Automatically Updating X references

[Anonymous]

Hello all, 
I have a question regarding Xrefs that I have in the paper space. 
Each project we do captures some images from google earth which must them be saved and pasted into the paper space on a template. My question is whether or not it is possible to have a stock image xrefed in the same folder as my template that, when saved over with a new image from google earth, will automatically update the xref in the paper space. 
At the moment I have an image generically titled "ROOF" and it is set to relative path. If my AutoCAD drawing is open and I try and save over the ROOF.jpg with the correct site image, nothing happens (presumably because the file is being used and can't be saved over). 
Ideally, a final product would simply require the user to zoom to the appropriate extent on Google earth, center the "ROOF" in the image, and save over the ROOF.JPG that is being xrefed for that specific project. Is there any way to do this that is easier than X-references?

Pictures below for general references. Please ask questions if any of this isn't clear enough. 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Thinking out loud here....

• You are in the drawing with the roof generic image (could be a ox with an x in it). It is linked via xref manager.
• Open Google Earth and find the new image you want. Save the image to the project folder.
• Open Xref Manager and adjust the Roof path to the new image.
• Still sort of manual but you don't need to close the drawing to update it.

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

[Anonymous]

This is a good idea, but I'm trying to keep the other designers from having to fiddle around with folder paths and the Xref manager. 
I wanted something like the data linked tables, where when I changed the parent table, it prompts me to update the data links on my drawing file, but with a xrefed image. 

Your suggestion is a good workaround for the time being though. 

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

There is no way to do this currently in plain AutoCAD. Might I suggest that we move this thread to the customization forum? Perhaps someone there has a solution that has been created to help do this. I know that there are some third-party add-ons that get close to this process.

You might also check the Autodesk App Store to see if there are some utilities there that might help.

Another thought is to perhaps insert the image into a block and then use block substitution.

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