Whats the most effective way to repath an entire drive

We need to change a drive letter for an entire drive for xrefs and images.
Whats the best method?
--------------------------
Dave Lewis
CAD Manager
http://www.cadthinking.com

Just say no to HTML Posts!

 

Dave,

You could use the projectname for the drawing to find the xrefs and images
and then simply save path in the xref manager dialogue box.

I do this manually now when working at home. To do this automatically or
rather by script or lisp, I am not sure.

However, how about reference manager? It should alow you to repath the xrefs
outside of autocad.

Dave Alexander
Keen Engineering Co. Ltd.
www.keen.ca

 

sorry both ideas would not work.
I have 45,000 drawings to modify. I need to convert from one drive letter to another.
Not one project at a time, but every drawing on the network. With the reference manager
you have to add drawings one folder at a time. There is no way to import all the files
nor a way to pick a root folder and all sub folders. Even if I could get the drawings into
reference manager, I think it would choke on 45 thousand drawings.

"Dave Alexander" <>
|>Dave,
|>
|>You could use the projectname for the drawing to find the xrefs and images
|>and then simply save path in the xref manager dialogue box.
|>
|>I do this manually now when working at home. To do this automatically or
|>rather by script or lisp, I am not sure.
|>
|>However, how about reference manager? It should alow you to repath the xrefs
|>outside of autocad.
|>
|>Dave Alexander
|>Keen Engineering Co. Ltd.
|>www.keen.ca
|>
|>
|>|>> We need to change a drive letter for an entire drive for xrefs and images.
|>> Whats the best method?
|>> --------------------------
|>> Dave Lewis
|>> CAD Manager
|>> http://www.cadthinking.com
|>>
|>> Just say no to HTML Posts!
|>

--------------------------
Dave Lewis
CAD Manager
http://www.cadthinking.com

Just say no to HTML Posts!

 

maybe you could use a subst batch file until you can repath dwgs.

subst v: c:\keep
subst [virtualdrive] [actualdrive]

http://www.easydos.com/subst.html

 

I have a lisp routine that will open (in SDI mode) files off a list file (basically a list of full paths) and systematically perform any task (defined in separate lsp file) on them.
It relies slightly on doslib and some external routines, but I am sure it will do the job if you are interested.

Dean

 

Dave,

I did that like two years ago.
It was a network drive with 30,000 drawings more or less.
I used the REDIR command from the express tools and ScriptPro (an utility
from Migration Assistance)

The script will look like this:

REDIR
<Old Drive>:\
<New Drive>:\
QSAVE

Before you run the script, open AutoCAD and at the command line type in:
REDIRMODE and check all the options. I recommend that you use a lean
profile, change the setting of a few system variables like: DEMANDLOAD=0;
OLEHIDE=3; PROXYNOTICE=0; PROXYSHOW=0; PROXYWEBSEARCH=0; TEXTFILL=0; and any
other variable that can improve the performance.

You could do a test to see if this solution work for you.
If you want to buy a solution here is a link:
http://www.intelcad.com/pages/xrepath/main.htm

Good luck

 

sure lets see whatcha got

dean_bourke <>
|>I have a lisp routine that will open (in SDI mode) files off a list file (basically a list of full paths) and systematically perform any task (defined in separate lsp file) on them.
|>It relies slightly on doslib and some external routines, but I am sure it will do the job if you are interested.
|>
|>Dean

--------------------------
Dave Lewis
CAD Manager
http://www.cadthinking.com

Just say no to HTML Posts!

 

Drap/Drop ? Although I'm not sure I'd try all
45 grand at once......

 

Dave,
I got a batch processor (VB) that will handle all folders, all .dwg's. All you need then, is a .lsp to execute that takes care of the drive swap.
If you want a (real) copy of the batch processor, just give me an E-Mail at:

no charge.
Bob

 

Dave,
I have a batch processor (VB) that I could send you. It does multiple folders, multiple .dwg's (will do all your 45000 dwg's).
All you need is a .lsp to make the changes in the xref's.
If you would like a copy of the batch processor, just give me
an e-mail at .
(no charge)

Bob Shaw

 

Hmm,
dual post. wouldn't post first time..
Bob

 

Dave,
Opening and changing 45,000 drawings just to change an internal
path seems like an absurd solution if there might be another
workaround, especially since the file dates will all change without
a meaningful data change.

Would not the dos command SUBST work for you?

That allows you to substitute one drive letter for a path on your existing
system, if that drive does not exist. That method would work if
you want your computer to think you have drive L: when your normal
last drive is E:

Good luck.

 

Or if the drive is a network drive, remap to Letter needed.

Dean

 

We use Express Tools --> File Tools --> Edit Xref Paths. It works great for our use (about 50 to 200 files at a time). I don't know how well it will work with a large number of files. It will also depend on what your directory tree looks like (sub-folders).

