5-10 Minute Delay when switching between tabs

[david_ballinger]

This is seriously bad.  I have the following drawing file:

Windows 7 Pro

AutoCAD 2018

Intel Xeon Processor E3-1505M @ 2.8 GHz

Solid State Drive

16 Gig of Ram

M2000M Video Card

Recently installed a 5.1.5 Hotfix 1

Drawing File is 30 Meg

Has three X-Ref files which are; 209 KB, 1.7 Meg, and 20 Meg

The 20 Meg file is drawn in 3D but I only view it in plan view

I currently have 17 tabs with different levels of details, and layers frozen in certain views, and trying to add information to each tab.  But when switching between tabs I have to wait anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.  I can seriously say, the amount of productive work I have gotten done in the last 3 hours is 15 minutes.  All I have been doing is fixing the Visretain Setting (why this wasn't set to 1 to begin with I have no idea) and trying things to speed it up based on things I have read on here.  (ie. Run DDUCS in each viewport and un-check "Save UCS with Viewport") which was recommended in another thread. 

There has to be a regen setting or something that is causing this thing to hang up..  Any help would be incredible as I am about to throw this thing out the window!!

[imadHabash]

Hi,

would you please PURGE (Reg),RECOVER and Audit all the xrefs and the file itself.then till us if any differences noticed.also you can learn more HERE.

regards,

[david_ballinger]

Once I get through this last tab switch and verify changes, I planned to move to model space and do exactly that. It will be a while.

[john.vellek]

HI @david_ballinger,

I agree with Imad that drawing maintenance might be the first step.

When you have the opportunity please run the following:

• Audit
• Purge
• -Purge>all
• -Purge>Regapps

Please post your results.

[david_ballinger]

I did what was suggested.  On each Xref, I purged, recovered and audit'd.  Then I did the same with the main file.  Two x-ref files had 1 error and the main file had 900.  This was the second time I recovered the file.  First time was two weeks ago and it also found 900 errors.

I also turned Regenmode to 0 as it was set to 1.

Time between switching tabs seems affected by how detailed the information is on the screen.  A simple 8.5 x 11 sketch shows up quicker than a 24" x 36" sheet with several thousand lines.

After these changes, switching to a complex tab took 7 minutes...  Not gonna work...

AND the VISRETAIN didn't hold so now I have to go from tab to tab again freezing the crap!!!!!

[john.vellek]

Hi @david_ballinger,

These are big files so some delay is to be expected. I am concerned however with the number of errors you are finding. Can you share the files to a Box location? If so, I will send you an invite.

[pendean]

Let's start over.

Is this a problem in ALL files, or just this one top file? If not all files, like every single file,, this is a problem file or problem xrefs or all the above.

Are all the files savin gto the new 2018dwg file format? Or are you nursing older dwg formats in any or all of your files?

How many viewports in each layout tab do you have? It's important.

In 2018 fully patched and updated? Required, and it does not auto-install either.

Are all the files on your computer?
If not, where are they and how are you connected to their location?

Is your computer a laptop? I noticed you listed a mobile video card. Your system overall is "mid-range" and not designed for blistering speed overall.
Are the video card drivers updated?

Does it help speed things up if you turn off hardware acceleration in AutoCAD?

[david_ballinger]

It just took me over 16 minutes to open the file into a complex tab.  Moving into model space took 90 seconds.  Opening the file into the model space took 2 minutes.

Send me the box.  How would you like it saved?

[david_ballinger]

Answers:

Is this a problem in ALL files, or just this one top file? If not all files, like every single file,, this is a problem file or problem xrefs or all the above. The top file.  I blame it mostly on the complex 3d drawing that is x-refed in. 

Are all the files savin gto the new 2018dwg file format? Or are you nursing older dwg formats in any or all of your files? All drawings were being saved as 2013.  This has been revised.

How many viewports in each layout tab do you have? It's important. The problem layouts is 4 VP's

In 2018 fully patched and updated? Required, and it does not auto-install either. Patched but not sure about this latest update.

Are all the files on your computer? yes.
If not, where are they and how are you connected to their location?

