Drawing file is not valid

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone

I am working on a plan layout and when i  m trying to open a .DWG file, i m coming across this message " Drawing file is not valid". Please let me know what i should do. Thanks

Regards

Rohit Nikesh Kesavan

[rkmcswain]

What version of AutoCAD are you using?

What version is the drawing file? (Open it with Notepad, and read the first six characters, compare to this: http://cadpanacea.com/wp/?p=2105 )

You cannot open DWG files that are a newer version. For example, you cannot open a 2018 DWG file in AutoCAD 2015.

Or the drawing may be corrupt.

[Anonymous]

I am using 2018 Version and it is in a ftp link. how do i open with that?

[pendean]

You need to download the file to your PC first, then use RECOVER command in AUtoCAD to open it.

[Anonymous]

i tried that, but i m still unable to open it. any other options?

[pendean]

If you cannot recover the file with these tips contact the source of your file for a replacement https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/AutoCA...

[Anonymous]

i want to know how to open it from ftp server? i have an ftp server sent to me and the file is inside that. How do i open it in autocad?

[pendean]

You can't, no an option. You may be able to map/sync that FTP site to a folder on your PC (which means all that content gets copied to your PC, which is the same thing as downloading the file).

[Anonymous]

Yes, i tried copying the link into my desktop browser and i had copied the folder. but every time i try to open the file, the error is displayed as "Drawing file is invalid." 

[rkmcswain]

Have you considered the last line of my first reply? Maybe the DWG file is corrupt?

Upload it here, or dropbox so that someone else can try it.

[Anonymous]

I have considered that and have asked the concerned person who has sent to me to check it once again. I would want to share it, but its confidential information for the company and hence the trouble. Sorry regarding that.

[rkmcswain]

So do you have the file on your PC? Can you open it in Notepad as I asked earlier?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I had opened it with Notepad and the version the drawing was made in is AUTOCAD 2010. I m currently using AUTOCAD 2018 version. 

[rkmcswain]

Nice. Okay, I would suggest trying to see if the online Autodesk viewer can open it.

https://viewer.autodesk.com

Ask the drawing author to also make a ZIP file out of the DWG, and then you download the ZIP file and unzip it. Maybe the systems involved are changing bytes in the raw DWG file.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have sent out a mail as you had suggested and i also tried opening in the online viewer and it showed me error again. I have attached the image of the error with this message. please have a look.

john.vellek has embedded your image(s) for clarity

[pendean]

Pretty much the file is garbage: you and your file provider need to be working together on this one.
Ask them to ZIP the file for you and if necessary try another delivery method.

There is nothing you can do about the file or its state as the recipient.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for the time and the assistance. 

[rkmcswain]

Interesting @pendean... with the cloud computing and all.... why wouldn't Autodesk try to recover the file for a user?

They could even apply techniques not ready for prime time into the online method since it's simply for viewing.

I'm not saying that the file from @Anonymous is ever recoverable, but the message that says "Please try to recover the file in AutoCAD" is laughable since if you had AutoCAD, you almost certainly would not be using the online viewer.

A better message might be "Autodesk has tried all known ways of recovering this file and it cannot be used - ask the author of the file to supply a new copy of it"

[pendean]

The message pops up in all of their online offerings: you'll have to ask Anagnost next time you are around him 🙂

When I have to recover a badly corrupt dwg file I never use Autodesk software for the task. They aren't as finicky if it works.