Fixing Composite Attributes on Hotlink - Whats the best way?

[Anonymous]

We all know that sharing attributes across the project is a tedious task, but when something goes wrong then it's even worse...
Yesterday I spent half a day to fix the mess made in one project with hotlinks. The problem was created at the beginning of the project Hotlinks were created on office template but the main file was done on the previous version of the template. Furthermore, some Composites where updated in the main file instead of hotlinks. We end up with different indexes and names in both files. It's working fine with the model. But if we want to make schedules or automatic annotation then it doesn't work. The obvious solution was to clear hotlinks and make same indexes in both files. Because indexes cant be change and AC is making them automatically. I end up in this kind of workflow based on delete and override by another composite:

1. Manager - Changing the name of Composites based on Indexes (those for deleting and those for override). It's getting tricky if indexes are used in the project then its necessary to reimport att file.

2. Since you cant delete and override attribute from ATT Manager. I switched to Composite Material Tab and delete and override structure.

3. At the end renaming of the composite.

Usually, it's possible to make 1-3 composites to make sure we won't missing anything. I also skipped Building Materials but if you cant have duplicates then... even more, work.....

The whole process performed on 4 files was ridiculous. Does anyone have a clever solution for it?

Personally, I'm not sure why we aren't able to change attribute indexes via attribute manager - life would be so simpler. Maybe I'm missing something and it is possible?

[Barry Kelly]

The only attribute that has any kind of limit (255) is the pens - because there are only 255 (+2) pens in any one pen set.
All the other attributes you can have as many as you want.
When you get past 1000 for the attribute number then sometimes you won't be able to see the whole number in some of the dialogue boxes - but generally this is not a problem if you are careful.
I have started using 1500 for my max attribute number for surfaces - but in fact I would be lucky to have 500 actual surfaces.
So this gives me a space of around 1000 new attributes that I can create in my template in the future - more than enough I think.

Barry.

[Anonymous]

Good to know.
an
It has to change. I remember that in AC 9 there was the limit for indexes.

How big is your templet file with 1000 attributes of each type?

By the way, since AC22 is already available. Some stuff will change a bit in management window. Makes attribute bit easier to manage. But all indexing problem is still there.

[Barry Kelly]

kzaremba wrote:
How big is your templet file with 1000 attributes of each type?

I don't actually have 1000 of each attribute.
Just one attribute with an index number of 1000.
I have less than 500 actual surfaces, about 250 composites, 100 building materials, 75 layers, 30 complex profiles.
My template is about 15MB (not 15GB !) and that is mainly because I have a lot of layouts and publisher sets (it is easier to delete or ignore what is not needed).

Barry.

[Laszlo Nagy]

Barry wrote:
My template is about 15GB

A 15 GB Template file? 15 gigabytes? Is that right?
I have 32 GB of RAM on my computer.

[Barry Kelly]

LaszloNagy wrote:

Barry wrote:
My template is about 15GB

A 15 GB Template file? 15 gigabytes? Is that right?
I have 32 GB of RAM on my computer.

Whoops, I meant MB.
Not sure what I was thinking when I wrote that - can't even blame a keyboard typo!

Barry.

[Anonymous]

Not so bad. I thought Attributes generate more size. I assume that 15 megs is withouts layouts and related stuff?

[Barry Kelly]

kzaremba wrote:
I assume that 15 megs is withouts layouts and related stuff?

I have just over 100 layout pages - mainly A3 with some A2.
Some are blank but many have drawings already placed for the views.
Of course they are empty as there is no model.

30+ master layouts.

10 publisher sets.

50+ schedules.

500 surfaces

100 building materials.

80 layers.

I try to include all that I might need in my template, so I can just delete or ignore what I don't need.
I find this easier than trying to create new master, layouts, schedules, etc.
This is for residential construction, not commercial which I assume could be more involved.

Barry.