 

Yes I think thats what I am going to use, but ScriptPro launches and closes
autocad each time, thus greatly increasing the time it takes to process

"A Diaz" <>
|>Dave,
|>
|>I did that like two years ago.
|>It was a network drive with 30,000 drawings more or less.
|>I used the REDIR command from the express tools and ScriptPro (an utility
|>from Migration Assistance)
|>
|>The script will look like this:
|>
|>REDIR
|><Old Drive>:\
|><New Drive>:\
|>QSAVE
|>
|>Before you run the script, open AutoCAD and at the command line type in:
|>REDIRMODE and check all the options. I recommend that you use a lean
|>profile, change the setting of a few system variables like: DEMANDLOAD=0;
|>OLEHIDE=3; PROXYNOTICE=0; PROXYSHOW=0; PROXYWEBSEARCH=0; TEXTFILL=0; and any
|>other variable that can improve the performance.
|>
|>You could do a test to see if this solution work for you.
|>If you want to buy a solution here is a link:
|>http://www.intelcad.com/pages/xrepath/main.htm
|>
|>Good luck
|>
|>

--------------------------
Dave Lewis
CAD Manager
http://www.cadthinking.com

Just say no to HTML Posts!

 

what's absurd is that there is no simple way to do this simple change.
Here is the deal. There are two offices within my company. Some dimwit
previous cad manager thought that both offices that have separate servers
should be use there J: drive for .dwg's. Now the problem is that one office
wants to open drawings in the other office. The J: in the one office cannot
be the same in the other office because its in use. If we use a different
drive letter then the xrefs do not resolve correctly. relative paths have been
used a lot, but still the majority of the drafters either do not understand their
use or refuse to use them, so that is not an option. So the only real option
is for one office to use one drive letter and the other office to use a different
drive letter.

Not to rip on you too hard Doug but think about this. If you are smart enough
to use newsgroups and come to a customization group don't you think that
you would be smart enough to know how to use the SUBST command or
some other simple solution. I guess I really have to spell out each little
detail when asking a simple question in these groups. For years now I will
ask a relatively simple question and get "absurd" responses that are not
solutions. Its like I have to write a book explaining the entire problem when
all I needed was a simple answer to the question.

<rant off>

So in review for those keeping score its like this
I have to change the drive letter, there is no way of getting around it.
I need the existing drive letter for another use.
The options are
REDIR and ScriptPro
Reference Manager
Toolpac Reference Repack
Custom LiSP or VBA routine to drive REDIR in SDI mode.

I knew of 3 out of the 4 as I have had to do this process 4 years ago at
another company. I had hoped that solutions had advanced. We'll see
how it goes tomorrow.

Until then, thankx for the responses!


"Doug Broad" <>
|>Dave,
|>Opening and changing 45,000 drawings just to change an internal
|>path seems like an absurd solution if there might be another
|>workaround, especially since the file dates will all change without
|>a meaningful data change.
|>
|>Would not the dos command SUBST work for you?
|>
|>That allows you to substitute one drive letter for a path on your existing
|>system, if that drive does not exist. That method would work if
|>you want your computer to think you have drive L: when your normal
|>last drive is E:
|>
|>Good luck.

--------------------------
Dave Lewis
CAD Manager
http://www.cadthinking.com

Just say no to HTML Posts!

 

Dave,
I didn't mean to insult you. It's often the simple solutions that
we overlook. I'll be sure to keep quiet next time you need help. ;-)

 

If all the dwgs are unique in path and name (aside from the drive letter), what about writing a load on open lisp that checked all the not found xrefs in the dwg for location in firstly J: Drive and then trying the same path/filename with the other drive letter substituted to check the other drive, then updating paths.

Dean

 

I have something that uses ObjectDBX. It can batch almost unlimited number
of drawings and runs several drawings per second.
Tell me if you are interested. You can email me as well as answer here.

--
Best Regards, Jimmy Bergmark
CAD and Database Developer Manager at www.pharmadule-emtunga.com
Take a look at
JTB FlexReport (FLEXlm report tool) - www.jtbworld.com/jtbflexreport
SmartPurger (Purges automatically) - www.jtbworld.com/?/smartpurger.htm
or download some freeware at www.jtbworld.com
More on AutoCAD 2005;
www.jtbworld.com/autocad2005.htm

 

Normal business politeness will gather more answers than writing
as you did below. The discussion groups are for EVERYONE and are
not your personal resource. You post only questions and then
argue about the answers you get. You do not reach out and help
others as so many here do. Perhaps this is why you don't always
get what you want?

No one owes you an answer. Those who do so are giving freely of
their time and efforts and do so to the best of their ability.