Batch Conversion from FLX to DWG | Back to User Tips
MapScenes Pro (and MapScenes), by default, saved all of it’s drawings in a FLX file format. This FLX format can not be used by any other programs.
MapScenes Pro 2006 uses the industry standard DWG file format.
To get all of your old FLX files converted into DWG files, the old MapScenes Pro (and MapScenes) includes a Batch Conversion Utility, but it is not on any of the menus.
Start MapScenes Pro (or MapScenes) – Log in as normal and then go to the Assistant and when the Assistant comes up on screen, exit the Assistant.
You then have 3 steps that will need to be performed to complete the conversion.
- Pause MapScenes Pro (or MapScenes) – type in (setq mscadpause 1) on the command line and press enter.
- Batch Process File – type in BATPROC on the command line and press enter.
- Restart MapScenes Pro (or MapScenes) – type (setq mscadpause nil) at the command line and press enter. This will reload our forensic routines, so you could continue to work in MapScenes Pro (or MapScenes). If you are simply exiting the program after the conversions are done – then this step can be ignored.
Now that you know the steps to do – let’s do them:
- Pause MapScenes Pro (or MapScenes) – type in (setq mscadpause 1) and press enter. The brackets do need to be typed with the command.
- Batch Process File – type in BATPROC and press enter.
You will now see the main conversion dialog:
There are two main section of the dialog that will be of concern to do the conversion from FLX to DWG files.
- Choosing what files to select to convert.
This section allows you to decide if you wish to list FLX, DXF or DWG file formats. In this case you only need FLX selected.
The Include Subdirectories option is up to you. It will automatically look in all subdirectories of any folder you select and grab all of the FLX files in any of those subdirectories as well as the main directory you pick.
The first button with the << on it, allows you to pick which folder you wish to grab the FLX files from. Pick this to select the desired folder.
When you do, you will see the following dialog:
Using the mouse, pick on the + or – signs to expand and collapse the folders to find the desired location on your computer. Once there, pick on the folder name to process. Pick on OK and you will return to the previous dialog.
All of the FLX files in the folder you selected – and the subdirectories (if turned on) will now be listed in this dialog, in the left side of the dialog.
You can repeat this process to choose additional folders to process at the same time. Now highlight the desired files to convert by taking your mouse and picking on the FLX name. Pick and drag to select more than one name.
- Choosing what format to convert to.
The next section of the dialog to be concerned with is Convert To:
Select DWG to tell it you wish to create DWG files from the FLX files.
You have the option to Overwrite Exiting Drawings. If selected, then if a DWG file is already on the computer, it will be replaced with the new one being created. If you do not turn this on – if a DWG file already exists then the save option is skipped for that FLX and it proceeds to the next FLX automatically.
Once you have set these features as desired – pick the START button in the bottom right – and sit back while the computer does the work for you. Each FLX file will be opened and saved automatically to the DWG file format, one at a time, in sequence. The DWG file will be saved in the same folder as the original FLX. The original FLX is not modified or erased. The same database files are used in both programs so nothing needs to be worried about there.
A log file is created, if you have this option turned on.
It will look something like this:
The FLX processed above already had a DWG file for it – and the over-write option was off – the DWG was Skipped.
Below you can see the FLX files are all being saved as DWG files as it processes through the list of FLX files you selected.
Depending upon how many FLX files you have selected to convert – and the size of each – this entire process may take some time.
- Restart MapScenes Pro (or MapScenes) – This would allow you to continue working in MapScenes Pro (or MapScenes) by reloading our forensic routines. Type in (setq mscadpause nil) on the command line and press enter. The brackets do need to be typed with the command.
If you simply wish to exit the program and go to MapScenes Pro 2006 – you can ignore this last step.
Your DWG files are now ready to be opened and worked on / printed via the new MapScenes Pro 2006. The database file will automatically be loaded and no data will be lost.
Glen W. Cameron, C.E.T.
Technical Support Manager
