Every Block as a PNG file

[AllenJessup]

I went to backup my project and noticed that there were 4222 new files to backup. There should have been less than half a dozen. What I've found out is that every block in every file has been exported as a .PNG file in a new sub-folder named .blocksMetadata. Is this in anyway normal or did I accidentally start a command I don't know about?

[Nilesh_Chaudhari]

@AllenJessup ,

Can you explain this in detail so that I can replicate it? Where are you trying to get the backup? 

What version of the Civil 3D? 

[AllenJessup]

@Nilesh_Chaudhari  Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I can't tell you how to duplicate it since I don't know how it happened.

I work on my C: drive and back up to our server. I use a program that detects all the newer files in my project folders on C: and copies them to an equivalent folder on the server.  It was that program that asked if I wanted to copy 4222 files. That alerted me that there was a problem.

This issue has nothing to do with the program doing the copying. It has to do with the fact that last week a raster file was created for every block in every drawing in my DWG folder. A total of 4,213 files.

I would like to erase them since I don't want to have to back up that many files. However. Before I erase them I'd like to know why they were created and if they're necessary. Either Civil 3D created them automatically or I accidentally issued a command that had the program create them.

I just noticed that 39 JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) files were also created. The PNG files are named with the full drawing name followed by the block name then followed by .96_64_64_0

Product Version: 13.3.885.0 Civil 3D 2021.0.1 Hot Fix
Built on:
R.47.0.0 AutoCAD 2021
24.0.30.14 Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D 2021
S.3.5-3.0 AutoCAD Architecture 2021

Dell Precision 7920, Xeon CPU 3.60 GHz
Win 7 Pro, 64-bit,32 GB RAM, Nvidia Quadro P4000

[pendean · Accepted solution]

.blocksmetadata folders are for/from toolpalettes: someone try and create a palette from your DWG file's blocks by chance?

[AllenJessup]

@pendean 

No. But I was rebuilding some toolpallets last week. So I most likely did that by accident. I don't recall doing anything that would have created the files. I wasn't trying to create blocks in the pallet. But one missed click or incorrect response and you're down the rabbit hole with Alice. 

I'll move the folder out of the Civil 3D paths and see what happens. I'm fairly sure that there won't be any problem and they can be erased later.

[AllenJessup]

The only think I wish I knew (and probably never will) is how it created the PNG files for every drawing in the folder.

[Joe-Bouza]

Hi Allen

Does acad make automatic? When in Design Center it has to make all those tiles or is that a windows thing?

[AllenJessup]

Hi Joe. Considering @pendean 's reply. It would be and AutoCAD thing. I don't use Design Center much and haven't used it since I installed 2021 a few weeks ago. I was recreating some Tool pallets so I'll pin it on that. Strange thing is that other than the OOTB pallets. I don't create any with blocks.

[Pointdump]

Allen,
"But one missed click or incorrect response and you're down the rabbit hole with Alice."

  

Dave

[sgillismooreGYQHR]

I'm experiencing the same result (.blocksMetadata folder filled with raster images related to a block I'd been using), but I never use Tool Palettes.  Is there another explanation for the creation of this folder and the images inside?  Is there a way to prevent this from happening in the future?

[Joe-Bouza]

I have been seeing the same thing

[Joe-Bouza]

Hi @AllenJessup  & @pendean 

I have been seeing the same thing and no one is making tool palettes.

[AllenJessup]

OOPS not  wrong thread

You can see:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-lt-forum/autocad-2021-block-palette-library/td-p/9402334

&

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/bug-2021-blockpaette-creates-a-folder-with-png-files-fo...

for some more information and how some have handled it.