How the Excessive Use of RegApps Can Corrupt AutoCAD DWG Files

This post examines the effect of using excess RegApps on your DWG and what you can do to avert possible files corruption.

AutoCAD allows users to add information to their DWG files using other applications. While the added information is meant to associate objects on the DWG files with external data, it can become unnecessary baggage. In a worst-case scenario, your files can become slow to open and some objects become inaccessible.

RegApps explained

RegApps refers to Registration Applications, a method used by drawing professionals to add data to specific DWG files. Registration Applications make it possible for different experts such as civil engineers and landscaping professionals to collaborate when implementing a project. A good example is the use of Land F/X by landscaping experts to reference objects on a DWG file. The information added to DWG files using RegApps can vary from simple objects to complex drawing plans.

How excess RegApps can affect your DWG files

Having a few RegApp references on your DWG files may not have a significant impact on its performance. However, as these references near the 10,000 mark, your files will start to load with difficulty. At this point, the referenced data becomes corrupt. The affected objects then turn to unidentifiable blocks. This can be devastating, especially if a large project with hundreds of objects is affected.

Worse still, DWG file corruption associated with RegApps can spread from one document to another. This happens when both healthy and corrupt files are opened at the same time on AutoCAD. Thus, users can corrupt their DWG files unknowingly and lead to huge data losses.

How to detect RegApps corruption

If you receive an error message warning you of the corruption of your RegApps referencing, do not ignore it. It is ok to assume that this is true and take the necessary steps to purge the corrupt referencing data.

When RegApps corruption spreads from one DWG file to another, files that get infected grow in size suddenly. This is caused by the flow of the corrupt extended referencing data from the infected to the once healthy one. Therefore, be wary of DWG files that increase in size yet they haven’t been edited by anyone.

Also, if your DWG files take a lot of time to open and when it does, some objects are unidentifiable, then there is a high chance that your drawings are corrupt. In this case, you need to take immediate action to avoid further damage to your files.

Best practices to prevent DWG files from RegApps corruption

It is a good practice to minimize the use of RegApps referencing on your DWG files. If possible, avoid using RegApps altogether. In the event that your document gets corrupted, use the ‘Purge RegApps’ command in AutoCAD to remove all referencing associated with third-party applications. Sometimes your document could be corrupted such that some objects are unrecoverable even after the purge command. In this case, try using DataNumen DWG Recovery application. This tool allows you to recover any object associated with DWG files and has a high success rate.

It is also wise to adopt preventive measures that protect your DWG files from infection. For instance, do not trust any DWG files that originate from other professionals. Before opening them on your computer, make sure you close all your DWG files. Also, inspect the files for corruption before saving them on your device. Always do this every time you receive DWG files from other professionals.