Problem

Save Relative to Master Option is set in the DWG "Save As" options, and all of the references are attached with their relative path in the master DWG file. The references are in a sub-folder of the master file. When saving the master DWG file to another folder (as a DWG file), the DWG references are saved in the same folder as the DWG master file, instead of a relative folder.

Does the relative folder have to exist prior to the master file being saved to the new location for the references to be saved there? Or does this option only work when saving a DGN to DWG?

Solution

It is not possible to use Save-As to build a sub-folder structure.

When saving to dwg a specific directory for the output of that master file has to be selected.
There are three options for handling the reference file paths. The setting is "Save Path:", the options are:

None
When saving to the same directory
Relative to Master file.

When saving a DGN file as a DWG with Relative to Master File selected, the master file (the one being saved) will be created in the directory specified. The reference files will (if convert references is turned on) be created in the directories they reside in. The path to those references will be rewritten so that it is relative to the directory that the master file was saved in.

Example 1: File.dgn in C:\test1 is saved as a DWG to C:\Test2
C:\Test1
        | File.dgn
        |--SubTest1
                | Ref.dgn
                | Ref.dwg
        |-\Test2
                | File.dwg

The result - File.dwg is created in C:\Test2. The reference attachment now reads . .\test1\subtest1\ref.dwg that way when the file is opened in ACAD the reference correctly displays.

Example 2: File.dwg in C:\test1 is saved as a DWG to C:\Test2
C:\Test1
        | File.dwg
        |--SubTest1
               | Ref.dwg
C:\Test2
        | File.dwg
        | Ref.dwg

The result - File.dwg is created in C:\Test2 and so is the reference.
The reference attachment still reads C:\subtest1\ref.dwg. Because
convert reference files is turned on the reference is created to the
same directory as t he parent.

See Also

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