Learn how you can protect your DWG files from damage and 5 ways to handle different scenarios related to DWG files loss.
If you are a drafter, engineer, or an architect, you know the effort that goes to creating designs using CAD. Losing your DWG files in the middle of designing a complex project can be very frustrating. To protect yourself against such, you need to know the key steps to take to prevent your files from getting corrupted.
First, avoid using an outdated version of AutoCAD or old drawings repeatedly and for a long period. This can cause your application to hang or give your error messages when trying to access your files. You also need to make sure that your computer hardware is not defective. A corrupted disk, RAM, or operating systems can impair the functioning of your DWG files. Another reason that can cause your files to malfunction is creating DWG documents using non-Autodesk or non-RealDWG software.
However, despite your best efforts, DWG files can still get corrupted when you least expect. For example, if your computer crashes or shuts down unexpectedly while using your AutoCAD software, this can corrupt your files. Should this happen, how do you recover your files?
1. Handling Files Created Using Non-Autodesk or Non-RealDWG Software
If the corrupt file you are trying to access was not created using standard drawing software such as AutoCAD, try to open it using the software that was used to create it. Once the file is opened, use the export function to save it to a format that is compatible with AutoCAD, such as DXF format. However, this is only possible if the native software has the export function.
2. Recovering Auto-saved Copies of DWG Files
You access the auto-saved files on AutoCAD by finding the auto-save folder. Here, you will find various versions of files created at different times with the SV$ file extension. Changing the .sv$ extension to .dwg allows you to access a previous version of your DWG file before it gets corrupted.
3. Using DWG Backup Files
Every drawing file created on AutoCAD has a backup version denoted with a .bak extension. Therefore, if your file is corrupted, make a copy of the .bak file and rename it with a .dwg extension. This should restore the original file.
4. Using the RECOVER and RECOVERALL Commands
AutoCAD comes with an inbuilt file recovery tool that you can use to recover your corrupted files. When you run the RECOVER command, the application should extract data from the corrupted file and opens it if the operation is successful. You can then save a fresh copy of your file.
On the other hand, the RECOVERALL command opens, repairs, and re-saves corrupted drawing files alongside all associated xrefs. Both commands support the recovery of DWG, DWT, and DWS file formats.
5. Use a DWG Recovery Tool
If you are unable to recover your file even after using the above, it is wise to try an automated DWG recovery tool. Tools such as DataNumen DWG Recovery make your file recovery process a breeze. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert to use these tools. You just need to follow simple steps and let the tool do the hard work for you. However, when choosing the recovery tool, ensure that it supports the recovery of all objects associated with AutoCAD, all DWG file formats as well as multiple operating systems. Also, go for an application that has proven performance and a high file recovery rate.
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