MEPworx – What happens if I can't find my DXF file

by Simon Brown

Many of you have DXF files in a location on your network that the program uses, you having located the file in the first place. Every time you load a DXF file it looks in the original location you selected when setting up a project.

However, it’s not unusual for files to me moved, renamed or lost.

When loading the project and moving to the various modules, the program will always load the last floor you used before exiting the software.

So, what would happen if the last DXF file loaded on the project is moved, renamed or deleted?

This invariably means you can’t continue loading the project because the last floor loaded is looking for a file that has moved or possibly been deleted.

The program flags up a message stating it cannot find the DXF file so it’s up to you to browse and find its new location which most of the time will solve the issue in re pathing to the new DXF location to be picked up.

However, you may have an instance where the last DXF floor plan loaded can’t be located or may have been deleted so how do you handle this situation?

When the message appears, you need to take a note of the DXF file name and location.

You then get your team to load up the floor below the one being loaded (so the extents and position is the same) and SAVE AS using the DXF file name of the floor that can’t be found.

This means, as a temporary measure, you will end up loading the wrong floorplan on the floor that couldn’t find the DXF file. Invariably the room take off lines won’t match the temporary floor plan used to gain entry to the project.

This at least allows you to load the project and get on with whatever you need to do, whilst in the meantime locating the missing file.

Once the file is located, use the TOOLS -MANAGE DXF to locate the original correct file and allocate it to the floor in question.

Sometimes it’s best to manage your floorplans locally on a busy network where restrictions or changes may occur. You are effectively in control of those files in your locations.