Users Guide

Detail Finder
Find details, cells, blocks and more in any number
of files fast!
Version 4.5

Axiom
1805 Drew Street
Clearwater, Florida 33765
727-442-7774 voice
727-442-8344 fax
Info@AxiomInt.com
www.AxiomInt.com

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Copyright 20112013 Axiom.

All rights reserved.
This document was last modified on 31 May 2013 4:09 PM.

Limited Warranty (Excerpted from the Axiom End User Software License
Agreement, see the full text of your Axiom End User Software License Agreement for
complete details.) LICENSEE is advised to test the SOFTWARE thoroughly before
relying on it. The SOFTWARE is provided as is without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose and the entire risk as to the quality
and performance of the SOFTWARE is with LICENSEE.

Governing Law This Agreement (Axiom End User Software License Agreement)
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Florida, United States of America. Venue
for the resolution of any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall be Pinellas County,
Florida, USA or, if that is not possible, the nearest court of competent jurisdiction thereto.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

MicroStation and MDL are registered trademarks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated.
AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Incorporated.

Chapter 1 Introducing Detail Finder

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introducing Detail Finder --------------------------------------------------- 5
Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
Features and Benefits --------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
Detail Finder is for AutoCAD users and MicroStation users alike.---------------------------5

Chapter 2 Installation----------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Detail Finder Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------6
Client Computer Optional Dependencies ---------------------------------------------------------6
Installation Steps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

Chapter 3 Uninstalling --------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

Chapter 4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ------------------------------------- 9
How many CAD files can CadExplorer or Detail Finder accommodate? -------------------9
Database Size Estimates-----------------------------------------------------------------------9
I use AutoCAD, not MicroStation (or vice versa), so Detail Finder uses terms I dont understand.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
Can I run Detail Finder without installing CadExplorer Server and CadExplorer Agent?10
When Detail Finder opens MicroStation, it doesnt take me to the matched element. --- 10
Does Detail Finder include CadExplorer Browser?------------------------------------------- 10
My query takes a long time. What can I do to speed it up? ---------------------------------- 10
Answer 1: Ensure Use Fast Searches is turned on.------------------------------------ 10
Answer 2: Search less fields. --------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Which drawings does Detail Finder search in? ------------------------------------------------ 11
What parts of my drawings does Detail Finder search in?----------------------------------- 11
What happens when I close Detail Finder? ---------------------------------------------------- 12

Chapter 5 Using Detail Finder ----------------------------------------------------------13

Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
How to Search -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
Presentation of Search Results ------------------------------------------------------------------- 14
Navigating Your Search Results------------------------------------------------------------------ 15
Edit files or just view them (read-only)? -------------------------------------------------- 15
Context Menus-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
Files Context Menu -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
Elements/Objects Context Menu ----------------------------------------------------------- 16

Chapter 6 Well Make (Almost) Any Enhancements You Want---------------17

We welcome your suggestions.------------------------------------------------------------------- 17

Chapter 7 New Features and Fixes ---------------------------------------------------18

4.5a 9 December 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18

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Chapter 1 Introducing Detail Finder

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Chapter 1 Intr oducing Detail Finder

Introduction
Detail Finder is the latest original CAD search tool from Axiom. Detail Finder lets you
search for matching text in MicroStation DGN files and AutoCAD DWG and DXF files.
Gone are the days of essentially lost CAD details that you have to redraw. With Detail
Finder, you can quickly and easily find details from any project by simply searching for
what you can remember about them, such as cell or block names, text elements/objects,
file names, reference file names and more.

Features and Benefits

With Detail Finder you can:

Instantly find text, cells, blocks, references, Xrefs and tags in any model, file or
project.

Instantly discover details about any reference file attachment, in any file or model, in
any project. For example, you can discover information such as each reference
attachment or Xrefs file name, full path, logical name, description and attachment
type (vector or raster).

Detail Finder is for AutoCAD users and MicroStation users

alike.
Detail Finder does not play favorites. It is equally capable of being used to search
AutoCAD or MicroStation drawing files. It even adapts its user interface based on
whether the user prefers MicroStation or AutoCAD terminology.
Since some users may be more comfortable with one systems terms over the others,
Detail Finder can be set in AutoCAD-centric or MicroStation-centric view modes,
from its View menu. This controls simply what terminology Detail Finder uses in its
menus, boxes and messages. For example, saying blocks for AutoCAD users and
cells for MicroStation users.

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Chapter 2 Inst allation

Detail Finder Requirements

Before you can use Detail Finder to search your CAD files, please ensure you have:

CadExplorer Server installed and configured on a server computer on your local area
network.

CadExplorer Agent installed and configured on at least one computer on your local
area network, so it can spider your CAD files.

A CadExplorer database that has been populated by CadExplorer Agent with

information about the CAD files you wish to search with Detail Finder.

