Update read-only file

Hi,

A little problem we regularly stumble upon:

it happens many times that I'm opening my colleagues' drawings to have a look at it, or to extract (read: copy) objects from it. But without the need to change or save anything.

Now, if this colleague is working on his drawing, I can only open it read-only. No problem, because I don't want to change anything. But: half an hour later the drawing of my colleague will have changed of course.

Is there a way to write some little program that would simply allow me to "update" or "refresh" this read-only drawing, without having to close and open it again? in the supposition of course that my colleague saves his changes regularly.

Thanks for any hints

Stef

 

Assuming you're talking about xrefs.

There is a notification and semi-automatic xref
reload built in to 2004 and 2005. For the rest,
use xref reload.

But without the need to change or save anything.

anything. But: half an hour later the drawing of my colleague will have changed of course.

having to close and open it again? in the supposition of course that my colleague saves his changes regularly.

 

No, I'm not talking about X-refs, but actual drawings that are in use by someone else. I can open them read-only, and copy things from them, but I was just curious if there was a way to "update" or "refresh" them to see if the other made (and saved) changes. Without having to close the drawing and open it again.

Stef

 

When opened, you have a 'copy' of the .dwg, not the 'actual' .dwg.

 

No. You must close and re-open.

can open them read-only, and copy things from them, but I was just curious if there was a
way to "update" or "refresh" them to see if the other made (and saved) changes. Without
having to close the drawing and open it again.

 

Another possible approach (that I can not help you with) could be -

Write a new "Open" command that checks if the file is all ready open (that
is the part I am not sure how to do).
If not open
open drawing
else
create new "temp" file and Xref the drawing into the file
endif

Update xref command -
(defun C:XU ()
(command "XREF" "R" "*")
(princ)
)