DBXscan/DBXrem batch utilities for AutoCAD

Scan/report or modify a whole folder of DWG files

DBXscan-- and DBXrem-- utilities by CAD Studio/Arkance Systems

DBXscan/DBXrem is a set of batch utilities which perform various scanning (reporting) and modification (cleaning) functions on a set (folder, directory) of DWG drawings. These VisualLISP utilities run in AutoCAD and use the ObjectDBX library for direct access to the contents of DWG files. So you do not need to open the individual files in AutoCAD and the batch operations are performed quickly (faster than using standard batch tools and scripts).

DBX utilities

Currently there are 12 sets of CS DBX utilities (the "CS+" ones are licensed):

1. DBXremSL/DBXscanSL
   batch remove excessive annotation scales list from DWG files, report "infected" DWG drawings
   • The DBXremSL utility (command) cleans your AutoCAD 2008/2009, 2010/2011/2012, 2013/2014/2015, 2016/2017/2018, 2019/2020/2021, 2022/2023/2024 DWG files. It scans all your drawing files in the specified folder and removes the excessive annotation scales present in those DWG files. You can also call DBXremSL via LISP (on a folder or on a list of files).
   • AutoCAD 2008 (SP0, Civil3D with SP1) inserts annotation scales from attached Xrefs. After several edit sessions, this process can lead to bloated DWGs which are loading slowly. DBXremSL can help in such situations. Do not forget to apply SP1 (or higher; Civil3D SP2 or higher) to prevent Xrefs further extending of your annotation scale lists.
   • The DBXscanSL utility is an accompanying tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the number of annotation scales present in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
2. DBXscanBlocks (CS+)
   scans and reports DWG drawings containing specified blocks or specified attributes
   • The DBXscanBlocks utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the blocks detected in the individual files - either all blocks or blocks matching the specified mask (use wcmatch wildcards, e.g. Block*, Chair# or Room*,Chair*). It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
   • Number of blocks or attribute values are reported in a text report or as a CSV Excel file.
   • In the Attribute mode, you can list values of attributes in block references in the scanned DWG files. The attribute names (tags) can be also filtered by a wcmatch mask.
   • You can use this tool to batch extract title block values (e.g. project name), count doors, etc.
3. DBXscanLayers
   scans and reports DWG drawings containing specified layer names
   • The DBXscanLayers utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the layers detected in the individual files - either all layers or layers matching the specified mask (use wcmatch wildcards, e.g. Layer*, Electro# or Level*,Furniture*). It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
   • All detected layers (names) are reported in a text report or as a CSV Excel file.
   • You can use this tool to check presence of specific layers in your DWGs.
4. DBXscanAEC (CS+)
   scans and reports DWG drawings containing AEC objects (will display "proxy" objects in plain AutoCAD)
   • The DBXscanAEC utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the AEC objects detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
   • All AEC objects are detected - i.e. from AutoCAD Architecture (Architectural Desktop), AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD MEP (Building Systems).
5. DBXremVBA/DBXscanVBA
   batch remove VBA macros from DWG files, report "infected" DWG drawings
   • The DBXremVBA utility (command) cleans your AutoCAD DWG files. It scans all your drawing files in the specified folder and removes the VBA macros present in those DWG files.
   • Unwanted VBA macros may be inserted in your drawings with INSERT or by other macros and add-on applications (sometimes also by viruses). DBXremVBA can help in such situations. Do not forget to set macro protection and disable macro insertion in Macro options (VBAPREF command) to prevent further insertion of VBA macros.
   • The DBXscanVBA utility is an accompanying tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the number of VBA macros present in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
6. DBXscanMech (CS+)
   scans and reports DWG drawings containing Mechanical objects (will display "proxy" objects in plain AutoCAD)
   • The DBXscanMech utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the Mechanical objects detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
   • All Mechanical objects are detected - from AutoCAD Mechanical and Mechanical Desktop (any version). You can also use this utility to detect drawings saved with "Save as AutoCAD" and "Save as Mechanical" from AutoCAD Mechanical.
7. DBXscanInv
   scans and reports DWG drawings coming from Autodesk Inventor (saved as an IDW alternative, not exported as DWG for AutoCAD)
   • The DBXscanInv utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the DWG files saved from Inventor as drawings (an alternative to IDW). It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
   • Only DWG files saved using standard Save/SaveAs are detected - not DWGs exported from Inventor. You can use this utility to detect (differentiate) drawings saved with "Save" and with "Export" from Autodesk Inventor.
8. DBXscanFus
   scans and reports DWG drawings created in Autodesk Fusion 360 (its 2D view function)
   • The DBXscanFus utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the DWG files saved from Fusion360. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
   • You can use this utility to detect (differentiate) drawings saved from the cloud 3D modeler Autodesk Fusion 360.
9. DBXscanRevit
   scans and reports DWG drawings created in Autodesk Revit (2D view export)
   • The DBXscanRevit utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the DWG files saved from Revit, including their original BIM project name (RVT file). It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
   • You can use this utility to detect (differentiate) drawings saved from the BIM application Autodesk Revit.
10. DBXscanXref
    scans and reports DWG drawings containing Xref references to other DWG files
    • The DBXscanXref utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the DWG Xrefs detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
    • Only DWG xrefs are detected - no images or underlays. Direct cyclic references (Microstation) are ignored. Without opening the individual DWGs, you can use this utility to detect drawings which are not "complete" and should be transmitted with eTransmit.
11. DBXscanImg
    scans and reports DWG drawings containing Image or PDF-underlay references
    • The DBXscanImg utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the raster Images or DGN underlays detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
    • Only images or underlays are detected - no xrefs, dgns or dwfs. Without opening the individual DWGs, you can use this utility to detect drawings which are not "complete" and should be transmitted with eTransmit.
12. DBXscanSHX
    scans and reports DWG drawings containing references to SHX files
    • The DBXscanSHX utility (command) is an tool which scans all drawings in the selected folder (and its subfolders) and writes a report about the SHX files (shapes, fonts, linetypes) detected in the individual files. It does NOT make any changes in the DWG files.
    • All types of SHX references are detected. Missing SHX files are highlighted. You can also scan only a specific SHX file. Without opening the individual DWGs, you can use this utility to detect drawings which are not "complete" and will report a missing SHX file when opened.

