How to reduce drawing file size?

Tips that can help improve your CAD efficiency:

  1. Save your drawings to the latest version in your daily drawing work.
  2. Only create blocks when it is necessary; If the block is exploded when pasted, remember to clean the redundant block data.
  3. Do not use other patterns to fill when you should use Solid Fill; Do not explode the hatch pattern
  4. Do not use plugins that generate many anonymous blocks, layer filters, etc.

We can’t guarantee that every follow the above tips, so it’s better to check big size drawings we receive from others. If there are redundant data that make the file big in size, we can reduce the file size using the following method.

1.Use Purge command to clean orphaned data

Enter PU, then press Enter, the Purge dialog box would pop up, as shown in the following picture,

We don’t have to purge all those data because you may use certain blocks, linetype or layers in the future. I usually purge block data and check the “Purge Zero-length geometry and empty text objects” and “automatically purge orphaned data”.

2. Use plugin or manually purge the redundant data

We may need plugin if you are using lower version of CAD.

Or you can skip the idea of plugin and manually enter the following in the command line to purge DGN line styles:

(dictremove (namedobjdict)”ACAD_DGNLINESTYLECOMP”)

Then press Enter, if it shows “nil”, then there are no DGN line style; if it shows otherwise, then the DGN line styles have been purged.

3. Check and recover drawings

When we get drawings from others, it’s better to open it using Recover command or Audit command, this may not reduce the file size, but it can at least reduce the error occurred.

Some people like to copy the new drawing or use the drawing as a block to reduce the file size, but this method obviously doesn’t apply to drawings with layout.


Discover more from Gstarsoft's Blog

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

GstarCAD Blog

www.gstarcad.net

Related Posts

GstarCAD Deep Dive: How Multiple Top-Level Windows Change Multi-Drawing Workflows

CAD work rarely happens in just one drawing. An engineer may keep a current design open while referring to an earlier revision. A mechanical designer may copy standard details from…

Parametric Constraints in Dynamic Blocks: What’s New in GstarCAD 2027

In the field of architecture, construction, and mechanical design, changes are a constant. Whether driven by updated safety guidelines, client revisions, or evolving project requirements, designers are regularly asked to…

Leave a Reply

Don't Miss out

GstarCAD Deep Dive: How Multiple Top-Level Windows Change Multi-Drawing Workflows

  • September 23, 2026
GstarCAD Deep Dive: How Multiple Top-Level Windows Change Multi-Drawing Workflows

Gstarsoft and AppliCAD Launch GstarSolutions Thailand, Deepening Their Partnership in the Thai Market

  • September 21, 2026
Gstarsoft and AppliCAD Launch GstarSolutions Thailand, Deepening Their Partnership in the Thai Market

Modernizing Without Disruption: What European SMEs Can Learn from SNIE’s Experience

  • September 18, 2026
Modernizing Without Disruption: What European SMEs Can Learn from SNIE’s Experience

GstarCAD Mechanical 2027: Smarter Workflows, Better Compatibility

  • September 15, 2026
GstarCAD Mechanical 2027: Smarter Workflows, Better Compatibility

AI Rendering Workflow: How GstarRender Improves Design Visualization

  • September 8, 2026
AI Rendering Workflow: How GstarRender Improves Design Visualization

What Is CAD? A Beginner’s Guide to Learning CAD

  • September 1, 2026
What Is CAD? A Beginner’s Guide to Learning CAD

Discover more from Gstarsoft's Blog

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Discover more from Gstarsoft's Blog

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading