Convert a dwg to something more manageable

[bbankston]

I've got a beast of a CAD file that needs to be converted to something more easily manageable on a computer when opened. It's a 17mb file. There's not much to it, just circles with a solid hatch fill. I've been trying to open it on my computer as I'm typing this thread. My answer for now would be to remove the hatch and re-save the file. Any other suggestions?

[Cad64]

I would try WBLOCK and select just the circles and hatches to save out to a new file.

[BlackBox]

I'm not sure I understand you question....

 

Putting off to the side (for now) the topic of how on God's green Earth did you end up with a 17MB file, comprised of "just circles with a solid hatch," exactly what file format are you interested in converting a DWG to to be "more manageable" with AutoCAD???

 

Edit: Perhaps you could break the single drawing into adjoining segments, and use as XREF?

[ReMark]

My first thought would be your computer doesn't have the cojones to handle such a large file.

 

As for converting what you have to something more manageable....what the h3ll are you thinking dude? Short of pencil and paper what file type did you think would be better suited? Please don't say PDF.

[BlackBox]

I *think* what ReMark is trying to say (in a slightly more tactful manor), is that DWG is the best file format for working in AutoCAD given that you have the computer resources to accommodate the files on which you're being asked to work.

 

... If memory serves (pun intended), a computer should have somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty times the drawing's size for available memory (That's MB X 20 = ??GB RAM).

 

Perhaps checking to see if you meet the minimum system requirements would be useful?

[bbankston]

The drawing does open on my computer it just takes a bit. And by different file type; I've tried in the past to export out as a PDF and open in Adobe Illustrator but the splines/circles do not retain their shape. An .ai or .eps file would work great seeing as how I need to keep the file as vector.

 

FYI: I'm currently trying to delete the hatch (10 minutes and counting).

[ReMark]

The OP has a computer with just 2GB of RAM and he is trying to push around a 17MB drawing file. He might as well be trying to push molasses uphill in January, in New England, after an ice storm. How's that for tact?

[nukecad]

17MB; of course you've done Audit and Purge and deleted all unused layer filters?

[bbankston]

ReMark,

 

I know my work computer sucks. You don't have to pour salt/lemon juice/liquid cayenne/mace in my wound.

 

The funny thing is my crappy work computer can open the file but our silk screen manufacturer can't open it at all.

 

...Still deleting the hatch...

[bbankston]

17MB; of course you've done Audit and Purge and deleted all unused layer filters?

 

I'll try that after the deletion (if it ever happens). Thanks!

[nukecad]

Not sure if Purge in 2008 deletes the layer filters (it dosn't in 2006) you may have to do them thru the layer manager.

 

I see you are using LT,

 

Deleting Layer Filters in LT.

How to delete 100's of layer filters from a drawing when you are using LT and so can't use lisps.

 

Open the layer filters list,

Pick the first filter name from the drop down list.

Place a weight on the Enter key. (The corner of a ring binder will usually be enough)

Click on the Delete button.

 

Go and make yourself a coffee while all the filters get deleted.

[bbankston]

Here's a picture of molasses

 

[ReMark]

Isn't it about time for an upgrade then?

 

Freakin' dense hatch pattern. What the heck did they use? Looks like Esher at a scale of .001!

[bbankston]

I canceled out of the deletion. I'm going to open the file again and do a purge and see if that helps.

[bbankston]

Isn't it about time for an upgrade then?

 

I'll have you write to my higher ups, ReMark. Also, believe it or not, I have one of the better computers at my company.

[DANIEL]

purging is always going to help with files like this but your hatching of the circles is way over the top as I ssume you must have a gazillion of them circles, I don't know what they represent but my suggestion would be to look for an alternative to hatched circles.

[bbankston]

DANIEL,

 

This drawing should have been an .ai file from the start. It came from one of our clients and as I've said our silkscreen manufacturer doesn't have a beefy enough computer to open it. The pattern/circles are filled because it has to be printed on the screen as solid circles.

[DANIEL]

the use of donuts may help but given those restraints your probably stuck with the headache till a faster computer is acquired.

[ReMark]

I'll have you write to my higher ups, ReMark. Also, believe it or not, I have one of the better computers at my company.

That's pretty sad to hear.

 

Reminds me of a story I heard at a one-day AutoCAD seminar. We broke for lunch and a bunch of us went out to grab a bite to eat. The table side discussion got around to who had what for a computer and what it cost. One guy said his computer had just died and he was given permission to buy a new. His budget was $1,000 (U.S.) for a desktop computer. He said the company he worked for spent $3,000 a month for a landscaping firm to come in and cut the grass, trim the trees and plant "seasonal" flowers. Now, of the two (the CAD tech and the landscaping company) which one made money FOR the company?

[BlackBox]

I would try WBLOCK and select just the circles and hatches to save out to a new file.

 

... Did you ever try the WBLOCK command?