ACAD 2012 LT, dxf file size question.

[jimsnorton]

I am just starting to use this version of ACAD, my last release was 14. I had to change due to OS (Win 7). When I save a DWG file as a Rel 12 DXF, the files size is approximately 3 times larger (15MB) vs. saving the same file as ACAD LT 2010 DXF, (approx 5MB). Very similar DWG files saved in Rel 14, as a DXF approx. 600KB.

It looks to me like 2012 LT is adding 10X to a typical DXF file size. Is this normal or do I have a problem? I think the latter...

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

[ReMark]

You are not experiencing a problem. What you are experiencing is the vast difference between Release 14 and AutoCAD 2012 in terms of the DWG file format which changes every 3 years.

[jimsnorton]

Thanks, ReMark.

 

Are DXF files backward compatible? All of my Vendors are using different variations of ACAD which is why I am "conditioned" to save my drawings & DXF files to earlier versions. Funny thing is that I've been using autocad since its inception. I've used Rel 14 for twenty years with no regrets, but since "upgrading" to a Win 7 machine, I was forced to upgrade. I'm getting used to ACAD 2012 LT, although this file size thing has had my attention since it's difficult to email a file that is 15MB large...Thanks again.

[ReMark]

You can always zip the file to reduce the size.

 

I guess most aspects of LT 2012 should translate pretty well but I wouldn't be surprised if a handful did not. I can't say for sure since I rarely, if ever, save to a file format earlier than 2000. Most of our vendors use fairly up-to-date versions of AutoCAD.

[tzframpton]

ReMark is correct - Creating a ZIP file drastically reduces the sizes of DWG and DXF files. They compress very well.

 

But there are alternatives in today's world of huge file sizes. I use Revit for example, and I'm lucky if I have a drawing file that's less than 100MB, usually. You can use an FTP site, such as http://www.sharefile.com/ or http://www.box.com/ for your customers to have access to. It organizes everything for you and them, as well as always gives them access to their files as they need them, so they don't become trapped in a chain of emails.

[jimsnorton]

I sent one of the files I have been referencing to a friend who has a copy of ACAD 2012, school edition. I don't know if that will have a bearing, but he saved my .DWG file as a DXF in both 2010, & Rel 12 & both resulted if files less than 5MB. So now I'm back to wondering about my installation. I would be happy if I could have this file checked by a third party to get a consensus. Is anything like that possible using this 4m? BTW my .DWG file size is

[ReMark]

Yes, it makes sense that as one saves to a former file format that the greater the spread between releases (2012 to R12) the larger the file size will be and vice-versa.

 

I have a drawing saved in 2010 file format that has a size of 265KB. If I do a "saveas" to a Release 12 DXF file format the file size balloons to 932KB which equates to a 3.5X increase.

[jimsnorton]

The .DWG file I sent to my friend was 1.5 MB. It became a

 

When I save the same file as a REL 12 it becomes a huge 15MB DXF file, and saved as a 2010 DXF, a smaller 5MB file. So the fact that when I save the same file as a rel 12 DXF it is 3 times larger than the same file saved as a rel 2010 DXF, that doesn't seem rather odd? I can accept that if it were a few MB different but 3 times larger still doesn't compute in this old head.

[ReMark]

No it does not seem odd. Next question.