reference will only attach files in current folder

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Mark Plum — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 03:46:22 GMT

Chuck:

We do much the same here; project numbers being the primary designator. So, we might have 12345_corridor.dgn, 12345_Terrain.dgn, 12345_Topo.dgn, etc. We have a default template which defines this structure and which gets copied into each WorkSet.

Best Regards,

Mark

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

caddcop — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 01:59:39 GMT

When a CADD Standard create problems, it is time to revisit those standards. Unique filenames are possible with not a lot of work. All that needs to be done is to add a project identifier to the filenames. With Open Roads files being both CAD files and design data containers, we even added a corridor name to our standard file names, All files within a project get a project ID associated with them and are part of the filename and when a file contains design data, if it is specific to a particular road in the project, we define a "corridor" name, to be used for alignments, superelevation, corridors, terrain elements and more.

This way, reference filenames are always unique per project and referencing files across projects are never an issue.

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

caddcop — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 20:27:09 GMT

You can create custom variables that point to other folders and make them part of the workset cfg file. For example, if you define a set of variables, such as Project_A and Project_B, you can reference files using Project_A: or Project_B: to force MicroStation to look in the folders pointed to by those variables. There is even a Directory button to select a folder by its variable name - Select Configuration Variable...

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Sarah Mohl — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:19:52 GMT

Possibly! I'll check into that variable. I appreciate your help!

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Tim Hickman — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:13:58 GMT

just trying to help.

In this article at the bottom is the order in which the reference is searched:

Understanding File Locations And Reference Attachments In MicroStation

Your search is getting to step 4 before the final step 5 of the full path of the reference.

A possible work around might be defining the MS_RFDIR variable to include the folder containing the reference so it is found before the "current" directory ? or attaching the reference using a variable ?

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Tim Hickman — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:13:47 GMT

I was just stating the way the product works. Unless I am missing a step in what you have explained.

You have two files of the same name and the issue is that one of the files is either the open design file, or exists in the same folder as the open design file. I cannot tell you why you have never encountered this previously, only why you are encountering it currently.

I hope this helps in determining a workaround or a workflow going forward.

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Sarah Mohl — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:12:53 GMT

I don't think we're on the same page. I've used Bentley products for 15 years and never had this happen. You choose a file to reference, and it attaches regardless of the file name or location it is saved.

We do not have the same named files within one project, I agree, that would be bad practice. Cheers!

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Tim Hickman — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 21:40:47 GMT

the product was designed that way [don't shoot the messenger ;-) ] - it has always done this.

It just seems strange that a project would have files of the same name. I can see naming conventions IE: Border, Topo, etc... OR even letter designations for different disciplines.

but having files of the same name in one project, I wouldn't consider a very good practice.

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Sarah Mohl — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 21:18:27 GMT

For a workaround, yes. CADD standards dictate the file naming convention so long term that isn't an option.
Luckily it is only this one project. I just can't figure out WHY it's doing this. So irritating.

Thanks for the relies!

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Tim Hickman — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 21:09:35 GMT

The Bentley products will resolve/find the file located in the same folder as the active file first (which is what you are seeing).

The best way around this is to not have the duplicate names.

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Sarah Mohl — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 21:05:19 GMT

MaryB that variable is not defined.

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Sarah Mohl — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 20:54:44 GMT

That is Correct!

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

MaryB — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:44:23 GMT

That helps. OK, maybe it doesn't because PW manages the environment so well, but it does mean I can help troubleshoot a bit more.

Is MS_DISALLOWFULLREFPATH set/defined?

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Tim Hickman — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:43:29 GMT

so am I correct in assuming you have two files of the same name in different folders ? each named Topog.dgn ?

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Sarah Mohl — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:40:03 GMT

Nope!

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

MaryB — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:38:05 GMT

Are you using ProjectWise?

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

Sarah Mohl — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:22:56 GMT

Thanks for the idea. The save relative path is checked.

RE: reference will only attach files in current folder

MaryB — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:19:51 GMT

In the reference attach/file explorer dialog, there is an option for "Save Relative Path". Enable that when you attach your file, and it should save the relative path information to the alternate directory.