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.

[jdhoagland]

Still waiting for an update.  Still can't print or submit plans since problem also affects ability to freeze those same objects, and I have at least 20 styles between networks, parcels, points, and surfaces to manage on just 1 sheet.

[Anonymous]

I definitely won't be moving to 2018 until this is fixed. This is terrible!! I feel so sorry for the many people who are struggling with this and don't know it is not their fault.

This is not a "feature", or minor problem with an easy fix, which anything posted by AutoDesk is treating this like. This is a major roadblock to this update.

[davidtetro]

Add insult to injury that the 2018 version is its own .dwg file version. So reloading ACA 2017 and then back saving everything you worked on in 2018 is ridiculous. I would love to back charge AutoDesk for all the time I have spent with adjusting my drawings in order to print them properly because of this error they provided us.

[davidtetro]

Any chance of getting a status update on the fix for this AEC issue from Autodesk?? My clients are not too happy with the delays caused by this issue, the building departments are not happy with receiving drawings with poor information due to the graphical errors associated with this issue, I cannot move forward effectively by having to alter items in order to meet minimum graphical accepted standards due to this issue.

There are Architects trying to make a living here that are being dragged through the mud! I cannot believe a company as big as Autodesk cannot create a fix for this...and soon... 

[Anonymous]

I have found that if you bind the xref, the AEC objects will return to their original color/bylayer.  This is not an answer, but could be a temporary way to get a drawing plotted. Just don't save the drawing after the bind and "maybe" Autodesk will fix this problem at some point.

[davidtetro]

Thanks for the tip - that will not work for me due to the amount of xref work going into my projects. I have been plotting to PDF and them printing those PDF in black and white. It helps.

However, some of the xref's try to clean up the walls now (they did not do it before) when you have multiple drawings of the same level xreffed onto a drawing (i.e. a demolition plan, proposed plan and reflected plan all on the same drawing sheet). This has not happened in past editions of ACA, but is happening now. The PDF plot trick does not work for this issue.

The problem is not just the display of AEC objects, there is also some major coding missing or that requires altering to get this to work like previous versions. the XREF issue is a big deal as well.

[asikora_frazedesign]

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@davidtetro wrote:

Thanks for the tip - that will not work for me due to the amount of xref work going into my projects. I have been plotting to PDF and them printing those PDF in black and white. It helps.

However, some of the xref's try to clean up the walls now (they did not do it before) when you have multiple drawings of the same level xreffed onto a drawing (i.e. a demolition plan, proposed plan and reflected plan all on the same drawing sheet). This has not happened in past editions of ACA, but is happening now. The PDF plot trick does not work for this issue.

The problem is not just the display of AEC objects, there is also some major coding missing or that requires altering to get this to work like previous versions. the XREF issue is a big deal as well.

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Why not set up a black/white or monochrome pen table?  That is what we use at my work.  I was the one who reported this issue and it is killing us waiting for a fix.  If you did that you should be able to print right from Autocad.  

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @davidtetro,

This issue is still being investigated by the development team. We are aware that this issue affects a large number of customers and that you'd like to see a fix for this as soon as possible.

When I hear anything new, I'll post another update in this thread.

[jdhoagland]

That's it?  Last week's response to my support ticket said you had a fix that was being reviewed internally and would hopefully be released by end of last week.  Today you have no time frame or update other than you know it's broke?

[jdhoagland]

Autodesk, please give us a real update NOW.  Two weeks of no production for us, and no REAL update.

And what's really funny is now your ads pop-up on all my webpages advertising to buy 2018, new features like, can't print!

[shipman]

I just discovered the issue with the AEC objects changing color when xrefed. I see the subject line indicates this was solved but all I see is complaints. Was there a hotfix for this issue? This basically renders my drawings usless.

[Anonymous]

Them figuring out what the problem is, makes it solved. There is no fix. Just painful workarounds.

[asikora_frazedesign]

No a hotfix or update has not been issued yet.  This was marked as solved by me at the request of Autodesk because Autodesk is now aware of the issue and knows it is an issue with the software and not some setting that needs to be turned on or off.  Also no other suggestions or solutions are needed.  They are working on this and believe me no one wants this fixed more than I do that is why I reported it.

[davidtetro]

No fix yet. Apparently, according to Autodesk, this is not a hotfix issue. It is something bigger than that. They may have to roll out a newer version (like 2018.2).

My work-around is plotting to PDF and then printing those PDF's in black and white. only issue is that some of the lighter colors come out screened in black and white - more of a grayscale than black and white.

[davidtetro]

mfortune - I am right behind you in line with wanting it fixed. This is killing the timeframe on my productivity and projects.

[jdhoagland]

I can handle the line thicknesses and types being messed up cause I plot black and white for submissions anyway.  But how do you handle the AEC Objects not freezing based on their display layer?  Also, did you get an update from a support ticket about a hotfix not going to be sufficient, and why isn't that coming directly from Autodesk Tech Support, just a line each day would suffice for me to shut up.

[davidtetro]

JD - I am not sure I am following the 'freezing' issue you are talking about. Can you clarify or elaborate on the issue you are having with the freezing for me? Maybe if my brain was working a bit better today, I could answer your question.

[jdhoagland]

My xref'ed AECObjects on bylayer for color and linetype, do not freeze based on their style layer.  They stay on whether I freeze the object's layer, or the display layer, thus making it impossible to turn off certain features for different sheets in a plan set.  See attached.  Looks correct on screen, prints wrong.

[davidtetro]

Interesting - I do not have that problem. I just have color and linetype issues. 

[jdhoagland]

It appears to only happen if the item is viewport frozen, so to show a legend with all items for the plan set on a sheet where you might not show all items next to the legend...doesn't work.