Associate DWG with multiple projects

[bwolski]

I have a project that neighbors another project I am currently working on, let's call them Project A and Project B.  Project A has an existing topo(EG.dwg, "EG" for short) that is updated with precise shots from the surveyors.  I would like to minimize the work by only updating one file rather than duplicating everything for this Project B.  I'm thinking I can associate the Project A-EG drawing with Project B and then add EG to the data shortcuts.

My worry is that the EG will only be associated with the last Project I forced the association to.  Has anyone had any issues I should know about when doing this?  I'm worried the EG labeling will lose its association or the data shortcut will fail once EG is re-associated with other project.  Will it require multiple steps of re-associating and updating to ensure both Project A and Project B references of EG are updated?

I'm hoping someone has attempted this and can help me with any headaches I may encounter.

Thanks

[Neilw_05]

If your existing terrain is the only common link I suggest you use a cropped surface to create a linked surface between the 2 projects. A cropped surface is a separate surface that is linked to the source surface. You can store the cropped surface anywhere you want yet it will always be linked and will update when the source surface changes. Thus you could store it in your second phase projects folder and create shortcuts to it. It does not have to be associated with the other phase project.

I have not done this so it is just theoretical at this time. Please review the help topic for cropping a surface.