DWGs crash consultants computers

[Aussie John]

this happens regularly but not consistantly.
publish DWG from the layouts, compress to .zip and email to consultant.

They cant open them.

I have tried with and without fills.

Any suggestions? thanks

[Djordje]

Aussie wrote:
this happens regularly but not consistantly.
publish DWG from the layouts, compress to .zip and email to consultant.

They cant open them.

Make sure that the AutoCAD version is correct. Ask them to do Recover.

[Anonymous]

we've had this happen also - haven't spent the time to really trouble shoot the cause, but as Djorje said - ask them to use the Recover command in AutoCAD - it usually works...

BTW - have had much less trouble with this since starting to use a dwg file as a template in the translator. Or maybe my recent consultants have just figured out how to get the info, or are importing into some CAD program other than AutoCAD...

wes

[Aaron Bourgoin]

Weston wrote:
we've had this happen also - haven't spent the time to really trouble shoot the cause, but as Djorje said - ask them to use the Recover command in AutoCAD - it usually works...

BTW - have had much less trouble with this since starting to use a dwg file as a template in the translator. Or maybe my recent consultants have just figured out how to get the info, or are importing into some CAD program other than AutoCAD...

wes

Its really worth the effort to discover exactly what your DWG-based collaborators require. We routinely hold workshops a the start of a project with technologists from all the disciplines to explore completely how the workflow should operate.

We also request copies of their office template files to capture attributes directly into the translators we develop.

Another thing we've done where the translation requirements were exacting and severe was to develop an AutoCAD based batch utility to mass convert files. Hatches and text were the biggest hurdles. I think the ArchiCAD 9 translators will go a very long way toward eliminating that step.

During the workshop sessions, I was quite surprised to learn that in some cases, the architectural team was following more rigorous CAD standards than the engineers involved. On reflection, I think that 2D drafting techniques give opportunity to be "lazy". 2D is not conducive to collaboration or coordination by its very nature.

It took some effort, but the payback in term so productivity is immense. Given the amount of work that an ArchiCAD firm can produce for the purposes of building coordination on projects with AutoCAD team mates, the work allocation and, dare I say it, the fees, should be adjusted.

[Ben Odonnell]

Its really worth the effort to discover exactly what your DWG-based collaborators require. We routinely hold workshops a the start of a project with technologists from all the disciplines to explore completely how the workflow should operate.

What a fantastic way to work. I whish more of our users here in Sweden work the same way as you guys do!

It took some effort, but the payback in term so productivity is immense. Given the amount of work that an ArchiCAD firm can produce for the purposes of building coordination on projects with AutoCAD team mates, the work allocation and, dare I say it, the fees, should be adjusted.

Couldn't agree with you more!

[Anonymous]

Using Publisher in Plotmaker to output floorplans to dwg in a building:
4 plans open fine in Autocad LT, one plan crashes Autocad. File cant even be recovered. Using same translator, tried various other options. The level 2 plan always causes crashes in LT. Also tried purging model & deleting duplicates. Same results. Any suggestions, anyone?

WAVYDAVY, CSP Architects

ArchiCAD 8.1, Plotmaker 3.1, P4 etc.

[Anonymous]

Using Publisher in Plotmaker to output floorplans to dwg in a building:
4 plans open fine in Autocad LT, one plan crashes Autocad. File cant even be recovered. Using same translator, tried various other options. The level 2 plan always causes crashes in LT. Also tried purging model & deleting duplicates. Same results. Any suggestions, anyone?

WAVYDAVY, CSP Architects

ArchiCAD 8.1, Plotmaker 3.1, P4 etc.

[Anonymous]

Aaron wrote:


Its really worth the effort to discover exactly what your DWG-based collaborators require. We routinely hold workshops a the start of a project with technologists from all the disciplines to explore completely how the workflow should operate.

We also request copies of their office template files to capture attributes directly into the translators we develop.

Using this approach is so important! I once posited the question on the news group alt.cad.autocad "What is your biggest problem when sharing files with consultants or collaborators?" Keep in mind that this was asked as one autocad user to another.

I received 65 responses and 90% of the respondents reported 1., that they had experienced problems when exchanging files and 2., that the problems were directly related to lack of protocol.

Each party in the exchange needs to know what is expected from them and what they will be receiving.

[TomWaltz]

this happens regularly but not consistantly.
publish DWG from the layouts, compress to .zip and email to consultant.

I had called tech support about this a while back. They told me there was a bug in the 8.1 translator, translating from Plotmaker, that was fixed in Archicad 9.

[Aussie John]

TomWaltz wrote:
I had called tech support about this a while back. They told me there was a bug in the 8.1 translator, translating from Plotmaker, that was fixed in Archicad 9.

Thanks Tom, you made my day. But to other posters yes it is important to understand the other users requirements