Summary
The GT_XD_SEARCH command is a powerful tool that allows users to search for and optionally replace extended entity data (XDATA) in BricsCAD, AutoCAD, ZWCAD and ARES Commander. This tool is especially useful for managing metadata and correcting entity information stored in XDATA fields.
GeoTool -> Extended Entity Tools -> Extended Entity Tools -> Search and replace extended entity data
Key Features Include:
1. Targeted XDATA Search
- Users can choose to search in all applications, including system apps, or limit the search to user-created applications.
- Allows searching by specific XDATA application names, helping to locate and modify stored metadata efficiently.
2. Search by XDATA Code & Position
- Enables users to search for a specific XDATA field code (e.g., 1001, 1002, etc.).
- Supports searching by occurrence when multiple instances of the same code exist in the XDATA structure.
- Users can search all codes if required.
3. Flexible Search & Replace Options
- Replace Values: Allows modifying the XDATA content based on search results.
- Embedded Search: Searches within nested or structured XDATA values.
- Case-Sensitive Search: Ensures strict matching based on case differences.
- Character & Numeric Search Support: Automatically detects whether the field is numeric or text-based.
4. Controlled Replacement
- Users can enter the replacement value for the searched text or numeric data.
- Provides criteria-based replacement (e.g., numerical conditions like greater than, equal to, etc.).
Benefits
- Efficiently updates XDATA across multiple entities without manual editing.
- Helps in standardizing metadata across different CAD drawings.
- Improves drawing consistency by correcting incorrect or outdated XDATA values.
- Reduces errors in attribute-based workflows by ensuring metadata accuracy.
The GT_XD_SEARCH command is a critical tool for CAD and GIS professionals who work with metadata-driven drawings, ensuring a clean, consistent, and accurate dataset across multiple entities.