Files saved in ACAD LT for MAC showing "Foreign DWG File" when opened on windows

[Chris.Brough]

Hello, most or all of our .dwg files that were last saved by AutoCAD LT for Mac are causing the following dialog to show on all Autocad (windows) computers.

"Foreign DWG File - This DWG file was last saved by an application that was not developed or licensed by Autodesk...."

[pendean]

What are the year versions for both software?

[maxim_k]

Hi Chris,

>>>>Files saved in ACAD LT for MAC showing "Foreign DWG File" when opened on windows
It can not be so.
If you see "Foreign DWG" alert on Windows, you should see the same alert on Mac. I think that you (or someone else)  turned off this alert on Mac side by checking "Always open DWG..." option.
Try to Reset hidden messages in AutoCAD for Mac Preferences window (a button on "Application" tab") and then open one of the drawings with "foreign" alert. I believe you will see "Foreign DWG" alert on Mac side too.

[Chris.Brough]

Hello Maxim, that may be so, but i'm more concerned as to why the message is there at all...

All of our files originate in autocad 2018 or newer.

[pendean · Accepted solution]

It's an informational message, partly a marketing stunt from Autodesk, nothing more: it means nothing to anyone unless it is your job to police file formats in very strict method normally not found outside of labs.
It simply indicates somewhere along the way your file or its content went through another program.

I would say 99% of AutoCAD users always check that box to never see it again and move on with their production day.

Nope, there is no way to trace the source in this DWG file. Someone somewhere in your organization is just going to have to fess up.

You can also tell Autodesk all about it if you wish through the support links at your Autodesk Account page, and here https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

Good luck.

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

AutoCAD for Mac produce only trusted DWGs unless the drawing was saved at least once in other then AutoCAD application. Therefore, I argue that this "cannot be".
In order to get rid of "Foreign DWG" alert you can use RECOVER command in AutoCAD, as soon as the drawing is RECOVERed and SAVEd in AutoCAD, you will not get the alert.

[Chris.Brough]

thanks for the info guys!

i'm curious if geometry that originated in Vectorworks being pasted into an "authentic" dwg file would cause this?

we recently switched from Vectorworks to AutoCAD as our main cad software so we do have a lot of geometry being exported from a non Autodesk source.  It's just bazaar that once the file is then saved through Autocad it would still produce the error.

Its just more of an annoyance than anything else.  Believe it or not it causes more IT questions than you'd think 😔

I'll try the "recover" advise.