Lee Mac BFind Alternative for Batch Find and Replace in DWG Files

What is Lee Mac's Batch Find & Replace?

Lee Mac's Batch Find & Replace, commonly called BFind, is a free AutoLISP program for finding and replacing text across multiple AutoCAD drawings.

It runs inside AutoCAD and uses ObjectDBX to access drawing databases without opening every drawing manually.

BFind includes controls for object selection, case sensitivity, whole-word matching and locked layers. It can also generate a text report showing searched or replaced objects and the drawing files involved.

For users with a compatible AutoCAD installation who are comfortable loading AutoLISP tools, BFind is a capable free option.

Why BFind may not fit every workflow

It requires a compatible AutoCAD installation

BFind is not a standalone application. It must be loaded and run inside a compatible desktop version of AutoCAD.

That works well for CAD operators already using full AutoCAD. It is less practical when the task belongs to a document controller, project manager, BIM coordinator or another team member without access to a compatible installation.

The published version is not compatible with AutoCAD LT

AutoCAD LT for Windows has supported AutoLISP since the 2024 release, but it does not provide the complete ActiveX environment available in full AutoCAD.

BFind relies on ObjectDBX and related AutoLISP/ActiveX functionality. Lee Mac therefore lists the published BFind version as incompatible with AutoCAD LT.

The limitation is not that current AutoCAD LT versions cannot run any AutoLISP code. The limitation is that BFind depends on functionality outside the supported LT environment.

docuredo runs separately in a browser, so an AutoCAD LT user can use it without running BFind inside LT.

It requires loading and running an AutoLISP program

The user must download a .lsp file, load it into AutoCAD and run the relevant command.

That may be routine for an experienced CAD operator. It can still create an extra technical or internal-approval step for other team members or managed workstations.

ObjectDBX has documented limitations

ObjectDBX makes it possible to process drawings without opening each file in the AutoCAD interface, but it has documented limitations.

Depending on the drawing and AutoCAD version, these may include:

• the file being saved in the format used by the current AutoCAD installation;
• thumbnail previews not being preserved;
• possible attribute-position issues with non-standard justification;
• restrictions involving some formatted MTEXT;
• restrictions on certain search characters or patterns.

These limitations do not mean BFind is unsuitable for every project. They mean users should understand the ObjectDBX workflow and verify the processed drawings. See Lee Mac's official BFind documentation for the current list of restrictions.

How docuredo works instead

docuredo runs in a web browser.

Upload up to 1,000 DWG drawings, define the required replacement rules and download the corrected files after processing.

Rules can range from one find-and-replace pair to a whole list pasted from Excel or another spreadsheet.

The drawings are processed by the genuine AutoCAD engine running on Autodesk cloud infrastructure. No local AutoCAD installation or licensed AutoCAD access is required on the user's device.

Each batch includes a structured audit report recording:

• the drawing;
• the layout;
• the layer;
• the original text;
• the replacement text;
• any match skipped because it could not be changed safely.

Risky matches are skipped and flagged for review, not guessed.

Learn more about batch DWG Find & Replace

Lee Mac BFind vs. docuredo

Important: AutoCAD LT compatibility refers to the published version of Lee Mac's BFind. Current Windows versions of AutoCAD LT support some AutoLISP functionality, but not the complete programming environment BFind requires.

A typical batch replacement example

A client changes its company name after 37 project drawings have already been produced. The old name appears in title blocks, revision notes, general notes and block attributes across multiple layouts.

Using BFind

A CAD operator with a compatible AutoCAD installation downloads and loads the AutoLISP program, enters the replacement rule, selects the drawing files and runs the process locally, then reviews the BFind report and checks the affected drawings.

Using docuredo

A document controller or CAD team member uploads the 37 drawings in a browser, enters the old and new company names and starts the batch. The corrected drawings are returned with an audit report showing every applied change and any match that was skipped for review. No local AutoCAD installation is required on the person's device to submit the batch.

What BFind does well

BFind is free, established and useful.

If you have a compatible AutoCAD installation, are comfortable with AutoLISP and prefer to process drawings locally, BFind may already meet your needs.

It offers more than AutoCAD's standard single-drawing FIND workflow, includes useful search controls and can generate a report.

docuredo is more relevant when:

• the user does not have a compatible AutoCAD installation;
• the team uses AutoCAD LT;
• loading external AutoLISP tools is restricted;
• the task needs to be delegated outside the CAD team;
• replacement rules come from a large spreadsheet;
• a structured audit is required;
• risky matches need to be identified explicitly.

Which option should you use?