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Extracting File Properties

When a DWG is added to a vault, the property values in the DWG Property dialog box are automatically extracted from the file and stored in the vault database.

Note: When dealing with block attributes containing multi-line text, you can map into the vault only. Properties do not retain multi-line text formatting when extracted from the vault. Furthermore, when the property is written back to the title block it will not retain multi-line text formatting.

The property values in attributed blocks can also be extracted by adding the name of the attributed block to the Index Block Attributes dialog box in the server console.

Note: Only the property values in the first instance of an attributed block are extracted.

Extracting these properties makes the following available in Autodesk Vault:

  • Quick reference to properties associated with the file: You can choose these properties to appear as columns.
  • File sorting capabilities based on those properties: You can sort or group the data by their property value.
  • Advanced file searching based on properties or file content: You can search the vault for specific file content.

A thumbnail image of the DWG file is also extracted. In Autodesk Vault you can customize your view to display any of these properties, including the thumbnail image.

Note: The RASTERPREVIEW variable must be set to 1 to extract the thumbnail image.

Procedures

Extract Block Attribute Properties

Use the Index Block Attributes command in the server console to extract the property data within attributed blocks. Extracting this data, allows this information to be available to you within Autodesk Vault. You can add this data as a property field and search for files containing data within an attributed block that you have added within the server console.

Note: You must have an attributed block in a file that has been checked into the vault to extract this data.
  1. In the server console, from the Tools menu, select Index Block Attributes.
  2. In the Index Block Attributes dialog box, click New and enter the name of the attributed block whose properties you want to be made available in Autodesk Vault.
  3. Click OK to complete the operation.

The property data within the attributed block is now available for display with Autodesk Vault. Refer to the Help in Autodesk Vault for more information on customizing and displaying fields.

Parent page: AutoCAD Vault Add-in

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