Opening DWG files gives message "Contains content created with Microsoft VIsiual Basic....".

[doni49]

When opening many of our dwg files, I'm getting the message shown below.

This is ESPECIALLY annoyning when batchprinting.  Because more often than not, the dialog box hides behind the AutoCAD window and I don't even realize it needs me to click this until I investigate why it's taking so long and Alt-Tab to see the dialog box.

It's even more frustrating when I want to start a batch print and walk away hoping to find it completed when I return.  

What can be done to fix this?

[Ed__Jobe]

The dwg’s contain vba code embedded in them. The VBA extension is not installed by default. When you create a deployment or custom download in your account, there’s an option you can check to install it. Since you already installed AutoCAD, you can run the VBAMAN command and download it from the url in the dialog. 

if you have the VBA extension installed, it may be that you are not loading the files from a Trusted Files folder. Set the path in Options>Files. 

[doni49]

The files were created before I started here and nobody knows where the vba came from -- my guess is that a former employee used it.  I'd prefer to remove it.

[doni49]

Also -- I'm in one of those files now so I ran the vbaman command.  It says there are NO embedded projects.

[jreidKVSUZ]

If you want to get ride of this error call out maybe try what I did to get AutoCAD warning label for something like “This is a school addition and not to be used for profit” something like that years ago. We had CAD Techs going to school and they took work home, worked on their Free School AutoCAD software and then brought it back to work. Loaded perfectly. It looked great. But, when you plotted the drawing, this appeared on all 4 sides of the drawing at CRUNCH TIME!!!

After failing several times to remove this I figured out a way around it. Open the Drawing. Edit COPY and type in ALL. Then started the new drawing and did EDIT Paste to Original Coordinates. I had to do that with both the MS and PS modes. Then do a SAVEAS over the bad drawing. It worked perfectly but time was spent doing so and we all had a meeting the next day about taking work home. And like all good viruses, it kept showing up for many weeks before it was all cleared up.

Give it a try. I believe it will take care of your errors. If it works, please hit the Solution Solved button.

Thanks, JRR!

[pendean]

@doni49 https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Autodesk-AutoCAD-C...

[Ed__Jobe]

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@doni49 wrote:

Also -- I'm in one of those files now so I ran the vbaman command.  It says there are NO embedded projects.

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Yet when you opened it, you still got the error message? What if you hit alt+F11? Can you post one of the problem files?

[doni49]

Thanks.  But that involves converting the VBA code.  The dwg files were created before I started here and nobody knows who created the VBA code or where to find it.  We'd prefer to remove it.

[doni49]

@Ed__Jobe: yes, you've described it accurately.  I'll try to get you an example later today (the files are HUGE so I'll have to remove some surfaces from a copy of one of the files).

[jreidKVSUZ]

I found this from an earlier request to remove VBA information from a drawing.

It looks like what they said in this slide but maybe a little different.

I did not continue to try and remove because it wants a download and I do not need that software but it may help you.

Link:  https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/vba/i-want-to-remove-the-vba-macro-from-the-dwg-file-using/td-p/75226...

Good luck!

JRR!

[Ed__Jobe]

If you want to share it from OneDrive, you can pm me the link.

[doni49]

I've attached a copy of one of the files that's doing this.

[Ed__Jobe]

I opened the file in plain AutoCAD but didn't get the error message nor was there any VBA projects embedded. I opened it in C3D and got the error message. I selected the option to convert to NET and got this at the command line.

Opening an AutoCAD 2018 format file.
Substituting [simplex.shx] for [architxt.shx].
Regenerating layout.
Regenerating model.
12 Pipe and Structure Rule(s) are converted to .NET.
620 Pipe and Structure Rule(s) are already created using .NET modules.Custom object(s) encountered.
Drawing cannot locate the project (SIRL-918C0136-D3AD-4607-92BD-2771A98F7863)
AutoCAD menu utilities loaded.
AutoCAD menu utilities loaded.*Cancel*
Command:

Note line 5. The vba code is used to define the structure rules. You should probably evaluate them after converting to NET to make sure the conversion is acceptable. You probably only need to do this once. I assume you can copy the rules to the other dwgs.

[doni49]

Thanks.  I'll look into this.