Bind XREFs in Mulitple Drawings

[Anonymous]

Is there any way to bind an XREF to a drawing across multiple drawings?  We have XREF borders that we use (AutoCAD 2018) across all our drawings that we need to bind to their respective files before we are able to store and save them in the Vault.  Currently, we have to open them all one by one, bind, and then save them.  I'm hoping there is an easier way to do this, because we have well over 800+ of these to go through.

Thanks

[imadHabash]

Hi,

>> Is there any way to bind an XREF to a drawing across multiple drawings?  <<

Yes you can export new cad dwg with ETRANSMIT command and make sure to tick bind option.

Regards,

[beyoungjr]

XREF was a VERY poor choice for inserting drawing borders and title blocks.  Unfortunately you cannot Bind XREF's outside of the open drawing file.  It is within the drawing file that positional data and other conditions of the XREF are stored so Binding as well must be managed with the drawing file open.

For future reference you should consider template files with your borders and title blocks in the file as BLOCKS.  Maybe even having PaperSpace Layouts setup with your borders and title blocks.

Here is an interesting old article about Bind vs Insert and there are many other resources to learn about methods.

http://cadtips.cadalyst.com/import/insert-or-bind-choose-wisely

Much Luck,

Blaine

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

besides of you are killing some functionality ... 😉

You might use command _DWGCONVERT ... there you can define a "conversion setup" with the option to bind xrefs.

- alfred -

[BCrosby]

Binding XREFs is grayed out using ETransmit and DWG Convert and is not supported in AutoCAD Mechanical.

[BCrosby]

This question was asked on my behalf. I understand that using XREF for borders was a poor choice. This was realized years ago. I am currently using Inventor and am just starting using Vault. I need to bind all the borders in thousands of drawings so I can load them to Vault. I was hoping for a script software that could be programmed to open each file, bind all xrefs in that file, save, and close, then on to the next file.

Any suggestions?

[beyoungjr]

Hi again,

Here's a 3 year old post from CADforum that might help with creating a script and batch file to accomplish your task.

http://www.cadforum.cz/forum_en/forum_posts.asp?TID=10467&PN=2&title=initialize-script-using-batch-f...

Hope this works for ya,

Blaine

[john.vellek]

Hi @BCrosby,

Xreference titleblocks do have there place but it likely depends on you utilize them in a project and how large the project is.  At any rate, I found a utility in the Autodesk App Store that MIGHT work. I have not tried it myself but its description sounds like it does what you want to do.  The app is called BindBatcher. I hopes this works for you.

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

[BCrosby]

I have installed this but can't find where to activate this application.

[john.vellek]

Hi @BCrosby,

I have not used this app before but from what I am reading in the description, it appears to install in the Ribbon. It is most likely in the Add-ins tab.  If this is not the case I suggest reaching out to the developer for support.

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

[john.vellek]

Hi @BCrosby,

Did you get the add-in up and running? I am hoping that it worked to bind the Xrefs properly for you.

[RobDraw]

---

@beyoungjr wrote:

XREF was a VERY poor choice for inserting drawing borders and title blocks.

---

There are workflows where XREFing the title block is required. Those of us that have worked on projects that have more than a couple sheets probably know the value of it.

[BCrosby]

No, I haven't. Still binding one at a time.

[BCrosby · Accepted solution]

Although binding XRefs using eTransmit and /or DWGConvert is not functional in AutoCAD Mechanical 2018, it is functional in AutoCAD Electrical 2018. This has finally (2 weeks later) solved my problem of binding thousands of XREFS one at a time. I just had to remotely log into someone else's computer that had the electrical software to complete this task.

Thanks for the input on ETransmit. Although the mechanical software didn't allow me to do this, the response got me on the right track toward the solution.

[BCrosby]

Although binding X Refs using eTransmit and /or DWG Convert is not functional in AutoCAD Mechanical 2018, it is functional in AutoCAD Electrical 2018. This has finally (2 weeks later) solved my problem of binding thousands of XREFS one at a time. I just had to remotely log into someone else's computer that had the electrical software to complete this task.

Thanks for the input on eTransmit. Although the mechanical software didn't allow me to do this, the response got me on the right track toward the solution.

[beyoungjr]

Great reporting back on this!  It is truly a peculiar issue that warrants resolution but in the meanwhile users can head this solution.

Cheers,

Blaine

[john.vellek]

Hi @BCrosby,

I need to apologize as I think I really dropped the ball on this.  With AutoCAD Mechanical, the install should also include core/vanilla AutoCAD.  The eTransmit in core AutoCAD should do this for you.

I was under the impression that one wanted some utility that didn't require opening product to do the bind process for you and was more automatic than an eTransmit process. I am so sorry.

Can you try the process in core AutoCAD to see if it is working for you?  Also, if you installed the add-in I suggested, it is likely to show up in your core AutoCAD and perhaps not the Mechanical.  Can you check for that too as it would be good to have feedback on whether that works for this process as well.

[BCrosby]

No worries, I was really looking for any solution that would get this job
done. I literally have thousands of file to process so I can load Vault.



I thought I should have a vanilla AutoCAD as well. I did try and find that.
I don't see anything in my Autodesk folder for vanilla AutoCAD. Is there
something secret to where it may be located? Maybe buried under the
Mechanical or something.



Good thinking about the add-in. I was baffled as to where that might have
installed. Maybe under the vanilla AutoCAD if I could find that. There isn't
anything under my add-ins in Mechanical. That add-in cost me $2 and I can't
even find it. The developer doesn't email back either.

[john.vellek]

HI @BCrosby,

To run core AutoCAD, use OPTIONS and select the "Vanilla" profile and set it to current. Let me know if that works as I don't use AutoCAD Mechanical so I am on new turf 🙂

[EDIT] I found this other thread that indicates that the lack of this feature in eTransmit is due to the nature of the Mechanical drawing structure.

[BCrosby]

The Bind option under in ETransmit is grayed out in vanilla AutoCAD as well.



I do not see the app in the add-ins under vanilla AutoCAD either.