Setting up these prerequisites is beyond the scope of this guide. See CadExplorer Users
Guide for information on how to set up the components above.

Client Computer Optional Dependencies

If you want to open found DWG, DXF or DWG files in MicroStation, you need to
have MicroStation V8 or later installed on your computer. Additionally, Detail
Finder uses the helper application Problem Element Viewer, which runs inside
MicroStation, to take you right to the matched elements. Problem Element Viewer
comes with Detail Finder, but requires its own installation.

If you want to open found DWG and DXF files in AutoCAD, you need to have
AutoCAD 2010, 2011 or 2012 open on your computer.

In addition to the above, if your DWG, DXF or DGN files are stored in ProjectWise,
you need to have ProjectWise Explorer V8, V8 XM or V8i installed on your
computer. This makes it possible for Detail Finder to check out or copy out files
from ProjectWise so you can open those files and visit found elements/objects.

Chapter 2 Installation

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Installation Steps
If your computer does not automatically start the CadExplorer Master Installer, run
setup.exe from the folder you extracted your Detail Finder installation package to.
The CadExplorer Master Installer allows you to install any or all CadExplorer
components on a single computer, but CadExplorer Server and CadExplorer Agent are
normally installed on a server computer while Detail Finder gets installed on one or more
workstations on your network.
If you dont already have CadExplorer Server and CadExplorer Agent installed and
configured, please see CadExplorer Users Guide for instructions on how to do that. One
you have those installed, the installation of Detail Finder is fast and easy. Simply push
the {Detail Finder} button in CadExplorer Master Installer and follow the prompts that
appear.
Once Detail Finder is installed, be sure to place your license file (axiom.lic) into one of
the following locations (typical defaults shown):

Windows XP and Windows 7 32-bit: c:\Program Files\Axiom\axiom.lic

Windows 7 64-bit: c:\Program Files (x86)\Axiom\axiom.lic

Important Note: If you already have an axiom.lic file in one of the locations above,
please use Notepad or another text editor to copy the contents of your new axiom.lic
file into your existing axiom.lic file, rather than overwriting the file itself.

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Chapter 3 Uni nstalling

Detail Finder is easy to uninstall from your Windows Start menu.
Run Start | All Programs | Axiom | Detail Finder | Uninstall Detail Finder.

Chapter 4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Chapter 4 Fre quently Asked Questions

(FAQ)

How many CAD files can CadExplorer or Detail Finder

accommodate?
The answer is the same for both CadExplorer and Detail Finder. This answer will refer to
CadExplorer but it applies equally to Detail Finder.
CadExplorer is delivered with Microsofts SQL Server Express 2008 R2 database
software. SQL Server Express is the limited, free version of Microsoft SQL Server and is
included for CadExplorer evaluation purposes. SQL Express 2008 R2 supports a
maximum database size of 10GB. This means only a limited number of CAD files can be
indexed and searched if you use SQL Server Express.
Since SQL Server Expresss database cannot get larger than 10GB, it is almost never
appropriate for CadExplorer production, but excellent for evaluation as it is easy to
install by any privileged user on just about any modern Windows computer.
The full, non-free version of SQL Server, which we recommend you use for actual
production, does not have this database size limitation. Axiom does not provide the full
version of SQL Server it must be purchased, configured and maintained
separately from CadExplorer.
Most users have enough files of enough complexity to search that they need to use the
full SQL Server, not its limited, free Express version.

Database Size Estimates

Since CAD files can vary greatly in size and complexity, we cannot estimate how much
database space will be needed to search your particular CAD files without some
information and sample files from you. For an estimate of how much CadExplorer
database space your CAD files will require, please email Support@AxiomInt.com the
following:

Some CAD files which are representative of your entire body of CAD files in terms of size and
complexity.

The total number of CAD files you want to be able to search with CadExplorer

The total amount of disk space used by the CAD files you want to be able to search with CadExplorer
The more accurate the above, the more accurate our estimate will be.

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I use AutoCAD, not MicroStation (or vice versa), so Detail

Finder uses terms I dont understand.
Detail Finder is designed to be used by AutoCAD users or MicroStation users. If you
only know one of those but not the other, you dont need to learn anything new. Just
choose View | MicroStation-centric if youre a MicroStation user or View | AutoCADcentric (the default) if youre an AutoCAD user. Detail Finder will immediately change
its interface to use terms youre familiar with, instead of terms from the other CAD
system. This has no impact on search scope and search results, it just changes the terms
Detail Finder uses to communicate with you.

Can I run Detail Finder without installing CadExplorer Server

and CadExplorer Agent?
No. Detail Finder doesnt index CAD files itself. It relies upon the power of CadExplorer
Server and CadExplorer Agent to index your CAD files before you can search them.
Your Detail Finder installation includes the components you need, but their installation is
outside the scope of this guide. See CadExplorer Users Guide for detailed installation
instructions.

