously were made in yesterday in 2018.  I believe you are right that the file does not have the correct display setting I am just not sure what setting needs to be changed.  I have zipped both files and attached them below incase you or anyone else would like to look them over.  I believe I rolled them back to the 2013 Autocad file format just incase most people have not yet upgraded so they will still be able to open the file and view it. 

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @asikora_frazedesign,

Thank you for posting the files. I was able to get your files to display properly again by doing the following:

• Open Test1.dwg using the RECOVER command. (This repairs one error in the file.)
• Purge, Audit, Save, and Close.
• Create a new drawing using the Aec Model (Imperial Stb).dwt template to start with.
• Use the INSERT command to insert the repaired Test1.dwg file into the clean template.
• Save the new drawing.
• Attach it as an Xref and it should now display correctly.

Could you please try this and let me know if it helps you fix the files?

[davidtetro]

I had a similar issue with a project that I started in 2018. I had three Views generated from one Construct. A Demolition Drawing, a Proposed Drawing and a Reflected Plan Drawing. I had pulled them onto one Sheet drawing along with some notes. The three plans had doors and windows showing up in color and the walls were showing the error triangles.

Turns out, I had to go into Model Space and separate the xref view drawings into different locations within Model Space so they were not 'stacked'. In previous versions, this did not happen. Although, I do recall way back (probably 2007 or 2008 version) that this did happen, but was fixed.

Not too sure if this was the same issue you had.

[asikora_frazedesign]

None of these suggestions are fixing the issue.

All items that have the Color, Linetype, etc set as BYLAYER do not have the correct color when I XREF the drawing into another file and put the XREF on layer {insert layer name} it takes on the display properties of that layer.  So all of my original file all of my DOORS, WINDOWS, STAIRS, CEILING GRIDS, etc are correct but once XREF'ed they are all WHITE to match layer 0.  If I change the layer of the XREF to say Door-D layer they ALL change to match the red color with dashed lines.  The information on the nested layer is not lost.  I can still use the LYRFRZ command to turn of the layers independently just the display properties do not seem to be coming through.

In Autocad Architecture 2013 through 2017 (I have not used prior to 2013 so I can not say) the XREF would maintain the color properties of its original layer when you XREF'ed into a new drawing.  Now in the new drawing you can still override these colors in the in the LAYER PROPERTIES menu and that goes for Either the layer COLOR itself or the VP Color and this still applies.

If I change all layers to say Cyan then everything does change to Cyan.  If I then set VISRETAIN to 0 and reload the XREF everything returns to the normal layer color with the exception or my doors, windows, stairs, etc which on Layer ZERO and still take on the color of that layer.

[davidtetro]

Can you share the drawing that you are x-reffing and the drawing you are referencing into?

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @asikora_frazedesign,

I'm sorry to hear none of these suggestions helped. I was able to fix the sample files you provided using the process I laid out (there was an error in the original file).

• Are you using an old template, or the templates that ship with ACA 2018?
• Are you using custom content that might be causing corruption?
• Could you record and post a Screencast, in case we're missing something in your process that might be causing the issue?

I've been testing this in one of the out-of-the-box template files: Aec Model (Imperial Stb).dwt

• Could you test using this template and let us know if it happens there as well?

@davidtetro - There are some sample files attached to Post #3 above. Or were you looking for different test files?

[asikora_frazedesign]

They are listed above on the ZIP file I posted on the 4/11.  These were 2 small files I made to demonstrate what I am seeing. 

I have attached some screenshot images below showing what I am seeing.

The top picture is the original base file.  As you can see the existing, new, and demo doors are all different colors, as are the existing, new and demo windows.  The walls do not have their color set to BYLAYER which is why they appear the same in both pictures.

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @asikora_frazedesign,

Here are the repaired files for your reference. Open them up and let me know if you're seeing the proper colors now, or if you're still seeing doors and windows in the color of the layer that that Xref is placed on.

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @asikora_frazedesign,

I'm just checking in again to see if you need more help with this. Did the repaired files I provided yesterday work for you, or are they still exhibiting the same layer color issue?

[Victoria.Studley · Accepted solution]

Hi @asikora_frazedesign,

I looked into this issue a bit closer and think I finally figured out what's happening. I believe this is an issue introduced in AutoCAD Architecture 2018, specifically with the way that AEC object components setup with ByLayer display properties are handled in Xrefs.

I tested the same workflow in ACA 2017, and the issue does not occur.

I've reported the issue to the development team for further investigation.

Could you take a look at the following Screencast and confirm, for clarity, if this is exactly what you're experiencing as well?

[jlvancleaf]

I am experiencing the exact same problem as stated in this post.

I have hundreds of projects that are active, and can not afford to have to cut and paste each and every view drawing into a new template and then try to save back to the project.

Has a fix to this issue been found?

Thanks,

Jim Van Cleaf

[asikora_frazedesign]

I spoke with VStudley on the phone and it appears this is an issue with Autocad Architecture 2018 itself not just a simple setting.  The issues was passed off to the team that makes updates and listed it as an urgent issue. VStudley has no control over what future updates contain so not saying when this will be addressed.  I am hoping for a Autodesk HOTFIX any day now. 

[jasonswolfe]

We're having this issue as well, and it's a huge problem for us!  All of our drawings are tied together with xrefs, and the only workaround we've found is to create special wall/door/etc styles to directly control the linetype of objects.  Insanity...

[davidtetro]

I would think that something as basic as checking xref behavior would be easy to do before releasing the software to the public. Guess not. I have lost HOURS of time working on only a handful of projects. I feel your pain.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree. We have a large project with many x-ref's and I have spent the better part of a day trying to figure out HOW to fix this mess. BTW plans are due tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

Is there any solution from Autodesk to this problem? It's a big nightmare.

I cant reopen project with 2017.

BR

[Anonymous]

I see that @Victoria.Studley sent this in to the development team as a high priority. Considering what we went through in our office here over the past few days trying to understand this issue, I can only assume there are thousands of others going through the same pain and loss of revenue and staff labor hours chasing a bug.

We have been dead in the water for 2 days now until we just found this thread. Although my poor staff is relieved that it is not their fault that a system variable was not modified unknowingly, our clients really don't care about our technical difficulties. We are getting blown up with phone calls and email about deadlines slipping.

I find it extremely irresponsible for Autodesk to release their flagship platform with such a GLARING hole in the code that affects the end-users who rely on this platform for their livelihood. I've lost enough direct labor costs over the past 2 days to buy 2 new seats of the software. 

Maybe Autodesk needs to step up for those affected for their losses.

[jdhoagland]

Really need a daily update here Autodesk.  We were all told this week, and it's not looking good now.  I'd rather get a fix that's hit or miss for us while you perfect it, than to have nothing at all right now.