keeping references updated. 2

[jabonet]

I´m looking for a better solution to keep references up to date in a complicate design.
The work method in my company so far, has been to take a MicroStation file from the server hard drive, save it under a temporal name in your worksation, change some/many details, and then putting it back in the server hard drive, but with a different name, lets say, project4, instead of the original project3.
The problem with this is that, any other drawing that makes reference to project3 keeps the reference to an outdated drawing.
The solution I have found so far is to have one consistent name for the lastest edition of the drawing, to which every drawing makes references to, but then, rename the second newest drawing as 2, 3, etc. but this is a little messier that it looks like, especially when you have a ton of drawing making references to new and old references, the disorder is already too large, and is going to take some work and time to fix.
If anybody had this problem before, and know of a better solution, please let me know.

Thanks

jabonet

 

[rKeyTek]

Has your company tried a "check in and check out" software?

It seems ... that's what its trying to do with your current procedures. Otherwise why would they care if you work on the server.

The "Check in/ check out" software copies one file to your station and marks the file on the server AS READ ONLY!

When you're done, you check the file back in and THERE's NO NEED TO CHANGE the NAME!

And ANYONE who tries to check out or open that file on the server THAT YOU HAVE ... will get a message that file is in use BUT they can open it in READ ONLY MODE.

There's a couple of softwares like this on the web.

Hope that helps.
Rich

 

[RAWeber]

I don't know if it's just concurrent file opens that they are worried about - it looks like the concern might be more a running set of old drawings for archiving and work path reasons (many companies keep an entire set of redlined drawings for this very purpose)

My suggestion is this: have one directory with all the current drawings in it. The names of these drawings will never change. Then have a subdirectory in it with all the archived and/or void drawings. You could even write a macro of some sort that, when you move a drawing to your local hard drive makes a copy to the archive folder, and when you save back to the network, it simply overwrites the file in the root directory.

My biggest concern with your post is where you said that there are references to new and OLD drawings. I can only hope that you are not referencing old versions of drawings that have been changed. This is a recipe for disaster.

Anyway, my advice is to get the old drawings out of the root directory. Robert Weber, EI
Maurer-Stutz, Inc

http://www.maurerstutzinc.com

"I am satisfied that your answer is correct. I am not, however, satisfied that your answer is right."

 

[jabonet]

Thanks rKeyTek

I could like to have the link to those programs on the web you mention.

The other detail is to save the old versions of the drawings, not just replace the old ones, but change the name of the old one to other thing, probably with a date or number.

Thanks again