Copy & Paste between files brings in all references, including Datalinks & images

[elgannaway]

I know this problem has been in existence for over a decade, but I want to know if anyone has a solution.  I am not looking for how to deal with the outcome, as I am not a novice, but I want to stop the behavior.  This is AutoCAD LT, so no LISP routine solutions either.

The Behavior - When copying content from one DWG to another, any and all references, whether they be XREF DWGs, images, PDFs or even DataLinks are pasted into the new file.  This happens even when the copied content excludes any and all content that would link to said references.  I have a template that includes about 15 datalinks with relative reference paths.  All of these table are used solely in paperspace.  When I copy even a single line from model space between files, all the Datalinks (and any other references) accompany that single line to the second file.

This is a ridiculous behavior that doesn't seem to have a true function.  If the copied content included the referenced content, that would make sense, but when it does not, that content should not be "ported" over to the new file.  It creates a cleanup burden on the user that shouldn't be present.

What I need is either a setting that stops this from happening or an explanation of what this is necessary. It comes off as lazy or incompetent programming.  If it had an obvious function, I wouldn't say this, but it is an annoyance that costs time and money on a daily basis.  It creates confusion when trying to train new staff and it stands in the way of updating to new standards as we adapt to new processes.  

[cadffm]

We need your/all data, it sounds you have none-Lt content in your file and perhaps there is an object enabler running.

Share your files and we take a look.

And tell us your Productversion, command: ABOUT

[elgannaway]

No chance that I can allow proprietary drawings to be posted on a public forum.  I am using AutoCAD LT 2021, but this problem has been constant since I have started using LT in 2014.  You don't need my information as you can likely replicate the issue with any version of AutoCAD LT.  If you can't, then you would likely know the solution as it would be a setting that needs to change.  

Please explain what you mean by "object enabler".  I am not running ANY third-party add-ons and running the software pretty much out-of-the-box.  I change settings as necessary, but those typically have NOTHING to do with object handling.

[cadffm]

" as you can likely replicate the issue with any version of AutoCAD LT"

If i would have your file, perhaps - but it isn't always the same!

This is why i asked for your file (source and target file).

>"No chance that I can allow proprietary drawings"

proprietary drawings?? You can delete everything what is important - just the the issue again before upload.

Hint: Please use a NEW instance of LT to test this issue, open the program, open the file, then copy&paste to  a new acad.dwt based file

For example, if i copy the file attached here: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/datalinks-following-copy-vector-data/m-p/2502375#M28570...

the data link doesn't copied to another plain LT file (based on ACADLT.dwt).

Offtopic: And the LT way to delete the data link, create a dxe file, so it isn't longer missed, then detach/delete the link.

[elgannaway]

I saw your rude response sir and I did give you my product version - AutoCAD LT 2021.  Please read all words.  I also mentioned that this issue has been persistent since 2014, when I was using the 2013 version of the software.  

If you read my original message, you will also notice that I described the behavior as independent of content.  No matter what I copy and paste from one file to the other, the datalinks come with.

To respond to the lazy attempt to refer to a 2009 forum thread, you obviously didn't read it (as I have).  It does not pose a solution to the problem but a solution to how to delete the result of the problem.  It also utilizes a LISP routine in the solution as the original poster was an AutoCAD user (meaning the full version).  So please, if you want to garner the respect as an expert, please make responses that demonstrate your expertise.  Otherwise, please allow those  who understand the problem, read the entire post and present solutions or explanations.

[pendean]

@elgannaway You wrote:
>>>...When copying content from one DWG to another, any and all references, whether they be XREF DWGs, images, PDFs or even DataLinks are pasted into the new file...<<<
Never seen it here with our files from any of us LT and plain AutoCAD users in our office. But...

>>>...this issue has been persistent since 2014, when I was using the 2013 version of the software....<<<
If this has been happening in your drawings for that long it is likely something that remains true in your current version, OR some specific content you have in there that is the trigger, OR you are grabbing more than you intended.

It is hard to diagnose or decipher with just my own office's DWG files. Perhaps a detailed step by step description of how you copy/paste between files will give us a clue, or a Screencast video of you in action replicating this over and over would help. Screencast is free from here if you don't have it https://knowledge.autodesk.com/search-result/caas/simplecontent/content/download-autodesk-screencast...

TIA

[cadffm]

Hey sorry,

but you are totally wrong with all your statements!

"Please read all words"

I did! You not 😉

1. I am not rude,  i am just not a native english speaker - that's all.

If your german is better than my english, let's talk about in german!

Sorry for my bad english skills, i am just trying to help.

Be sure, I know the problem in general,
but when it comes to a specific case, you have to talk about specific data.

The same symptoms do not automatically mean the same problem.

>>"To respond to the lazy attempt to refer to a 2009 forum thread, you obviously didn't read it (as I have). It does not pose a solution to the problem but a solution to how to delete the result of the problem. ""

No, No and No.

I linked to the other thread just because of

1. there is a sample file i refered to

2. and i said I can copy this line without copying the datalink.

