Layer states, circular references, copying cad backups...I'm so bored of redoing

[hellafella]

I operate with a 2 dwg system..basic objects are in my basic123.dwg ...I then xref this basic dwg to basic-3d123.dwg, do my 3d work. Keeps dwg file size down dramatically.   

It used to work before 2019 which I hate fully at this point!   In my design...I have to do a circular reference in the end, to xref pipe & boxes  text info back to my basic123.dwg   

So,  as we all do we create copies of the the files based on the citys requests to change things, but we also want to hold onto our original copy during the fight.  Thats when this POS Layerstate system goes haywire.  

Anyone have a solution?  

[Anonymous]

Have you looked into using data links, a bit tricky to use but it helps.

Also using OVERLAY for the reference setting eliminates some of the duplicate layers. 

Dave Z.

2018 in use

[cwr-pae]

Maybe try a 3 drawing system? a 2d linework.dwg to xref, a 3d design.dwg to data shortcut and a combined presentation.dwg as the final product with the linework and design drawings as sources. Labels on data shortcut objects in the presentation dwg will update their information as changes are made in the 3d drawing. The xref isssues still remain, but can be managed with everything being set for color, linetype, etc by layer and using layer states manager in the production drawing.

This process has been working for at least 8 versions.