Takes long time to xref

Hi all!

I've a problem when trying to xref a drawing. When clicking OK in the xref window the percentage meter in the bottom left corner of AutoCAD goes up to 99% with the text "Merging c:\....\*.dwg" next to it. Then the screen turns white and CAD frezze. If I wait 5-10 minutes the xref gets loaded.

Why does it take such a long time???

The file I'm trying to xref is 1MB in size. I've purged and audited the file. I've also tryed copying the entire file into an empty file, but it doesn't help.

Any suggestions?

I know that some people experience problems in 2009 when they use the manage xref icon for loading an xref. What method do you use?

I just type xr on the command line and then use the Attach DWG button.

I do it this way all the time and this is the first time I've had this problem.

When you purge the drawing do you use the -purge version of the command and purge unused regapps?

I use the purge command. I have the "Purge nested items"-box marked and clicks Purge All until it can't be clicked anymore.

Well try typing -purge at the command line. Read the prompt. Regapps is one of the options for purging. Try it and see what happens.

I've tried it and it doesn't help...

Too many layer filters on the drawing you're trying to xref in might be the cuase.

From Lynn Allen's blog re: AC 2006:

"A new undocumented command called FILTERS will kindly display a dialog box that makes it easy for you remove any unwanted layer filters."

Don't forget the "s". It makes a difference.

I didn't have any layer filters in the drawing.

And now I'm even more confused. I've taken a single layer from the drawing and pasted it into an new, empty, drawing. Then I tried to xref that new drawing into another empty drawing and the same error occurs. It seems like everything in the original drawing is corrupt.

What is the origin of the "corrupted" drawing?

It's my colleagues drawing and she started with it empty. After that, a house drawn by an architect has been insertet as a block.

My thoughts were that it was the block from the architects drawing that caused the problem. But since I can't copy/paste the things my colleague has drawn into a new drawing, without the same problem occuring, I'm all out of ideas.

I don't want to start drawing it all from the beginning again...

The only other thing I can think of is that the scalelist is overloaded.

I'm not really sure what that is or how to fix it...

Format > Scalelist. The list of scales generally available in AutoCAD. New scales can be added and unused scales can be deleted.

You might be on to something. When I tried to use the scale list command this dialog box appeared.

scale list error.pdf

Just one way you can autopurge the scalelist using a lisp routine posted at this site:

http://rockmaster.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/automatically-purge-scale-list/

Run a 'SCALELISTEDIT' on your xrefs before attatching. 'XA' should be set up as an alias for attaching your xrefs directly. If scalelist edit doesn't work use

-SCALELISTEDIT -> 'R' -> 'Y' -> 'E' then delete the scales not in use (probably most of them).

I've encountered this a few times, makes 99% seem forever and sometimes CAD just falls over. If this doesn't work, there's probably a few other things that could be wrong with your source file. try running an 'AUDIT' -> 'Y' to clean it up. If all else fails, report back here for more trouble shooting ideas

Zorg

aha, you beat me to it ReMark. Might wanna suggest the Scalelistedit utility on AutoDesk site. Did wonders for my project folders.

Z

Thanks Zorg. I have recommended the utility in the past but somehow it slipped my mind this time around. I believe the OP said he did run audit in one of his earlier posts. Wouldn't hurt to try it again though.