topic Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name in AutoCAD Forum

the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 05:10:09 GMT

I'm getting this message on opening a dwg I created recently which loads some images that have not created problems in the past in many other drawings.

Only some images won't load and are reported as unreferenced. When I attempt to reattach the raster files again I get the message "the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name"

It then appends _1 to the file name which somehow makes it legitimate and the image is then attached.

Unfortunately this happens every time I reload said drawing for further editing, as the appended file name does not exist.

Running AutoCAD 2017 and Win 10.

See attached screenshot, after the images have been reloaded - until next time.

Thanks for any help

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

imadHabash — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 05:27:36 GMT

Hi,

i want to remind that this message appeared if:

- there is any unacceptable characters in the name of images like / - \ - *

- any changes happened to the images name like forgotten to include the extension when editing the name.

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 09:17:20 GMT

Referring to the posted screen shot, I can't see any illegal characters or missing extension

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

imadHabash — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 10:22:11 GMT

Hi,

would you try this command -image > Reload > Enter an asterisk (*) to reload all of the images > save . all images should now reload automatically.

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

RobDraw — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 10:58:20 GMT

The reason for the message is because another image is already using that name. That is why the addition of the 1 is all it needs to add the image.

I would look into reloading/repathing as stated already or detach all unreferenced images and reinsert.

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 21:05:28 GMT

I had tried the suggestions many times. One particular image when deleted (in xref), successfully reinserted and then saved, would then be reported as 'not found' when next opening the file.

I then inserted it afresh, but using its full path as opposed to a relative path and it now seems stable.

I'm wondering if this is a bug in this current version of AutoCAD (2017 SP1), as it has never occurred before in years of use. The xref option to reload all images (equivalent to -image in outcome) has worked occasionally where an image is unreferenced, but that has never been necessary to invoke previously as every image would be present on opening.

Thanks for the responses.

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

RobDraw — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 00:12:52 GMT

The screen shot of your reference manager is cut off at the top for me.

Are there any .dwg XREFs that could be referencing those images?

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 00:59:30 GMT

No xrefs, just a PDF of a background aerial photograph

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 07:32:43 GMT

Dear MR. Neoxtrad

If possible could you attach your corresponding files by e-transmit so that we would be be able to replicate the same and come with some possible solutions...

Regards

Di****h

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 07:54:36 GMT

Sorry, but my client would not be happy to release it. I have overcome the problem by making the paths full instead of relative, when it seems AutoCAD sometimes loses track of image files....

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

RobDraw — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 10:50:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Sorry, but my client would not be happy to release it. I have overcome the problem by making the paths full instead of relative, when it seems AutoCAD sometimes loses track of image files....

This is not AutoCAD "losing track" of images. If that were the case, the XREF manager would state "Not Found". "Unreferenced" means that the instance of the image reference is not present in the file, i.e. it has been deleted. I would not be satisfied with a workaround.

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:41:23 GMT

The last occurrence was a case of 'not found'

See post #6

Re: the file you have chosen cannot be used as an image name

RobDraw — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 21:03:17 GMT

Sorry, I didn't get from that that we have moved on to a different problem without resolving the OP in which, from what I can see of your reference manager, shows three unreferenced files.