Bloated File Size

[Anonymous]

We have a problem in our company with AutoCAD files becoming very bloated.  Files that should be only a 100kB-300kB are becoming 3-5MB or even larger.  We found a solution online that involves saving the file as a DXF, reopening the DXF, runing -PURGE, AUDIT, PURGE on the file and resaving as DWG.  This gets the file size down to the expected size.  I have tried other suggestions found online without the DXF but nothing seems to fix the file bloat significantly.  I have been having to do this to dozens of files because we have the bad habit of Cut-Copy-Paste all our work so the problem keeps coming up until I can find File Zero where it first showed up.  I notice during the AUDIT of the DXF that it seems to process a lot of items that don't show up if I just AUDIT the DWG.  Any suggestions of where the excess file information may be coming from and if there is a way to remove it without going the DXF route.

Thanks, Sean

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

welcome @Anonymous.autodesk.com!

Sounds like orphaned objects like DGN linetypes, but without having a look to the drawing it's just guessing.

To get rid of that type if objects depends on your release of AutoCAD, for earlier versions of AutoCAD there exist's a tool DGN-Hotfix like mentioned in >>>that article<<<

Current versions of AutoCAD (starting with 2015) do have the option to clean up orphaned objects directly in the PURGE dialog.

If that does not help please upload a drawing, so we can run some checks with it.

HTH, - alfred -

[JDMather]

I recommend that  you simply attach a file here that exhibits this behavior.

[C3D_TomR]

I've seen a similar issue and know of another that might be like yours. I have an open ticket with Autodesk on one of them. I sent a link to the support tech working on the ticket asking him to review this discussion and see if it matches any of the large drawing issues he's identified so far.

--Tom

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I've seen a similar issue

Any chance to see your file?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Here are two versions of the same file.  One that is still bloated and one that has been fixed by Saving as DXF then auditing and purging.  FYI, I detached the border file.

The idea of orphaned objects makes sense.  There has been some speculation that the bloat came in from an outside file.  Sometimes the DWG files that we use or get are generated by third party non-AutoCAD software.  The DGN linetypes suggestion sounds plausible to since some of the details that get copied into our files were probably converted from Microstation files.  Some of our details may even have started life in CALMA.

Thanks all for the posts.  I will try some of the suggestions and see which ones work.

[hmsilva]

I usually do a wblock, option 'Entire drawing' is enough...

Attached, your dwg, after a wblock in AC2016.

Hope this helps,
Henrique

[pendean · Accepted solution]

Your "bloat" file contained these items that were purgeable:
DGN Linetypes Purged : 68
DGN Complex Linetypes Purged : 31509
DGN Text Styles Purged : 12
Registry Applications Purged : 24
Annotation Scales Purged : 15
Blocks Purged : 31
Layers Purged : 16

If you use a modern AutoCAD version like 2015-2016-2017, PURGE command will get rid of these. As do many freeware from the AutoCAD App Store like one called DRAWING PURGE (what I used to get the list I posted above).

[Anonymous]

By selecting "Automatically purge orphaned data" I was able to clean the files to a reasonable size without resorting to the DXF option.  I tried the DRAWING PURGE plug-in also and that gives me a good idea where some of the bloat is coming from.

Thanks All, Sean

[hawstom]

I believe this is the simplest and absolutely fastest and smallest.  Good suggestion.

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@hmsilva wrote:

I usually do a wblock, option 'Entire drawing' is enough...

Attached, your dwg, after a wblock in AC2016.

Hope this helps,
Henrique

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