Save drawing files for later use just as you do with other applications. You can also set up automatic saving and backup files and save only selected objects.
When you work on a drawing, you should save it frequently. Saving protects you from losing work in the event of a power failure or other unexpected event. If you want to create a new version of a drawing without affecting the original drawing, you can save it under another name.
The file extension for drawing files is .dwg, and unless you change the default file format in which drawings are saved, drawings are saved in the latest drawing file format. This format is optimized for file compression and for use on a network.
Note: The character limit for a DWG file name (including its path) is 256 characters.
Manage the Size of Drawing Files
In some circumstances, the size of drawing files can become larger than expected. There can be several causes, and the following list provides you with common possibilities. The PURGE or -PURGE commands will fix most of these problems.
- Many incremental saves (refer to the ISAVEPERCENT system variable)
- Large hatches, especially if they have been exploded
- Large 3D meshes
- Unused DGN line styles or other orphaned data
- A large number of proxy objects
- A large number of block definitions or a few large-sized block definitions
- A large number of scale lists (refer to the SCALELISTEDIT command)
- A large number of layer filters (refer to the FILTERS command)
- A large number of registered applications
Additional steps you can take include the following:
- Use the AUDIT command to remove any corrupt objects
- Use the WBLOCK command, selecting all objects, and save them as a new drawing file
- Save the drawing in DXF format (ASCII option) for further investigation using a text editor (advanced)
A good practice is to create several smaller drawings, use the XREF command to merge them in a master drawing, and then do your work in the smaller drawings.
Work Internationally
If you share drawing files with offices or companies in other countries and regions, the drawing file names might contain characters that are not used in other languages.
If a drawing file is created in a different language version of the operating system, the following will occur:
- If the language is installed, the file name characters are visible in Windows Explorer.
- If the language is not installed, the file name characters appear as a series of boxes in Windows Explorer and a dialog box offers to install the language pack.
In either case, you will be able to open the drawing file in AutoCAD 2007-based products and later releases.
Note: If you share drawing files with companies using earlier releases of the product, you can avoid file name issues for Asian languages and languages that use accented characters. In those circumstances, do not use high ASCII values, or values of 80 hexadecimal and above, when creating a file name.