Envisioneer: How to Use the Find and Replace Tool to Update Products in Your Catalog

Whether you're maintaining a product catalog or a comprehensive list of elements for a building design, the Cadsoft Envisioneer "Find and Replace" tool is an essential feature that can save you considerable time and effort. This tool allows you to replace outdated inventory with new SKUs or updated items, ensuring that your catalog remains accurate and up-to-date.

Let's walk through an example of how to use this tool effectively.

Replacing a Part

First, let's look at replacing a part. Parts refer to elements that don't have a 3D representation but are necessary for ordering when you design 3D elements like walls, floors, or ceilings. Suppose we want to replace all instances of a 6mil Poly Vapour Barrier with a 4mil version.

After going to the Element Manager (the master list of all elements in the catalog), you would navigate to the Parts list and select the Thermal and Moisture folder. Here, you'll find the Poly Vapour Barrier options. Select the 6 mil Poly Vapor Barrier part and opt for "Find and Replace."

This action prompts the "Find and Replace" dialog box, which lists all the assemblies where the 6 mil Poly Vapour Barrier has been added. At the bottom of the dialog box, you'll find the option to replace it with something else. Here, select the 4 mil Poly Vapor Barrier and click "OK."

Then, in the "Find and Replace" dialog box, confirm that you're replacing the 6 mil version with the 4 mil version by selecting "Replace All." After confirming the replacement, the system will replace all references of the 6mil poly with the 4 Mil Poly Vapour barrier in the catalog and the assemblies.

Replacing a Wall Trim

Now let's consider a slightly more complex example that involves walls in the catalog. Suppose a wall uses a specific type of baseboard trim that you no longer stock. Using "Find and Replace," you can efficiently update all the walls with a new trim, rather than manually adjusting each wall's description.

First, navigate to the trim category and find the baseboard trim you want to replace. Opt for "Find and Replace" and you'll see a list of all the walls associated with this trim. Select "Replace" to choose an alternative trim and click "OK." After confirming the replacement by choosing "Replace all," the system will replace the old trim in all the walls with the new one.

The "Find and Replace" feature is a powerful tool that helps designers streamline their work process, efficiently update inventory, and make mass changes to a catalog. It's a tool that underscores the importance of staying organized and efficient, especially when working with comprehensive design software like Autodesk.

For more information about the newest and most advanced design software technology, don't hesitate to contact our sales team at NOVEDGE. We're always here to help you find the tools and solutions that will make your job easier.