How it works

AutoCAD application

• If no AutoCAD is running, JTB Batch Change will try open the lastest version of AutoCAD installed.
• If an AutoCAD session is openning, JTB Batch Change will take it to perform the job.
• An external application called JTB Batch Change Guard will run on top of your screen. This application will help the process keeps on focus. Any popup message comes from AutoCAD will be closed by JTB Batch Change guard
Note: Don't work on AutoCAD while JTB Batch Change is running.

Formulas in Find Value and New Value

A change command in Batch Change has 3 main parts:

• The object type: this can be Layer, Block, Attribute, Text, Line etc.
• Find Value (for specific property).
  • Find value can be "absolute". If you want to find all text where text content are "2014", enter "2014" at Find Value cell.
  • Find Value can also be a wild card. If you want to find all layers whose name contains "Wall", enter "*Wall*" at Find Value.
  • If you have many patterns, separate them with ";". For example: With Color, Find Value = "1; ByLayer; 2" will find all objects whose color is red (1), or ByLayer, or yellow (2)
  • You can use operators like "<> JTB*" to find names do not have JTB as prefix, or "> 9" to find color greater than 9.
  • Find Value is non-case sensitive. This help you easier working with drawings inconsistent in naming.

• New value (for specific property): once object matches Find Value, the Batch Change will aply New Value to it.

  New Value is non-case sensitive too except when working with Text Content of Text, Mtext, Dimension and Table.

  New value can be:

  • Static, like "A-TEXT"
  • Prefix and Suffix formula: New Value = "JTB-{...}-Test" will rename TextStyle it by adding "JTB-" and "-Test" as prefix and suffix to its current name.

    Note:

    • "..." part in "{...}" can be blank, or a formula.
    • Start and end spaces won't count and will be trimmed. If you want prefix including space, enclose text with quotes, e.g. "JTB " instead of JTB.
  • Absolute formula: new value = "Door 1 = Door 2; Door 3 = Door 4" for block reference's name will replace all inserted "Door 1" blocks with "Door 2" block, and "Door 3" with "Door 4"
  • Find and Replace formula: using quotes "..." to enclosed the text you want to find and its replacement.

    For example: New value = "ARCH-" = "AAA-"; "CONC" = "C" will rename "ARCH-FURN" layer to "AAA-FURN", and "TAG-CONC" layer to "TAG-C"

Example of formulas in Change spreadsheet

Normally 1 object has many properties. Each property has its own Find Value and New Value (except ReadOnly property, like IsDynamicBlock, will have no New Value). To access full properties form of a object, use "Change" spreadsheet. Other spreadsheets are design for a specific property or specific group of properties only.

When working "Change" spreadsheet, the issue is to how determine object is matched those Find Values. Cause Find Value results can be varies, you can choose combination type at Combination box.

There are 2 options:

• Change only when all values match. This is "AND" combination.
• Change once a Find Value matches. This is "OR" combination.

Log and Backup

You can copy the JTB Batch Change workbook to other locations. Within the workbook, you can copy, delete or rename worksheets.

BackUp folder including log files will be automatically created inside the running JTB Batch Change workbook's folder.

Before running, all your drawings will be backed up to subfolders in BackUp folder. They are categorized by worksheet, date and original folder. To find your old drawing (before being changed), click "Log" command, select the right Batch Change session, then click "Open Back Up Folder".

Note: You should manually empty your BackUp folder to save disk space. A warning will bring up if there is not enough diskspace.

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