PW XM- interesting question from a user ....

Dear Kirk,

One of our users is also using the export function to ship files to customers.

There is an option in the export  function to rewrite references to a the local path which makes the export including references a portable "package"  (but not merged in)  this is out of the box functionalility may be good for you ?

Best Regards,

Ian Emery.

Kirk, I assume you are talking about AutoCAD Files.  When we transmit files to a customer we bind in all the X-refs due to customer preference. I export the files out to a directoy (I created a custom API program to do this per transmittal).  Then I use the free program "DWG True View" to Audit, Bind and Save to the customer's version.  This seems to work well.  Even if you don't have the SDK you can use the Export and/or Send To Folder off the menu in ProjectWise to get them ready.

Well if it was one of my users, my answer would be a swift kick to the hiney for even suggesting binding in references. However if you have a legitimate case for it, my suggestion would be export the files out of PW, and use the MicroStation Batch Processor (or a lisp routine if these are AutoCAD files) to run a merge references command script, then import them back in. I don't think its really a ProjectWise function...and come to think of it you'd likely have to run a Scan References on these files after importing them back in to ProjectWise.

The user was / is wondering if PW could be used to batch process a set of files to bind in reference files .... I think in one sense the answer is no....no feature in PW to do that.  But.....any thoughts as to how to achieve?

 

Kirk