MAXIMUM FILE SIZE

[h.castrocelani]

Can somebody help me with this, what is the limit in size of a dwg file that Civil 3D can handle? tanking into account the computer is above the minimum requirements.

Thank you all!

[rl_jackson]

That's a sorta loaded question.

My take is as small as possible, I try to keep things around 4mb, and never hit above 10-12 if possible.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

if you can work with a file does not depend on the file-size.

I have files with 500MB working quite well, on the other side I can send you a file with a few kB and you can't open it.

The most important thing is which object types you are using, how well your content is structured, how much is used externally (like XRef's, images, ...)

- alfred -

[h.castrocelani]

Alfred,

Working with a surface with a size of 12gb. How to handle that? I should divide the surface into smaller separate files?

Thanks!

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> Working with a surface with a size of 12gb

12GB is large, the first thoughts about that is: "do I really need all points".

You can create a surface from that, then use the edit option to simplify the surface an run your project with that surface.
In case you need it you might later remove the simplify-edit item in the edit list if you need anything more accurate, but you can work much faster with the lighter surface.

Another option could be to use Autodesk ReCap to create a point-cloud and then use the point-cloud as base for your surface. This has the advantage that creating a surface from a point-cloud already give you the option to use only more relevant points.

- alfred -

[neilyj666 · Accepted solution]

I'd suggest that 12Gb is way too big and I'm surprised Civil is opening at all with a drawing that size - I'd certainly try Surface Smoothing > Edge Contraction > 70-80%....but be prepared for a long wait or even a crash.....

If you have Infraworks you may be able to reduce the size and import back into Civil which is another method I use and another option is to create a Cropped surface containing the area of interest.

[h.castrocelani]

Thank you all!