Xref paths spontaneously changing - file associations contually lost

[Anonymous]

I am having a problem where I will have an Xref, either with Absolute or Relative paths, where I will save the drawing and when I re-open the paths will be broken.  It appears part of the path name will be spontaneously changed for some reason.  For example, if the file was in Volume/shared_files/current_projects/project_x it will change to Volume/shared_files-1/current_projects/project_x.  In any case, regardless whether I relink it absolutely or relatively, the link will be broken again later when I reopen with that incorrect path name.

Is this a mac problem or a Cad Problem?  Screen shots of before and after showing the file paths are attached.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am sorry that you are having problems with the Xref paths.  Can you describe the location where the files reside?  Is it a local drive? Is it being synced to the iCloud or other cloud-based location? Or is it on a server share?

I don't believe this is an AutoCAD issue but rather the file is not found in the correct location or it has some sort of lock on it. At any rate, please give me some more details and I will try to help.

Does this happen if you store the files in a non-shared desktop folder?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Paths are shown on the image - the root is a local NAS drive. No other
computer connected to NAS has this problem.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

NAS devices are not a supported configuration however we can check some things. What kind of NAS are you using and how are you connected to it?

I would first check the protocol on the NAS and on your Mac to make sure they match those of the other computers. You then might also ping the NAS and maybe even a TRACERT to check speed and latency or packet loss.

I would also verify that nothing is getting blocked at a firewall or with AV software.

Does this happen if you work locally?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Its a Synology NAS, all computers are physically connected *directly *to
the NAS via CAT7 with no intervening switches, therefore this problem *only
*happens working locally. We have 5 computers connected this way with the
other 4 not experiencing this.

I seriously doubt the problem is with a firewall or AV.

We can do these checks but would indicate anything that would force a
*change* in the actual path name as described above?

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

By Local I mean  the local drive and not the NAS. It is good to eliminate all the possibilities.

I do see the Synology NAS questions frequently here in the Community Forums. Which protocol do you have selected on the device? SMB?

Have you tried to ping the device to determine if the response time is different with your computer than the others?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is CIFS. No one works off of their local drives.

Not tried pinging - would the connection speed change the drive path names
spontaneously?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

The test on the local drive would tell us if AutoCAD is doing this.  I suspect speed might be in play here. If the packet request is slow then it might start another instance thinking that the data is unavailable.

A lot of customers using this configuration use SMB - Is it possible to try that? Does this happen only for this user on this one computer or does it happen if the user moves to a different computer also?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[maxim_k]

Hi Caleb,

I think you need to look inside /Volumes folder on your Mac, the problem could be in wrong mount points:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/11886601#11886601

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Only happens on this computer. Average ping time on a working computer is
.35-.45ms, on affected computer .45-.55ms.

I just checked all computers are on SMB config.

[Anonymous]

This is sounding warmer to the problem, but i am not seeing the drive which
is \Shared_files as an alias at all, only as a folder; along with the
Macintosh HD alias.

[maxim_k]

When the Xref path changes?
After you first time save master drawing after you attached Xref? Or when you close and reopen drawing?

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Not after first time attaching, happens often when I close+reopen, even
after I re-associate the broken link.

[maxim_k]

Do you have to login with password to NAS in order to be able to use shared folder. I mean do you have specific user name and login on NAS?

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Yes - every station has its own (to track activity per station on the NAS),
but they all have the same permissions/criteria. No one logs on via
another station however.

[maxim_k]

Can you ask your IT manager to create new user (station login) for you and use this new login for test?

Maxim

[Anonymous]

I will have to wait until we have time to execute the test - but yes this
is feasible.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Have you and your IT person had the chance to test the new user account yet? I am hoping that this test will tell us something positive so this will work normally for you.