Xref Path, Relative or Absolute?? VPN Connection vs. wired connect to server??

[Anonymous]

We have  2016 and 2018 AutoCAD and are having a tough time using all xrefs with a relative path. Our in-house drafters cannot always insert an xref using the relative path. We also have a couple on drafters that work from home and they connect to our network via VPN connection. If the xref path is Absolute the xref is undefined.

I have researched this and can only find that we need to adjust our autosave time or save the drawing file. Not sure which drawing file to save. I believe it would be the file that have the xref referenced in it, not the xref file itself. the files used as the xref is saved and closed.

What could be causing us to only be able to have xrefs with an absolute path and not a relative path?

If an xref has a relative path, why do our drafters that VPN in get an error for the xref that says its Not Found?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

[Anonymous]

Hey @Anonymous,

From what I remember, attaching w/relative values can be a pain for CAD before 2018. 2018 is supposed to handle that. I would suggest attaching using absolute values and then have them change it to a relative value once its in the drawing.

>_XREF

Right-Click on file

Path

Make Relative

As for your VPN. I'd be willing to be the Drive names are different. Maybe the directory tree is all the exact same to the xref directory except for the first letter. Consider these ABSOLUTE paths.

F:/User/Document/Project/Dwg/Xref

A:/User/Document/Project/Dwg/Xref

Will NOT give you the drawing. The drawing either needs to be saved w/a relative path in the palette, or your drafters working from home will have to manually change the Drive name that it's pointing to from the Xref Palette in the lower box. Just right click on the SAVED PATH in the XREF PALETTE & change that drive letter to whatever the local machine is using. 

I really hope this works for you, let me know if it's not clear.

Thaddeus

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous

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@Anonymous wrote:

We have  2016 and 2018 AutoCAD and are having a tough time using all xrefs with a relative path. Our in-house drafters cannot always insert an xref using the relative path. We also have a couple on drafters that work from home and they connect to our network via VPN connection. If the xref path is Absolute the xref is undefined.

 Absolute paths might be a bit trickier in a VPN condition than in a normal network one. One has to be sure that Drive mapping  or UNC name is resolved in exactly the same fashion.  I suggest that if you want to use Absolute, that UNC names including the full server path could be used instead of a  a mapped file share.

You indicate the some of your drafters are unable to attach an Xref using a relative path. Do they receive some sort of error? Are you using DFS?

I have researched this and can only find that we need to adjust our autosave time or save the drawing file. Not sure which drawing file to save. I believe it would be the file that have the xref referenced in it, not the xref file itself. the files used as the xref is saved and closed.

I suggest not changing the AutoSAVE time to be more frequent than the default value.  The result is increase in I/O and possibly more collisions when files are being accessed. 

What could be causing us to only be able to have xrefs with an absolute path and not a relative path?

Is this the case when working locally on the network or just in VPN conditions?

If an xref has a relative path, why do our drafters that VPN in get an error for the xref that says its Not Found?

I'm not sure but I wonder if it is due to using a drive mapping to  open the original file.  For instance, does this happen if they browse directly to the share on the server and open the file as opposed to using a mapped drive?

Thanks in advance,

Matt

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[Anonymous]

Below is a snip-it with the error an in-house drafter get when tying to add an xref to a drawings with a relative path. I can add the xref to the drawings.

I have also tried inserting the xref with an absolute path ans switching to a relative and that does not work.

The files i tried inserting as an xref is in the same folder as the .dwg file is in. Not a sub-folder.

[Anonymous]

I see. I know it's probably an obvious question but I gotta ask. When you set the path to relative and another attempts to open it; the file is present in their relative directory as well? 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymouswrote:

I see. I know it's probably an obvious question but I gotta ask. When you set the path to relative and another attempts to open it; the file is present in their relative directory as well? Yes. If they are the remote drafters it has to be the relative. If its the absolute they get an error saying its not found.

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[RobDraw]

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@Anonymouswrote:

Below is a snip-it with the error an in-house drafter get when tying to add an xref to a drawings with a relative path. I can add the xref to the drawings.

I have also tried inserting the xref with an absolute path ans switching to a relative and that does not work.

The files i tried inserting as an xref is in the same folder as the .dwg file is in. Not a sub-folder.

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This happens when the file hasn't been saved. Just insert the XREF, save, and change the pathing afterwards or cancel, save, and then try again.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

If the xref files are in the same folder have you tried using the No Path option? does that behave differently?

IF this is still an on-going problem, please tell me the difference in 2016 vs 2018 (if any). For instance, if you set up the xref attachments in 2018 and the xref is in  the same folder, can you use both absolute and relative? If you log in on your VPN does it behave the same?

Now tell me how these pieces work in just 2016?

Does the file format seem to make any difference?  I don't like to save to older versions such as to a 2013 format from 2018. How are you doing this and do you feel it has any bearing on the problem?

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

[Anonymous]

Everything work fine until today.

Now I can't insert and xref with a relative path or switch an xref with a full (absolute) path. I've done all the saving and purging, tried shutting my computer down etc.

This does not matter what file I am in or what file I am trying to insert as an xref.

Any help would be great.

REFPATHTYPE is set to 1 which is relative path by default.

Thanks
Matt.

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Everything work fine until today.

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What changed? Update?