When Detail Finder opens MicroStation, it doesnt take me to

the matched element.
Check your MicroStation Message Center. Most likely, you have not yet installed
Problem Element Viewer, which comes with Detail Finder.

Does Detail Finder include CadExplorer Browser?

No. Detail Finder uses the same back-end components (CadExplorer Server,
CadExplorer Agent) as CadExplorer Browser uses, but Detail Finder is licensed
independently of CadExplorer Browser.
CadExplorer Note: CadExplorer Browser, as the first client program build upon
Axioms CadExplorer technology, is commonly referred to as simply CadExplorer.

My query takes a long time. What can I do to speed it up?

Answer 1: Ensure Use Fast Searches is turned on.
Turn on Tools | Options... | Database | Use Fast Searches. This is on by default but it is
possible a user turned it off. This causes Detail Finder to submit your searches as full-

Chapter 4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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text queries, meaning they run incredibly fast. The drawback is that such searches must
match the beginnings of words in your CAD files. This limitation is what makes them
incredibly fast so, for most users, it is a very good tradeoff.

Answer 2: Search less fields.

In the main box, push the search fields button (
) and un-check any fields you dont
need to search in. The three slowest fields to search are usually File Name, Model Name
and Model Description, so un-checking these will usually give you the best performance
increase.

Which drawings does Detail Finder search in?

Your system administrator controls which drawings are indexed for and thus available to
Detail Finder. Detail Finder supports DGN, DWG and DXF files.

What parts of my drawings does Detail Finder search in?

By default, Detail Finder includes several aspects of your CAD files in its search. Here is
the complete list:

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What happens when I close Detail Finder?

Changes you made via the Options box, via the View menu and to the list of search fields
get saved. Changes you made to column display (on/off), and sorting get reset to their
default state. Element caches get cleared.

Chapter 5 Using Detail Finder

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Chapter 5 Usi ng Detail Finder

Introduction
Detail Finder allows you to easily search for data from one or many CAD files from any
number of projects.

How to Search
When you first load Detail Finder you will see a small box waiting for you enter a search
term. Its easy to use just type in whatever you want to search for and push {Enter}.

Enter any text and Detail Finder can find it in any of your CAD files (DGN,
DWG and DXF).

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Presentation of Search Results

Detail Finder displays your CAD data in two easy to use grids.
Detail Finder gives you a list of all the CAD files containing matches. Thats the Files
list. Below that, there is a list of all the matching elements/objects in whatever file you
select in the Files list. Thats the Elements/Objects list. Elements is the MicroStation
term, Objects is the AutoCAD term.

This image shows search results in AutoCAD-centric view mode.

Chapter 5 Using Detail Finder

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Navigating Your Search Results

The following table describes how you use the two grids (Files and Elements/Objects).
These grids only appear when Detail Finder has search results to display.

Which
Grid

Action

Result

Files

Doubleclick

Open that file in MicroStation or AutoCAD, visiting

the first matching element/object.

Files

Singleclick

Display all found elements/objects from that file in

the Elements/Objects grid.

Doubleclick

Visit that element/object in MicroStation or

AutoCAD. Close previously opened file. Open the
CAD file if its not already open.

Singleclick

If the file is already open, visit that element/object. If

file is not yet open, do nothing.

Elements
/Objects
Elements
/Objects

Edit files or just view them (read-only)?

Double-clicking in either grid can open files read-only (the default) or it can open them
for editing. This is controlled by Tools | Options... | Files | Open Files for Editing.

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Context Menus
Files Context Menu
Right-clicking on a found file in the Files grid brings up this context menu:

Elements/Objects Context Menu

Right-clicking on a matched element in the Elements/Objects grid brings up this context
menu:

Chapter 6 Well Make (Almost) Any Enhancements You Want

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Chapter 6 We ll Make (Almost) Any

Enhancements You Want

We welcome your suggestions.

Detail Finder is already a powerful program. Nonetheless, we realize that you, a skilled
and creative MicroStation or AutoCAD user, will think of ways in which it can be
improved. We invite you to tell us your ideas.
Axiom didnt become the number one MicroStation third party overnight. For years
weve listened to you, the skilled professional, and have implemented the features youve
requested. Every widely acclaimed product weve ever developed, including Detail
Finder, evolved in this manner.
Wed like to make Detail Finder perform every function you could ever imagine such a
product being able to do. We intend to make you such a satisfied Detail Finder customer
that you cant wait for the next user group meeting so you can tell your friends and
associates how much you like Detail Finder and how strongly you recommend it.
Your suggestions on how to improve Detail Finder are most welcome.

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Chapter 7 New Features and Fixes

4.5a 9 December 2011

New: This is the first release of Detail Finder. Version number synchronized with
corresponding CadExplorer Server version.