Ill-Defined SAVE Command Behavior

[Anonymous]

The SAVE command is not performing as expected; when saving a file using the keyboard only, I cannot control the name and extension. For example:

If I try to save Test.dwg to ../DXF/Test.dxf, I would expect to be able to:

1. Add the folder to the filename
2. Hit Tab
3. Select AutoCAD 2018 DXF (*.dxf)
4. Press Enter

and the file would save. However, this creates ../DXF/Test.dwg.dxf. So, I tried:

1. Adding the folder to the filename
2. Deleting the extension (.dwg)
3. Hitting Tab
4. Selecting AutoCAD 2018 DXF (*.dxf)
5. Pressing Enter

Excitingly, this provides a dialogue box that asks if I want to replace an existing file (if ../DXF/Test.dxf already exists). However, after hitting yes, the command creates ../DXF/Test.dxf.dwg instead!

This seems like a bug and is very annoying since SAVE provides the perfect way for me to automate exporting a group of drawing files to DXF & my workflow will be much slower if I have to use the mouse...

Also, why is inline code invalid HTML??

[vinodkl]

Hi,

Are you trying to save dwg to dxf? Then why not use SAVEAS or Ctrl+shift+S and then change the file type to dxf?

[imadHabash]

Hi,

i think that you should know that :

• QSAVE. If the current drawing has already been saved at least once, the program saves the drawing and does not request a new file name. If the current drawing has never been saved, the Save Drawing As dialog box displays. The Save icons in the user interface all use the QSAVE command.
• SAVEAS. Saves a copy of the current drawing under a new file name or location. The new file name or location becomes the current drawing and the previous drawing closes without saving any changes to it.
• SAVE. In AutoCAD, if the drawing has been previously saved, saves the current drawing to the file name or location that you specify, but leaves the current drawing unchanged. In AutoCAD LT, the SAVE command is identical to the SAVEAS command.

[Anonymous]

@imadHabash @vinodkl Thank you. I understand the distinction between save commands, and am using SAVE in this instance because I don't want the active drawing to be the DXF, rather I want to export a copy so-to-speak but keep the original DWG open.

It seems SAVEAS also has the same bug.

[imadHabash]

any changes if you restart your AutoCAD ? if NOT i suggest to reset AutoCAD to default settings . >> CLick <<

[vinodkl]

How about using the command "DXFOUT" to export a copy into dxf?

[pendean]

What version of AutoCAD as listed in ABOUT command are you using?
What is your OS?
Where are you saving your DXF file to exactly?

And as noted by others, have you restarted your PC yet? Worth doing.

[GrantsPirate]

Perhaps the type of file to save to is set to DXF and not DWG and you didn't notice that?  Use the drop down and pick .DWG and try again.  HTH

[Anonymous]

@vinodklYour solution appears to be the best workaround.

@pendeanAutocad 2021 R47 on Win10. Restart changed nothing. I'm working in one folder (AutoCAD) and exporting to a folder (XIC) in the same parent directory as the first. So:

• C:\Users\spenc\Dropbox\...\STJ Design\AutoCAD (DWG files)
  to
• C:\Users\spenc\Dropbox\...\STJ Design\XIC (DXF files)

@GrantsPirateSee step 3. I'm doing this by keyboard so I scroll down with the down arrow until I select DXF then hit Enter, which promptly leaves the file explorer dialogue window. That's probably the real issue: the command probably lacks the ability to handle hitting Enter while the user is in the file selection dropdown, rather than clicking on the DXF option (which exits the dropdown and updates the File name section). Without the file extension properly defined when the save dialogue exits, something random happens. So, I bet either another keyboard button needs to be programmed to allow selecting the file extension (like Space) or the behavior of hitting enter while selecting an extension probably needs to be expressly coded in. But I've no idea how AutoCAD and File Explorer interact, so just my guess.

[pendean]

DROPBOX? Why don't you test outside of your Dropbox folder, make a folder at C:\testing and use that, move files here then try it again. Let us know.

Not seeing your issue here at all in 2021, but I'm not saving to DropBox.

HTH

[Anonymous]

Problem still exists in C:\tmp\AutoCAD and C:\tmp\XIC...

To reiterate the issue occurs from keyboard-use only & only if the DXF file already exists. I was able to properly create a DXF by removing the extension manually and selecting DXF by keyboard, but when I tried to overwrite the DXF already there, the extension became .dxf.dwg

Here's the process again:

1. Create 2 Folders (say `AutoCAD` and `DXF`)
2. Create a DWG in `AutoCAD`
3. Run SAVE to export to DXF in `DXF`
   1. In the `File name` box, prepend `..\DXF\` to the filename
   2. (Optional) Remove the extension .dwg
   3. Hit Tab to select the `Files of type` dropdown
   4. Hit Down to select DXF
   5. Hit Enter (since hitting Tab reverts the dropdown to DWG and no other button can select a file type)
4. If the extension was not removed, the file `*.dwg.dxf` will be created in `DXF`
5. If the extension was removed & your DXF file doesn't exist yet, this will work
6. If the DXF file does exist, you will be asked to replace your file `*.dxf` but hitting yes creates `*.dxf.dwg`

Hopefully this helps you reproduce the issue. I was able to reproduce it on 2 computers in 2021.

[pendean · Accepted solution]

Then let Autodesk know here, report the bug https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

thx