JTB SmartBatch
Digitally signed app
Description
JTB SmartBatch (aka SmartPurger) is a batch and script utility for processing multiple Autodesk® AutoCAD® drawings with full control. Execute LSP or SCR files on multiple drawings. JTB SmartBatch handles crashes so the batch processing continues to the end and leaves bad drawings to be corrected manually. Many purges and cleanup settings are available. Useful before backups and distribution of drawings. The file's modified time stamp can be restored.
JTB SmartBatch is useful if you want to minimize the size of files before a backup or before sending drawings by e-mail, burning to CD or just to use as a quick viewer of drawings. You have options to save the files to a separate folder or to a different drawing version.
JTB SmartBatch can execute custom script files (.SCR) or AutoLISP files (.LSP, FAS, or . VLX).
JTB SmartBatch can make use of AutoCAD Core Console that was introduced in AutoCAD 2013 making the scripting process faster than ever as the Core Console takes less than a second to open per drawing. A test using the Core Console took 11 minutes compared to normal AutoCAD 2013 which took 58 minutes to process 145 drawings. You can set up JTB SmartBatch to run different AutoCAD applications for different drawing file versions. Optionally specify the profile to be used when starting AutoCAD. From a real project: 1773 drawings and a total size of 526MB in 2000 DWG format become 218MB in 2004 DWG format. Conversion and purging were made totally unattended. JTB SmartBatch can without problem process 10,000 drawings and more.
You can run the audit, zoom extents, and create preview icons. Convert between versions. Purge Blocks, Dimension styles, Layers, Linetypes, Mline styles, Shapes, Text styles, Plot styles, Page Setups, Filter states, Layer states, Layer manager states (Express Tools), Line objects without length, Text objects without text, embedded VBA code, registered applications collections, Anonymous Groups, Groups, Orphaned Data. It's possible to restore the date and time of the file to what it was before the scripting. Delete.BAK and other temporary or garbage files and much more. Remember that this is a very powerful tool and make sure you understand and know what you do when you use it. Read the documentation before you run it. Try on some test files/folders as a start. To be on the safe side make sure you have backups before you run.
If the AutoCAD -PURGE command crashes AutoCAD because it runs out of memory (FATAL ERROR: Out of memory - shutting down) when purging Regapps make sure to use the purge option "Purge all registered applications collection" instead. It can take really long time (from some minutes to some hours) so set the timeout to max value (100000) and leave it running during the night. Sometimes it can help to unload the xrefs on all drawings you want to purge from Regapps otherwise they just keep coming back. Create a small LSP file with this code and run it first on all drawings. (Command "._-xref" "_u" "*") After that, you can run the files, by purging the Regapps. Remember that all nested xrefs have to be run. Then run an LSP file that loads the xrefs again using code like this: (command "._-xref" "_r" "*")
If you want to try before you buy there is the JTB SmartBatch Trial or visit the JTB SmartBatch web page for other options.
Note: This app uses a custom installer (and not the standard App Store installer).
A powerful and multi-faceted application equals value for lower cost. One function of the many tools allows the user to select one or many file directories at one time; allowing removal of selected extranneous AutoCAD files (and others i.e., *.log, etc.). Post removal operations includes a display of the quantity of files removed. Also, a log file is generated. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY INCLUDED TOOLS! Excellent!