Question
Answer and Explanation
When working with the Sheet Set Manager in AutoCAD or similar CAD software, certain characters are considered illegal within file paths. These restrictions are primarily due to operating system limitations and the way the software handles file and folder names. Using illegal characters can lead to errors, prevent the software from accessing files correctly, or cause other unexpected issues.
Here are the common illegal characters to avoid in paths for the Sheet Set Manager:
1. Forward Slash (/): While used in URLs and some operating systems, the forward slash is typically used as a path separator in Unix-like systems. In Windows, it's often interpreted as a path separator, but it's best to avoid it for consistency.
2. Backslash (\): This is the primary path separator in Windows. While it's not illegal in the sense that it will cause a syntax error, it's crucial to use it correctly. Mixing forward and backslashes can cause issues.
3. Colon (:): The colon is often used to denote drive letters in Windows (e.g., C:\). Using it within a path can cause confusion and errors.
4. Asterisk (): The asterisk is a wildcard character in many systems and is not allowed in file or folder names.
5. Question Mark (?): Similar to the asterisk, the question mark is often used as a wildcard and is not permitted in file or folder names.
6. Quotation Marks ("): Quotation marks can cause issues when parsing paths, especially in command-line environments.
7. Less Than (<) and Greater Than (>) Symbols: These symbols are often used for redirection in command-line interfaces and are not allowed in file or folder names.
8. Pipe (|): The pipe symbol is used for piping output between commands and is not allowed in file or folder names.
9. Control Characters (ASCII 0-31): These are non-printable characters and are not allowed in file or folder names.
10. Trailing Spaces or Periods: While not strictly illegal, trailing spaces or periods at the end of a file or folder name can cause issues and should be avoided.
11. Reserved Names: Avoid using reserved names like "CON", "PRN", "AUX", "NUL", "COM1", "COM2", "LPT1", "LPT2", etc., as these are reserved by the operating system.
It's best practice to stick to alphanumeric characters, underscores (_), hyphens (-), and periods (.) when naming files and folders for use with the Sheet Set Manager. This will help ensure compatibility and prevent errors.