Converting Previous Version Files as a Batch

During a batch conversion, the program scans all files in the source folder (and in subfolders, optionally), and converts previous version files to the current format. Non-Vectorworks files and Vectorworks files that are too old to convert are skipped and recorded in the log file.

There are two options for Vectorworks files during batch conversions:

●    By default, the program moves the previous version files to an archive folder and places the converted versions of those files in the source folder.

●    Alternatively, the program makes no changes to the source folder. Instead, the converted files (and copies of any current version Vectorworks files) are placed in a specified folder.

To convert a batch of files:

1. Place all files to be converted in one folder, or in subfolders within the source folder.

2. In the Vectorworks program, select File > Batch Convert.

The Batch Convert dialog box opens.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Source Folder	Click Choose to open either the Choose Source Folder dialog box (Mac) or the Browse for Folder dialog box (Windows). Select the folder that contains the files you want to convert, and then click Choose (Mac) or OK (Windows) to return to the Batch Convert dialog box.
Destination Folder	To place the converted files into a different folder, click Choose to open either the Choose Destination Folder dialog box (Mac) or the Browse for Folder dialog box (Windows). Select the folder, and then click Choose (Mac) or OK (Windows) to return to the Batch Convert dialog box. Then deselect Convert in place.
Include subfolders	Converts the files within the subfolders of the source folder
Convert in place	Moves the original Vectorworks files to an archive folder, and places the newly converted files in the original source file locations. The archive folder is created within the source folder and is named “Old Version Vectorworks Files.” Deselect this option to place the converted files in the destination folder and make no changes to the source folder.
Convert layer links into viewports (Vectorworks Design Series required)	Creates viewports on design layers that reference one or more layers within the same file. Select this option to convert any layer links in the older version files into viewports.
Convert referenced layers into referenced viewports (Vectorworks Design Series required)	Creates viewports on design layers that reference one or more layers in an external file. Select this option to convert any referenced layers in the older version files into viewports.
Convert absolute references into relative references (Vectorworks Design Series required)	Converts workgroup references with absolute file paths to relative file paths, if a relative file path is allowed. A relative file path is not allowed if the file is on a different volume from the referenced file.

3. Click OK to convert the files.

Each file is briefly opened and re-saved into the appropriate folder. Subfolder names and hierarchies are recreated, if they are included in the conversion process. If Convert in place is selected, the original files are moved to the archive folder, in the original subfolder structure.

4. Once the conversion is complete, the Batch Conversion Results dialog box displays a summary.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Total files in source folder	The total number of files contained in the specified source folder
Total files successfully converted	The total number of files successfully converted by the Batch Convert command
Total current version files copied	The total number of files that were already in the current version of the Vectorworks program; if Convert in place is selected, the files are left in place in the original folder; if Convert in place is not selected, the files are copied to the destination folder
Total files not converted	The total number of files that were not converted
Not a Vectorworks file	The number of files that were not converted because they were not Vectorworks files
Damaged files	The number of files that were not converted because they damaged in some way and could not be opened and processed
Unsupported Vectorworks file version	The number of files that were not converted because they were MiniCAD 6 or an earlier version, which is not supported by the Batch Convert command
Unknown reasons	The number of files that were not converted, for which the program could not detect a reason
One or more files had solid conversion errors	This message indicates that one or more of the successfully converted files contained a solid that could not be properly generated by the Parasolid kernel. Check the log file to see which files had solid conversion failures. You may be able to edit the converted geometry and regenerate the solids.

5. Click Details to view a log file with information about each file processed during the conversion.

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Converting a Single Previous Version File

Creating Design Layer Viewports

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