Large file sizes

[Marcel Cooper]

We have a site which has 13 different house types, all or which are modelled and presented in identical ways with almost identical components but while 10 of the files are of size 37,000kB to 66,000kB, there are 3 files which are of size 2,576,615 to 2,611,812 - some 50+ times bigger.

There is no reason that I can find for these files to be so bloated and 5o+ times larger is one hell of a lot of extra data so I'm guessing that there is a rogue element knocking around.

Does anybody have any idea how to discover what is causing this?

None of the files have any hotlinks nor are there images nor pdfs attached.  

[Ricardo Lopez]

Hi @Marcel Cooper 

Take a look at the following link, you may find something that will help you:

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Project-data-BIM/Typical-3D-and-2D-Speed-Problems-Troubleshootin...

Best regards.

[Jeff Thompson]

Thanks Ricardo for sharing that link.  It was very informative...

In addition, I would like to add that if you are hotlinking in the 13 different house types, I would look at the method in which you are inserting them.  You have two choices when you are inserting hotlinked files.  You can insert .pln files or you can insert .mod files.  I have found that changing the links from .pln to .mod files makes the file a lot easier to work with.  The file size changes drasticly.  However it depends on the file.  You need to ask yourself some questions to determine what would be best for your project moving forward.

The following is a link to a previous discussion that I think will be informative also:

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Project-data-BIM/Hotlink-manager-pln-or-mod-Is-there-a-differenc...

[Marcel Cooper]

Dear Jeff,

Thanks for your advice with respect to hotlinks and mod files, but as I said in the original post, there are no Hotlinks attached to these bloated files so it can't be a Hotlink issue!

I do appreciate the extra knowledge and will research the mod files - it may well help me elsewhere 🙂

[Marcel Cooper]

Thanks for this Ricardo.

I went though everything and couldn't find anything untoward, not even the Polygon count was high. I also checked for duplicated items and removing those made no substantial difference. I then realised that I had use the same design on another site and checked the pln file there - instead of being 2,576,610kB, it was only  35,431kB - somehow, the latest file has accrued something that makes it 73 times bigger!

[Lingwisyer]

You can also cull a lot of data that may not be needed in your full site model by using MOD hotlinks, like maybe you don't need the loose furniture.

[Marcel Cooper]

Thank you for this advice, but as I said in my original post, there are no Hotlinks attached to these bloated files so it can't be a Hotlink issue!

[Lingwisyer]

I was more thinking of not bloating your site model. On that note though, you could also use the hotlinking of MODs to isolate parts of your file to see where the bloat is. If the cause of the bloat is included in the MOD, the file that you place it into will also become bloated. If you can MOD the entirety of the floor plan and 3D without carrying over the bloat, then it is in a layout, worksheet or schedule, etc.

Ling.

[Xandros]

Hi

I'd suggest you dive into analysis. Create copies of your "corrupted" files as .pln somewhere local - desktop for example.

Start deleting things (e.g. a whole floor, all layouts etc.). Save your file after each step of deleting one block and check your file size. This way you might get a hint for what might be the culprit.

Two other things:

Check your embedded libraries.

And have you tried opening your file with Open & Repair? Check on what happens, if you do just that.