   So please: Restart your program, open this file there and copy the line to a new file based on acadlt.dwt.

   Result?

>"If you read my original message, you will also notice that I described the behavior as independent of content."

>"No matter what I copy and paste from one file to the other, the datalinks come with"

I read your words, but i also knowing that it is dependent of content and/or the version!

So the first thing is: Testing what your problem is.

Trust me, i know more about these things and so long there is more than one possible problem,

i like to check all things.

>>" I am using AutoCAD LT 2021"

Ok, current version (and my version for this test) is LT 2021.1.1 ~ three updates later

If you have trouble since 2013 EVERY TIME, it should be simple to upload an sample target and source file, or?

It's your choice, because it is your problem, not mine.

Just trying to help

Sebastian

[cadffm]

Please RE-start your LT2021.0.0 (Ootb, without any update)

open this file (attached)

ctrl+c the circle, ctrl+v into a new acadlt.dwt based drawing.

Did it copy the datalink?

[elgannaway]

Solutions which require a complete overhaul of in-place processes, existing templates and starting from scratch on every project are not feasible, nor are they reasonable.  We don't start files from ACAD.dwt as that is a complete and utter waste of time.  We start ALL files from pre-defined templates with custom layers, datalinks, blocks, scales, etc, etc.  That is what most companies do.  Starting from ACAD.dwt is uncommon in a professional workplace.

So you can see the source file attached (stripped of all proprietary information).  Unfortunately, this may mean that it doesn't behave the same as some of that proprietary information is the aforementioned blocks, layers, etc.  Since there is no chance that I would ever post our Excel files, those will all come up as "Not Found".  That alone could change the behavior.  

Since you have artificially applied a definition of a target file as "from ACAD.dwt", there isn't much I can do as far as a target file.  So what I did was saved copied "Source.dwg" as "Target.dwg", deleted the datalinks (also ran both purge and audit) and then copied over one of the tables still present in the Source file (note that I was not able to replicate the model space non-reference version of this scenario due to the contrived nature of this exercise).

What you will notice in the External References palette is that all of the datalinks came over, and not just the one that was pasted.  This same behavior occurs if I copy non-datalink elements on full project instances of this same process.

[elgannaway]

That is NOT a datalink.  That is a DXE (data extraction link).  What I am referring to is a fully updatable Datalink to an XLS, XLSM or XLSX file.  The two have different behaviors, different use-cases and should not be used as basis for diagnosing the other.  Thank you though.

[elgannaway]

Still no true Datalinks present, just DXE (data extractions).  That is not useful at all.  We require the ability to update tables without having to delete and recreate when information changes.  This is done through the Datalink feature which links an Excel file to AutoCAD with the ability to update data (bi-directionally) through that link.  

If you type Datalink into the command line and don't see an actual link in the resulting popup, then you aren't working on the same process that I am describing.  You are mistakenly referring to a Data Extraction table as a Datalink.  Data Extraction tables are not linked to the original content in the same way as a true Datalink is.

[elgannaway]

Actual version used is 2021-1.  That is inconsequential as I have been able to replicate this on 2020, 2019, 2018 & even 2022 which I only recently installed and haven't migrated over yet.  This tells me that the problem is either inherent in the Datalink programming or is a setting that is readily apparent to the end-user.

[cadffm]

Okay, minutes later you have

2021.1 productversion,  not 2021 or 2021.1.1

and if i am right, it is relevant what you copying (i talk about your 2 sample files, nothing else).

DXE OR DBLINK - different thing for sure, but this issue is the same to both:

If you copying one Acad Table which refering to an xls or dxe, ALL DXE(if present) and ALL DATALINK to Excelfiles (if present)

copying to another file.

But it should copy  by copy&paste a circle or table without a link to dxe or xls file or another external source.

So far, this part would be normal (not nice, but normal, in my eyes an bug too).

If you copy an MText it should copy the dxe/datalinks, no DWG Xrefs, no PDF

For example your files: You didn't copy th DWG Xref.

Please confirm or correct me (please, let us talk only about the files we all have - your source.dwg and new files based on acadlt.dwt

[elgannaway]

Listen, let's start over.  Let's ignore all problems except for the one I am about to describe and is illustrated in the above attached Source & Target files.  

I have a DWG file, "Source" which contains multiple DataLinks (NOT DXE, but the type of reference that is generated when you type >Datalink).  This file, "Source", was created using a custom template which already had all of these Datalinks created, all but one with relative paths.  All of them work as intended in "Source".

For some reason, I needed to quickly copy one of these tables to a different file, one not created using the same template (this happens when we are doing detailing unrelated to full project drawings - uses a different template that doesn't typically require all of the schedules and tables of a full project).  When this table is copied over, instead of just the single Datalink associated with that table copying over, ALL of the Datalinks from "Source" are copied over to the new file.  The table works and updates to the data in the correct Excel file (due entirely to the relative path), but I now have to clean out the unused Datalinks as leaving them can lead to file corruption (I have had it happen).

