Super Sized Drawing File Challenge

[JeffPaulsen]

Anyone bored and looking for a challenge?

I've seen this type of post several times and don't usually have problems reducing file size. However, this one has me stumped.

I received a drawing from another consultant that uses C3D 2013. When I open the drawing in C3D 2012 I get the message that it was created in a newer version of C3D so I assume he did a saveas to 2010.

When I get drawings like this I copy what I need to the clipboard and paste into a new drawing (acad.dwt). This usually works fine. But in this case the drawing is almost 4 MB and contains just one arc. I purged everything I can from the drawing and it is still 3 MB.

I looked for but could not find any of the usual suspects: drawing scales, regapps, empty text objects and wipeouts. When I list "all" there is one arc in model space and 4 viewports in paper space. I did notice that there are hundreds of linetypes and text styles that cannot be purged.

I tried export to AutoCAD DWG 2010, 2007, 2004 and 2000 but that didn't help. Export to AutoCAD DWG R14 and DXF R12 both caused C3D to become unresponsive. Saveas to DWG R14 and DXF R12 caused C3D to become unresponsive.

If anyone can figure out what is making this drawing so large it would be greatly appreciated since the person that sent it to me is on vacation until next week.

[rl_jackson]

No wonder your having problems with that file. Your not using any data references or xrefs whatsoever. You have everything in one drawing file.

You should be using data references and xrefs.

For instance:

You should have a drawing with your EG Surface in it only. this could be created from your point data or you could XML the surface you current working file then import it into a fresh drawing and save it as a data reference (you would then delete the surface from the drawing and create a referene.)

Same thing would hold true for your alignmnets, profiles, corridors etc.....

This drawing would tax any PC to the limits your describing.

[C3DJAKE]

Thanks for you reply. I agree the drawing should have been set up as you recommend. Unfortunately that's how I received it.

However, take a look at the file with everything deleted. It's totally empty, as far as I can tell, yet it still maxes the memory. Any ideas about this?

**Edit

Well actually, upon closing and re-opening, it does appear the empty file is normal. I am hoping there is a single offender that is bloating the file. But it very well may be as you originally suggested.

I think I'm going to have to take the drawing apart piece-by-piece. Maybe something will emerge.

[rl_jackson]

Just my personal take on it, you can do what you would like. But in the long run I think recreating everything would be more prudent and far less hassel.

Everything is there, its just a matter of getting it all seperated. Sure you may have to duplicate some things but, headaches you going to have from that drawing far outway the recreation IMO.

I would not expect it to take that long to do either. The time spent waiting for that drawing to come up, I could have done all the drefs