Changing multiple references

Re: Changing multiple references

Eric Milberger — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 18:52:29 GMT

We need the old DOS ref tool.

Re: Changing multiple references

Jon Summers — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 13:18:29 GMT

[quote user="owens_2k"]What do you mean by remove folder spec from each attachment?[/quote]

[quote user="RobertArnold"] The new string is either the new path or a configuration variable and a colon[/quote]

Or the new string can be simply the file name. MicroStation's default mechanism is to use MS_RFDIR to search for reference files, so it's not necessary to specify it explicitly.

Regards, Jon Summers
LA Solutions

Re: Changing multiple references

RobertArnold — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 23:27:19 GMT

Hi,

I've used this routine in the past to fix some of my drawings:

Sub ReferenceNameReplace()
    Dim oldString As String
    Dim newString As String
    Dim OldFileName As String
    oldString = "Details11"
    newString = "Details13"

    For Each AttachedFile In ActiveModelReference.Attachments
        OldFileName = AttachedFile.AttachName
        If Left(OldFileName, Len(oldString)) = oldString Then
            NewAttachmentName = newString & Right(OldFileName, Len(OldFileName) - Len(oldString))
            AttachedFile.SetAttachNameDeferred NewAttachmentName
            AttachedFile.Rewrite
        End If
    Next
End Sub

In your case, the old string is the old path and the new string is either the new path or a configuration variable and a colon. You could use a batch command to run this on each file (vba run ReferenceNameReplace), or you could continue it in vba and have vba open each file and then run the command.

Please note that I am using SetAttachedNameDEFERRED, which means that the new file will not show up until the drawing is re-opened. If you're doing this on multiple files, it will save time not loading up the new file.

--Robert

Re: Changing multiple references

Lorys — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:02:59 GMT

yes you can do this with scripts in the batch processor

but the real easiest way without having to repath everything is to use win explorer and make and rename refone to refone_old and rename the reftwo to refone and cad will now see the same file name attached as the ref file but its content will be different as long as you dont change any file paths this will work globally for all you work...

The clipping may be a problem if the files are not coincedent ie same positions geographically .... but that would happen even with the batch processor ...

If you have win 7 you could find all places refone lives in and replace it with new refone ( made from reftwo) ... same result as above... but this assumes your only replaceing one ref file with another...

you could also do a search here these forums for replace ref macro or google may prove useful.....

Re: Changing multiple references

owens_2k — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:27:51 GMT

Jon, what do you mean by remove folder spec from each attachment?

Re: Changing multiple references

Jon Summers — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 15:19:09 GMT

[quote user="owens_2k"]

If I have a large amount of .dgn files which have a reference attached, located say for example in "C:\REFONE". Is there a batch process or an automated way I can change the reference in all the files to "C:\REFTWO" ?

[/quote]

I suggest a combination of the two suggestions...

Remove the folder spec. from each attachment, leaving only the file name. This will need VBA, probably
Use the MS_RFDIR configuration variable to define your reference locations

That way, if you need to do this again you will need only redefine the MS_RFDIR configuration variable. That is, it's a one-shot task to remove the folder paths from your attachments.

Re: Changing multiple references

owens_2k — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 13:30:30 GMT

Robert,

Could you point me in the right direction with regards to doing this via vba?

Re: Changing multiple references

RobertArnold — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:53:01 GMT

This can be done in vba.

---Robert

Re: Changing multiple references

George A. Martin — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:24:33 GMT

That's what the Configuration Variables are for.

Change the location(s) MS_RFDIR is pointing and the change is made.

You can even create your own Configuration variables and attach the references using them When you change the location they are pointing too the change is made.

You could use the Batch Processor to attach or modify References as long as you knew the key ins, but that could take more work.