So with that scenario and the files provided, here's the ONE AND ONLY question that I am trying to fix.  I have other scenarios that are similar, but let's address this one first.  

How do I prevent AutoCAD from copying over all of the Datalinks when I copy a single Datalink table from one DWG to another? 

Once we resolve that, it may resolve the other related issues (Datalink nested in block from tool palette, linked images copying over even when not part of data set being copied, etc, etc).  

Just an FYI here, I am not a novice user.  I have been working professionally in AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT and other varieties of AutoCAD since the early 1990s.  I have been working around these issues for years and simply want to resolve the issues as it will make it easier on those working under me.  I have my methods but teaching people how to work around glitches in programming is inefficient.  Finding the solution to the glitch is though.

[elgannaway]

Another variation on the Target.  This time, the target file was created from the closest thing we have to ACAD.dwt, which is a slightly modified version with some added layers and 3 geometric elements.  There are no links or references in that DWG (or the source DWT). 

The result is the same, all the links are copied over, when only a single Datalink table is copied and pasted from "Source"

[cadffm]

>>"Listen, let's start over. Let's ignore all problems except for the one I am about to describe and is illustrated in the above attached Source & Target files."

Perfect!

Simple answer: You can't!

It is "as designed" and AutoDESK only can change it!

(also without fixing the problem: It would be greate to have a simple commandline available -command to purge them, but a function like this is also missing, or?).

How do you delete these Links, from inside the _table -> datalink selection dialog by context menu -> delete

or by ascii DXF edit, full version use or which way?

[cadffm]

---

@elgannaway  schrieb:

The result is the same, all the links are copied over, when only a single Datalink table is copied and pasted from "Source"

---

As i wrote, in this case (copy an acad table object, which linked to dxe, xls or another external file)

it is usual, alls data- and dataextraction-Links copied.

[elgannaway]

So, this is a known issue for over a decade with no desirable functionality (see previous post from 2009 discussion the same topic).  There is ABSOLUTELY NO justification that all datalinks need to be copied when a single table (with datalink) is copied.  It is incompetent programming.  It is a lazy programmer who includes a useless function because he/she doesn't know how to or want to fix it.  

Betreff: Datalinks following copy vector data

Can anyone give me a benefit to this glitch.  I can't see one.  I have been using Datalinks for around 7 years now and I have yet to find an example where it made sense to copy all links from one file to another.  I would use a template for that.  If I need all those links, it is built into the template.  I don't need to go to some previously created file to acquire those links.  If I want one table and its link, then I should be able to copy it over. 

I am tracking down a possible workaround now that utilizing dynamic links via the tool palette, but AutoDesk really should hire competent programmers who can fix this.

[cadffm]

>>So, this is a known issue for over a decade with no desirable functionality

Except to function to be able to import a link, yes.

>>There is ABSOLUTELY NO justification that all datalinks need to be copied when a single table (with datalink) is copied.

I have the same thought

>>"It is incompetent programming. "

Or as designed 🤣

>>It is a lazy programmer who includes a useless function because he/she doesn't know how to or want to fix it.  

I have the same thought

>>but AutoDesk really should hire competent programmers who can fix this.

They have!

The problem are peoples who manage the budget and make decisions.

There are so many small problems, issues and stupid little things, often easy to fix, easy to add or to remove. but..decades later it is all the same.

-

Send feedback to AutoDESK, that's the only way, if we have much luck.

[cadffm]

>>So, this is a known issue for over a decade with no desirable functionality

Except to function to be able to import a link, yes.

>>There is ABSOLUTELY NO justification that all datalinks need to be copied when a single table (with datalink) is copied.

I have the same thought

>>"It is incompetent programming. "

Or as designed 🤣

>>It is a lazy programmer who includes a useless function because he/she doesn't know how to or want to fix it.  

I have the same thought

>>but AutoDesk really should hire competent programmers who can fix this.

They have!

The problem are peoples who manage the budget and make decisions.

There are so many small problems, issues and stupid little things, often easy to fix, easy to add or to remove. but..decades later it is all the same.

-

Send feedback to AutoDESK, that's the only way, if we have much luck.

[elgannaway · Accepted solution]

I was able to find a "functional" workaround, but it is only somewhat more efficient than the current lazy programming.  Passing a Datalink table through the Tool Palette (ie, moving it to the tool palette & inserting it from that palette in the target file) does not drag the rest of the Datalinks in.  You have to enable links and the result isn't always perfect (some formatting changes when it comes to font size), but it is doable.  I will have to create a library of our standard Datalinked tables and see which ones have formatting issues when dropped from the palette (it could just be the first one as it is one of only 4 table that we use regularly that doesn't pull formatting from Excel (don't get me started on Datalinks not recognizing row height as a attribute and how it makes vertical text in Datalinks a PITA)

It would be better if Autodesk would just finally fix the glitch.  There's no reason I shouldn't be able to copy and paste a Datalink table and only get that table and its associated Datalink as the result in the target file.  There is no "by design" here.  That's just shoddy work.  I would get fired for such work if I were a programmer.