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Methods to Manage Corrupted Files
Tip# 4128 By Danny Korem On 03-Jun-2013
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Categories : Audit/Recover
Software type : AutoCAD 2014
Rename File To : No Files to download.
Corrupted files are something that we all have to deal with from time to time; these tips can help.

Frequent tipster Danny Korem provides several tips for coping with corrupted AutoCAD files.

"From time to time I’m asked to restore a DWG file that is malfunctioning; the user opens it and directly receives a fatal error. From within any computer in our office, CAD users can access a procedure I created for this purpose. They can use it to purge their files (including the zero length/empty text objects), purge registered apps within the drawing, get rid of old layer filters, and so forth. Finally, the procedure will audit each drawing and fix errors.

"In other cases, I will start a new file based on our template, split the screen, go to the problematic file, select, and drag and drop (holding the right mouse button), pasting to original coordinates.

"Sometimes it won't solve the problem. In those cases I escalate and run Map 3D, attach the drawing, and create a geometric query with the inside polyline option. Executing the query will create a new DWG file; simply save and you have your file. You lose some data using this method; you'll get only the model space, and may need to reattach all the crossed referenced files. Since we hold a long timeline of cloud backup, if I have no choice I’ll order a copy (or several) of the file and treat it as described here.

"Another tool I use to save working hours in cases of complaints about corrupted files is the copyhist(ory) feature. When pasting the history into a word processor, I try to analyze where and when the problem started."

Notes from Cadalyst tip reviewer Brian Benton: Corrupted files are something that we all have to deal with from time to time, and often the Audit or Recover commands won’t solve the problem. Weird things happen to viewports. Layers exhibit strange behavior. Circular references bog us down. Blocks within blocks within blocks mess with our heads.

These tips are all good, and I bet most of you have tried many of the tipster's suggestions. A similar trick that I use is to start a new file with a template, go to paper space, right-click on the paper space tab, and select From Template. Browse to the corrupted file and insert the paper space tab that is troubling you; this will insert everything from that tab into your new file.
 

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User comments
Comment by Maeding,James
Posted on 2013-06-03 13:45:30
my favorite trick is to copy a file from the network to desktop, unmap my network drive letters to cut access to the drawings xrefs, then open the drawing and audit. Then remap drives and reload xrefs one by one to see when things blow up. Also try opening bad files with BricsCad, it seems more forgiving than acad and will show any custom objects as proxy entities which is good as that takes less thinking which leads to better stability. Another tip is to clean drawings using civil batch converter of C3D. Set explode objects to yes. We run ALL incoming files through it, kills app ids and many invisible unwanted items, plus explodes aec objects if you want them exploded.
Comment by DeShawn,Bill
Posted on 2013-06-09 18:38:08
I like to prevent file corruption with a trick that I use with ACAD.PGP. I use the alias OP not for OPTIONS but for OPEN, however not really open, but RECOVER instead. So OP for RECOVER in order to open a drawing. Then before doing the last save of the day (or night), I run an AUDIT (Y) to fix any errors that might have happen during my drawing session. Then I save and a confident that I will be able to share or open the drawing later on down the road.