Hi All,
It's been a while since I have asked a question here. I am using the latest version of AECOsim in win7 with DWG files. Don Fu told me about a configuration variable 'MS_DWGXREF_DEFAULTTREATASELEMENT_OFF' when I was using Microstation V8. This makes individual elements accessible in reference files.
I was wondering if this is still effective? Because I have just created a new DWG file and when attaching reference files they are by default treated like an element, which I don't want. I have the preference unticked in the workspace preferences, and my DWG seed file has individual elements accessible when reference files are attached.
Thanks in advance. :)
Lincoln
If you right click on an element in one of the referenced DWGs and pick 'Activate' you will be able to edit elements in the DWG. Is that what you need to do?
Marc
Thanks for the reply Marc.This is not what I would like to do. I know it is lazy but I am trying to avoid having open the reference dialog, select the file and untick the 'treat attachment as element for manipulation' each time I open the file.
This lets you copy elements from the ref file into the active file, which is what I typically do. I have a key-in to move ref files so I prefer access to the individual elements in the ref files.
Regards,
This will set that as default:
MS_REF_DEFAULTSETTINGS = treatAsElement=0
The other options are listed in help topic "Reference Configuration Variables".
Thanks Marc,
This is what I was looking for. It seems to work when you attach the xreference, but if you close and reopen the file the reference file acts as a single element.
Don previous explained the other configuration variable:
"Lincoln, I'd like to emphasize the default nature of that configuration variable - it only helps you the first time you open a DWG file that has not been saved in SS3. Once you have edited your DWG file and saved, whatever the state of TreatAsElement gets saved into the DWG file. From there on, the config var has no effect on xreference attachments anymore."
I think the behaviour might be more pronounced with AECOsim. Thanks for your help.
I can't reproduce that with new DWG attachments. As long as 'treat attachment as element for manipulation' is off at attachment of a DWG to a DWG the setting appears to remain consistent when the file is closed and reopened.
Is the same setting turned on in your user preferences? The label is 'Manipulate as Element' in the Reference > Default attachment Preferences of the User Preferences dialog.
If MS_REF_DEFAULTSETTINGS is locked, e.g.:
The preference will be overridden and greyed out.