Usage

You can run any of the DBXrem/DBXscan utilities in an empty AutoCAD drawing - unlike other utilites, it will not process the active drawing but the DWG files in the specified directory. All DWG files present in that directory will be processed (DBXscan also with subfolders).

Just load (APPLOAD) the application and run the the requested "DBX" command. Browse to the folder you want to process a click Save.

The process of removing objects (DBXrem__) can be destructive and there is NO UNDO - please use it always only on COPIES of your original drawings! All DBXrem utilities offer "Safe" and "Verbose" modes - see the Readmes.

A sample output of a DBXscan-type utility (DBXscanVBA in this case):

CADstudio DBXscanVBA report (drawings containing VBA macros)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Timestamp: 20080522.1018

Start processing root folder C:\Temp\VBA\

Start processing folder C:\TEMP\VBA\
-- C:\Temp\VBA\Svah_Terrain.dwg
-- C:\Temp\VBA\Drawing1VBA.dwg,  ***_VBA_macros_***
-- C:\Temp\VBA\Drawing2VBA.dwg,  ***_VBA_macros_***
-- C:\Temp\VBA\Clean_Drawing.dwg

Start processing folder C:\TEMP\VBA\SUB
-- C:\Temp\VBA\MyDrawing.dwg,  ***_VBA_macros_***

---- processing finished ----

Visit www.cadstudio.cz and www.cadforum.cz for other CAD utilities

Problems

DBXrem/DBXscan tools were tested in AutoCAD 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. They will probably run also with other versions and AutoCAD flavors but these scenarios were not tested. If your DWG files contain custom objects (e.g. from Civil3D), please run the specific DBXrem-utility in this specific flavor of AutoCAD (= Civil3D).

See also DWGintVer for batch report of AutoCAD versions (+builds +languages) used to save individual DWG files.

Please send possible questions and problems to: info@cadstudio.cz.

Download free CAD Studio DBX-utilities (for AutoCAD)