For my autocad template I've been trying to find the perfect way to enter a Text (or numerical) into a cad dwg only one time and have it automatically populate all of the desired locations throughout the drawing.
examples: Project #, Surveyor Name, Stamp #, Section #, Township#, Range#, County Name and small handful more that may be scattered in a a few spots throughout a typical project or upwards a a few dozen in some more complex projects.
I first tried using "FIELDS" in conjunction with "DWGPROPS". This is perfect! Exactly what I need. With one exception - if you copy/cut and then paste into a new drawing, the "FIELDS" in the new drawing lose their value and are replaced with "###########". I don't often copy/paste from one drawing to another but it happens often enough where I looked for a different solution.
I next tried using the "FIND" command and the "REPLACE" function within the dialogue box. In my template I replaced all of the "FIELDS" with just a unique text string. So where I had a "FIELD" for County Name I now just have text that is "xCOUNTYx". I then run the "FIND" command and find all text matching "xCOUNTYx" and use the "REPLACE" function to replace it with the desired county name. The find "FIND" command has an option to look inside of blocks to replace and matching text contained within a block. But this is not working consistently for me. It misses some blocks for unknown reasons. And it is also quite a bit more time consuming than the "DWGPROPS" method as you need to run the "FIND" command numerous times and manually type in each text string you want to replace.
Just seeing if anyone else might have other solutions before I give up on this idea. Using C3D/AutoCAD 2024.
How about simply using a BLOCK and editing it? Re-define the block and every instance updates.
The values I'm trying to get to work are more scattered that just in a block or two. For instance text values for the Section, Township & Range will often be located in the caption for my map, the legal description, the basis of bearings, and maybe a few random text or mleaders throughout a map. I literally just got done reviewing a map minutes ago where the S-T-R was correct in one spot but not 3 others.
I realize that finding a solution for this minor issue may at best save a small handful of minutes on most projects. For me its more about peace of mind and consistency. I don't want to publish a map that has a wrong Township number on it that slipped past the review desk. Or any other of mistakes that could be solved with a solution for this.
These automation steps are not just about speed. Quality control is the primary thing, speed is a bonus.
I'll think on your problem and be interested in anybody's solution.
Well put. That's what I was trying to say.
The DWGPROPS command in autocad works 99% how I want it to. I just hate how it loses the FIELD value with a copy paste. To many that might not be a big deal at all but at our company we make a survey dwg. Then the engineering department essentially copy/paste our objects into their drawing. Anything that had a FIELD value from DWGPROPS turns into #########.
The solution might be that the engineering template will need to be setup with matching DWGPROPS. And engineering will need to fill out the FIELDS in their dwg. I try not to frustrate the engineering team with stupid nit picky stuff like this. But that might be the solution. Unless anyone can enlighten me on a different method.
I don't understand why your engineering team is doing a copy and paste of the survey. Why are they not just using your drawing file as an xref? I believe that would solve the problem, but I'm not 100% sure.
For background, let me say that these days I'm doing engineering work at least 90% of the time. I don't believe that I have ever worked with survey files that used fields, but I applaud you doing that. I always have used survey files as an xref. Well except for my last job, where they wanted us to do a saveas of the survey file then just start drawing in that file. Never liked that. Either way, I think your fields would be preserved using either approach. Copy and paste I would dislike even more, especially with C3D objects.
Are there any alternatives? I would suggest using custom fields in Sheet Set Manager. I think doing that would be the best approach. You still would need to have a template for that so that the custom fields would be usable, and there would be some planning with the engineering side on how to include a survey drawing in a sheet set that won't be part of the publishing at the end. It's doable though. I've done it before.
Okay, another idea that might be simpler. You can make an attributed block that contains all of the parameters you might need. Insert the block anywhere in your drawing. When you create a text entity with a field, reduce the Field Category to Objects. Select Object from the Field Names. Go to the green selection button and select your attributed block. Within the Property box you will see your attributes, along with other information. Select the appropriate attribute, along with the case format, and then you're done.
I would probably put that attributed block in a no plot layer. I'm not sure what would happen if they did not include that block in their selection for cut/paste. Safer to keep it somewhere within the project limits so it will be included in the selection.
Try it out and let us know if that works.
Let me add that if this does work, best practice would be to have this attributed block be already in the same drawing that has fields referencing the block. Otherwise, you would need to point everything back to the correct place each time. If the field and the block live in the same drawing (or template), you will have ### when you start a new drawing, but the fields should update once the attributes are filled in.
I second the Sheet Set Manager suggestion. Not only will it fill in fields for you, but it sets up all of your plotting too.
If you had a way to copy the DWGPROP information to the clipboard, and paste it into the other drawing the DWGPROP + FIELDS approach would be the best.
Xref is a four letter word in our engineering department. They are old school. One step up from manual drafting I would say. The boss uses paper and pen more than autocad. They could literally use autocad Release 9 from 1987 and not miss a thing. But I love them and they get the job done. Put out good design plans and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.
Survey department uses C3D pretty full on. So then we have to dumb down our drawings with Exporttoautocad to make sure they don’t get any proxy objects while using cad.
This is not my ideal workflow but at the end of the day my job is to provide them with a survey drawing that will best assist them in their design.
If I make 10 suggestions on how to improve their design template and drafting methods they might listen to one. At the same time I admire their old school methods that still work today I do look forward to getting an engineer/designer on board who uses C3D for design.
That being said I never thought about seeing if the fields will work via an Xref. I think I just found a solution but regardless I will look into the Xref thing.
