AEC Objects Error - A Solution

[brewnot]

Many of us get the AEC  Objects error window pop up. I have done research. I never found a satisfactory explanation for why the error occurs nor a way to get the warning window to go away. (if it is out there, it is hard to find)

I offer a procedure that my testing shows to work. It is a the old ACAD Write Block a drawing onto itself.

I wrote this so the most neophyte of my CAD operators can follow along. I emphasize they should take Step #3 and Step #6a very seriously and verify the path and file names.

1. -wblock [return]

2. Observe "Create Drawing File" window opens.

3. Navigate as necessary to directory and identify the file you currently have open and wish to AEC Error Kill.

    * * WARNING * * *The file you select will be overwritten and the changes you make will be permanent. If you specify the wrong file, the original will be deleted. There is no undo or recovery procedure available.

4. Select/highlight file to AEC Error Kill

5. Select "Save" button

6. Observe Warning Window appears
    a. * * * Verify & double check the file path AND file name is correct * * * *
    b. Do you want to replace it?
    c. Select No or Cancel. Then navigate and locate the correct drawing file.
    d. Select Yes, go to next step

7. Observe dialog window disappears

8. NOTE: Going forward, all steps will be done via the command line and keyboard entries.

9. Observe command line says: [= (block=output file)/* (whole drawing)] <define new drawing>:

10. Enter “*" (omit quote marks) [Note: this is the star * symbol, AKA Shift + 8]

11. Enter [return]

12. Observe you return to the command line

13. Command: close [return]

14. Observe Warning window appears: “Save changes to C:\path\filename.dwg”

15. Select “No" [return] (this is not an error, you really do not want to save changes)

16. Observe current drawing tab closes

17. Re-open drawing and blocks should be insert without the annoying AEC error and your drawing will also be super purged.

[natasha.l]

Hello @brewnot, 

Thanks for posting this & we hope you continue to contribute to the community.

[RobDraw]

Alternatively, you could use Drawing TrueView, free from Autodesk, to convert any .dwg file to be compatible with any version.

[s.borello]

DWG Trueview is free and will convert .dwg files... may be quicker for you.  

[brewnot]

I tried passing drawings through DWG TrueView, I could not get it to work.

I tried -exporttoautcad, and got rejected.

The old write block trick is the only process I found that works.