AutoCAD 2007/2008/2009 DWG Format

[#1]

Hi All,

A dwg file i use has become too large.

Its 15mb & for the work I do and other files seem to be only 1.5 to 2mb.

Its slowing right done and i can bearly use the file.

I have purged/audited the file and that doesnt seem to help.

Can any one suggest what is wrong and what I can do??

Thank you

[#2]

Check for any inserted BMP's or XREF files.

I used to use a BMP for our company logo, but it inflated the file size from an average of 200-300K up to 4-5M with just a small 2 colour BMP.

XREF files can also hold a lot of data and may need cleaning up in themselves. Beware that the XREF files may themselves have other XREF's in them.

Another possible source of file bloat may be blocks with excessive use of other blocks inside it.

Regards Brad

[#3]

Thanks for responding.

I have worked out whats making the file so large.

The drawing has copied over itself multiple times (7x)

I dont know how this has happend and obviously this would cause issues.

My problem now is how do i delete these mutiple lines over the entire drawings.

it will take forever.

Any suggestions????

Thank you

[#4]

As long as you have the Express Tools installed, you have a function built in.....

Just type overkill. This will merge overlapping lines into 1 line. I don't know how it will work with blocks, but with seperate lines it works great 

Regards Brad

[#5]

WOW cheers for the overkill command!

It seems to do the trick so far.

But the only fault (unless im doing it wrong) is when I selected all the objects (walls) at the same time it tends to delete them once I have executed the command.

What settings should I tick for this?

Thank you

[#6 · Accepted solution]

That is what the overkill command does. If two lines are overlapping, it will delete one line and extend the other to make 1 line for the whole length.

I tried it on our title block in a blank dwg, and it deleted multiple copies of the block and only left the one copy there.

Best way is to save the dwg using a different name, select everything (including title block) and run the overkill command.

Print both the new file and the old file and compare printouts. You should have no differences between the visual outputs, but one file will be a lot smaller than the other.

If there are lines or blocks missing, it would be quicker to replace them than going through and deleting everything multiple times.

For more information, start the overkill, select something and hit enter. When the dialog box comes up, hit the Help button.

Regards Brad

[#7 · Accepted solution]

Attached is a screenshot of OVERKILL options that cause the least amount of 'damage' to most file entities IMHO.

[#8]

Hi all

Just wanted to thank for for respoding to my post.

Your suggestions have been most helpful.

Kind Regards

Oliver

[#9]

Does anyone one know what causes the walls to mutiple???

Its starting to happen to most of my drawings?

Thanks

[#10]

FYI

I have found when I use match pre set HATCHS in my Tool Palette thats when the walls start mutiplying.

Not sure what has caused this as it hasnt always happend.

If you can add to anymore this it would be much appreciated.

Thanks