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How do I Reduce the Size of a Drawing in AutoCAD?

Published in AutoCAD File Management 3 mins read

There are several methods to reduce the file size of a drawing in AutoCAD, which can improve performance and reduce storage requirements. Here's a breakdown of common techniques:

Strategies for Reducing AutoCAD Drawing Size

1. Purge Unused Elements

Purging removes unused blocks, layers, linetypes, styles, and other named objects from the drawing. This is often the most effective single step.

  • Command: PURGE
  • Steps:
    1. Type PURGE and press Enter.
    2. Choose to purge all items (including nested items) or specific categories. Selecting "All" is often most effective.
    3. Confirm any prompts to purge items.
  • Alternative Command Line Purge:
    1. Type -PURGE and press Enter.
    2. Select "All"
    3. Type N for "No" when prompted to "Verify each name to be purged?"

2. Detach Unnecessary Xrefs

External references (Xrefs) can significantly increase file size, especially if they contain a lot of detail. Detach any Xrefs that are not required.

  • Command: XREF
  • Steps:
    1. Type XREF and press Enter.
    2. In the External References palette, select the Xref you want to detach.
    3. Right-click and choose "Detach."

3. Audit and Fix Errors

Auditing the drawing can identify and correct errors that might be contributing to file bloat.

  • Command: AUDIT
  • Steps:
    1. Type AUDIT and press Enter.
    2. Choose "Yes" to fix any errors detected.

4. Overkill - Removing Duplicate or Overlapping Objects

The Overkill command eliminates duplicate or overlapping lines, arcs, and other objects.

  • Command: OVERKILL
  • Steps:
    1. Select all objects in the drawing.
    2. Type OVERKILL and press Enter.
    3. Adjust settings as needed (e.g., tolerances for identifying duplicates) and click "OK."

5. Remove Registered Applications (Regapps)

Registered applications (Regapps) are often associated with custom programs or third-party applications and can sometimes bloat a drawing file.

  • Command: -PURGE
  • Steps:
    1. Type -PURGE and press Enter.
    2. Choose "Regapps."
    3. Type * to select all regapps and press Enter.
    4. Type N for "No" when prompted to "Verify each name to be purged?"

6. Reset Scale List

Excessive or custom scales in the scale list can increase file size.

  • Command: -SCALELISTEDIT
  • Steps:
    1. Type -SCALELISTEDIT and press Enter.
    2. Choose "Reset."
    3. Confirm the reset.

7. Save as Optimized Drawing

When saving, consider the "Save as" command and ensure that you are saving in the latest AutoCAD version, which often has improved compression algorithms. Also, be sure to check the "Incremental save percentage" setting (OPTIONS command, Open and Save tab). Lowering this number can help, though it may slightly increase save times. A value of 0 disables incremental saving.

8. Check Object Complexity

Very complex objects (e.g., highly detailed hatches, excessively dense polylines) can contribute significantly to file size. Consider simplifying these objects or using block representations where appropriate.

Summary

By systematically employing these methods, you can significantly reduce the size of your AutoCAD drawings, improving performance and manageability. Prioritize purging, detaching xrefs, and auditing, as these typically have the most impact.

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