DBXscan/DBXrem batch utilities for AutoCAD
Scan/report or modify a whole folder of DWG files
DBXscan-- and DBXrem-- utilities by XANADU
DBXscan/DBXrem is a set of batch utilities which perform various scanning (reporting) and modification (cleaning) functions on a set (folder, directory) of DWG drawings. These VisualLISP utilities run in AutoCAD and use the ObjectDBX library for direct access to the contents of DWG files. So you do not need to open the individual files in AutoCAD and the batch operations are performed quickly (faster than using standard batch tools and scripts).
DBX utilities
Currently there are 5 sets of Xanadu DBX utilities:
- DBXremSL/DBXscanSL - batch remove excessive annotation scales list from DWG files, report "infected" DWG drawings
- The DBXremSL utility (command) cleans your AutoCAD 2008/2009 DWG files. It scans all your drawing files in the specified folder and removes the excessive annotation scales present in those DWG files.
- AutoCAD 2008 (SP0, Civil3D with SP1) inserts annotation scales from attached Xrefs. After several edit sessions, this process can lead to bloated DWGs which are loading slowly. DBXremSL can help in such situations. Do not forget to apply SP1 (or higher; Civil3D SP2 or higher) to prevent Xrefs further extending of your annotation scale lists.
- The DBXscanSL utility is an accompanying tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the number of annotation scales present in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
- DBXscanAEC - scans and reports DWG drawings containing AEC objects (will display "proxy" objects in plain AutoCAD)
- The DBXscanAEC utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the AEC objects detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
- All AEC objects are detected - i.e. from AutoCAD Architecture (Architectural Desktop), AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD MEP (Building Systems).
- DBXremVBA/DBXscanVBA - batch remove VBA macros from DWG files, report "infected" DWG drawings
- The DBXremVBA utility (command) cleans your AutoCAD DWG files. It scans all your drawing files in the specified folder and removes the VBA macros present in those DWG files.
- Unwanted VBA macros may be inserted in your drawings with INSERT or by other macros and add-on applications (sometimes also by viruses). DBXremVBA can help in such situations. Do not forget to set macro protection and disable macro insertion in Macro options (VBAPREF command) to prevent further insertion of VBA macros.
- The DBXscanVBA utility is an accompanying tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the number of VBA macros present in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
- DBXscanMech - scans and reports DWG drawings containing Mechanical objects (will display "proxy" objects in plain AutoCAD)
- The DBXscanMech utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the Mechanical objects detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
- All Mechanical objects are detected - from AutoCAD Mechanical and Mechanical Desktop (any version). You can also use this utility to detect drawings saved with "Save as AutoCAD" and "Save as Mechanical" from AutoCAD Mechanical.
- DBXscanXref - scans and reports DWG drawings containing Xref references to other DWG files
- The DBXscanXref utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the DWG Xrefs detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
- Only DWG xrefs are detected - no images or underlays. Without opening the individual DWGs, you can use this utility to detect drawings which are not "complete" and should be transmitted with eTransmit.
Usage
You can run any of the DBXrem/DBXscan utilities in an empty AutoCAD drawing - unlike other utilites, it will not process the active drawing but the DWG files in the specified directory. All DWG files present in that directory will be processed (DBXscan also with subfolders).
Just load (APPLOAD) the application and run the the requested "DBX" command. Browse to the folder you want to process a click Save.
The process of removing objects (DBXrem__) can be destructive and there is NO UNDO - please use it always only on COPIES of your original drawings! All DBXrem utilities offer "Safe" and "Verbose" modes - see the Readmes.
A sample output of a DBXscan-type utility (DBXscanVBA in this case):
Xanadu DBXscanVBA report (drawings containing VBA macros) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Timestamp: 20080522.1018 Start processing root folder C:\Temp\VBA\ Start processing folder C:\TEMP\VBA\ -- C:\Temp\VBA\Svah_Terrain.dwg -- C:\Temp\VBA\Drawing1VBA.dwg, ***_VBA_macros_*** -- C:\Temp\VBA\Drawing2VBA.dwg, ***_VBA_macros_*** -- C:\Temp\VBA\Clean_Drawing.dwg Start processing folder C:\TEMP\VBA\SUB -- C:\Temp\VBA\MyDrawing.dwg, ***_VBA_macros_*** ---- processing finished ---- Visit www.xanadu.cz and www.cadforum.cz for other CAD utilities
Problems
DBXrem/DBXscan tools were tested in AutoCAD 2008, 2009 and 2010. They will probably run also with other versions and AutoCAD flavors but these scenarios were not tested. If your DWG files contain custom objects (e.g. from Civil3D), please run the specific DBXrem-utility in this specific flavor of AutoCAD (= Civil3D).
Please send possible questions and problems to: info@xanadu.cz.
Please send inquiries about custom application development to: develop@xanadu.cz.
Download free Xanadu DBX-utilities (for AutoCAD)
