In this post, we examine the key causes of a sudden change in DWG file size, its effect on the affected document, and the best actions to take to avert data loss.
It is not uncommon for DWG files to increase in file size, even when no additional data has been added to it. In most cases, this is a sign that the file has been corrupted.
What causes a sudden increase in DWG file size?
There are several reasons the size of a DWG file can end up being larger than it should. For instance, importing a drawing file from a third-party whose linetypes are different from those of AutoCAD can cause your DWG file to be bloated. The situation is worse if the source file is damaged.
DWG files with excessive RegApps also get corrupted and exhibit a similar characteristic. Affected objects in the drawing file become unidentifiable blocks, thus damaging the original features of the file. Also, if you create a DWG file using other applications other than AutoCAD, there is a possibility of the drawing becoming corrupted.
Effects of a bloated DWG files
The challenges of having a bloated DWG file are diverse. For starters, it is hard to work on such files because they take longer to open. In case they open, their copy and paste functions do not work. These files are also susceptible to hanging and thus will hinder your productivity.
What to do when faced with a bloated DWG file
Before you repair your damaged file, make a copy of the corrupt file as a precaution. You’ll still have the file just in case the procedure doesn’t work out. Also, close all DWG files to avoid corruption from spreading and affecting healthy files.
Attempt to repair the corrupted DWG file using the ‘PURGE’ command in AutoCAD. This command allows you to remove items that cause your file to be bloated, such as RegApps references. If you remove these unused objects, your file is likely to work properly.
However, if you cannot repair your file, try other recovery tools such as DataNumen DWG Recovery. This is an automated data recovery application for DWG files. The good news is that the application stands out among its competition for its high data recovery rate. This ensures you recover most of your file’s objects with minimal data loss.
Moreover, if you have many corrupt drawings, the DataNumen DWG Recovery tool allows you to work on multiple files at once. This increases your efficiency, especially if you are working on a tight deadline. Another advantage of using this data recovery tool is that you can salvage data from corrupt storage media such as floppy disks, CDROMs, and USB drives. Therefore, data recovery experts can use it to serve the diverse needs of their customers.
Final thoughts
When DWG files get bloated and suddenly increase in size, it is a sign that they are corrupted. This is common in files where RegApps are excessively used or a non-AutoCAD drawing with different linetypes is imported to an AutoCAD file. Such files are difficult to work with as they load slowly and keep on hanging. To fix this problem, use AutoCAD’s ‘PURGE” command to remove unused items in the file. You can also use specialized software to recover DWG file and retrieve any lost items.