Is your computer a laptop? Yes, but this is the only file that is doing this  I noticed you listed a mobile video card. Your system overall is "mid-range" and not designed for blistering speed overall.
Are the video card drivers updated? Unknown

Does it help speed things up if you turn off hardware acceleration in AutoCAD? Unknown

[pendean]

GRAPHICSCONFIG command, turn off LINESMOOTHING and LINEFADING options, if that does not help, start the command again and turn off hardware acceleration and see if that solves it.

Viist your laptop maker's support website and see if they have newer video card drivers for you to install.

2018 patch is explained here https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/update-2018-02-available-for-autocad-and-autocad-lt/m-p...

If you think only one of your xrefs is the problem, post it here for us to look at. Figure out how to hide sensitive info in it if that's all that is holding you back from sharing it. You've gone beyond the easy remote fixes from what I can tell.

[schurthing]

Are the things you are adding to each layout tab in paper space? If you don't need to see the complex 3D geometry from the big xref while adding paper space notes and titles, maybe try unloading it while you are doing that, and just reload it only when you need it.

You can also try setting VIEWRES to something very low like 100 or even 10 or less, that will make the displayed view quality very coarse on screen, but will speed up regeneration and will not affect final print quality.

Is the 3D model being rendered in each of the viewports? Try turning RENDERENVIRONMENT off while you're working on the layout tabs. Or set the Current Preset in Render Presets Manager to "Low".

[john.vellek]

Hi @david_ballinger,

Yes those tabs are definitely slow. It is due to the amount of geometry you have in the viewport.

I would clean up the master so you only have one Plan and use layering to accommodate the different  views. I would also recommend that you don't have so many layouts. I like to have a separate dwg for each published sheet and then I manage them and navigate through them using Sheet Set Manager. This not only keeps file size smaller but also protects you in case of drawing corruption.

Lastly, the hatch patterns are very dense which are also likely causing part of the problem. Here is an article that describes how to improve performance with hatches.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[john.vellek]

HI @david_ballinger,

I am checking back to see if my post or others helped you with your problem. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

[david_ballinger]

Okay all, here is an update that might provide some insight.

I've noted my system in my first post.  What I did not tell you is in my office i use a docking station with the laptop as a screen for my mail, I have a large 23" HD monitor as my main ACAD screen, and I run VGA monitor for browser and other such stuff.

I have been working off site with just the laptop screen in play and my delay between tabs in now down to seconds with full detail showing.  I was actually able to get some work done.

So I was not kidding when I said 5-10 minutes with the 3 monitor setup, and now down to 15-25 seconds with just the laptop monitor.

Without unplugging the laptop from the docking station, do I have any other options?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>>Without unplugging the laptop from the docking station, do I have any other options?

Two ideas:

• restart your workstation after you have plugged in the laptop into the docking station
• make your external display the primary one before you start AutoCAD (so the Windows taskbar is on the external monitor before starting AutoCAD)

HTH, - alfred -

[david_ballinger]

Alfred, that is pretty much standard standard practice since the computer has been rebooted many times when that monitor is the primary.   I personally want to blame the the taxing of the resources to run three screens.  When I return I plan to remove the VGA screen and test.

Thanks!

[david_ballinger · Accepted solution]

Well, the next test is complete and the culprit is:

The VGA monitor I am using as a third screen, which is not the one I use for CAD.  I turned it off in the settings and just use the 23" HD Monitor and my laptop monitor, and I am fine.

Quirky....   I miss my screen already, but I guess I can always turn it back on... 

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

thank you for your feedback! I'm quite sure that can help others too .. 😉

- alfred -

[MReuter4DXTC]

I have a drawing with about 110 (3D) office furniture cupboards and over 110 layouts and switching layouts takes me also over 5mins. I tried all the suggestions in this post, but nothing worked, until I used the command ISOLATE in model space, and selected the objects I'm interested in dimensioning in the layout tab. 

Then the layout tab came up instantly. Problem gone. 

When finished with my layout, I return to the model tab and type in UNISOLATE, to restore back all the hidden objects.
(I think the delay has somehow to do with the viewport trying to clip and filter all the other objects.)  I hope this helps someone.