CompuServe Thread

Claude – All files may be externally referenced by mutiple nodes. I take it that you want access by multiple nodes to a file that is currently being modified. The assumption AutoCAD makes is that ownership of the file is absolute; that is, if a node is allowed access, then it has absolute control. Some of our customers want the option to define their own standards for control; so, in a future release, we may have a method of configuring XREF sharing. Meanwhile, if a DWG is being editted, it cannot be XREFed by other nodes — they won't have ownership of the data, and therefore are not allowed access. You can, however, side step the issue. One way is to put shareable, finished drawings in a directory where all nodes have XREF access to them. Put works-in-progress in another directory until they are finished and an update to the sharable directory is approved by the project manager. This organization makes for good administration because it gives you an opportunity to back up the current version of the files before they are updated, and it is a chance to give the other project members a signal of the changes. The other method is more dangerous. The node that is to edit the DWG can use the prototype mechanism to create a local copy of the drawing; that is, edit a new drawing named temp=shared_file. As the person edits the drawing, save to temp.dwg, shell from AutoCAD, and use the OS to copy temp onto the original DWG. You may want to warn the other nodes not to read the file at the same time, though, because the OS might be disagreeable about reading and writing at the same time and it may turn your files into random occurrences of discongruent magnetic fluctuations (RODMF). In other words, it's dangerous: No lifeguard on duty, swim at your own risk. The first method is the recommended procedure.