AutoCAD 2008 backwards compatibility issues

[curtisj]

I've looked and searched this site without finding any threads that really address the problems I'm having. So, if you would, grab a beer, have a seat and turn your ears on...

We recently upgraded to A 2008 (straight up...no twist) and thought it was a fairly seemless transition. I found out recently when sharing drawings with a consultant that others could not open our drawings with A 2006 or previous. Our configuration saves by default to v2000 .dwg file. It seems that 2007/2008 have no trouble opening the files. I've installed a test computer with 2006 on it and i run into the same symptoms reported by others. The files load between 12 and 99% then sit and eventually crash the program. When RECOVER is run the program behaves similarly and never opens the program.

I tried installing all current object enablers and in the process found that one of our base files has MEP objects in it (don't ask me how) when it warned me upon opening (see attached). Our AutoCAD reseller sent us a trial copy of A MEP 2008 and we've opened, EXPORTed TO ACAD 2000/2004 and it still will not open in 2006. However, I did open and export a known MEP file and did sucessfully open it in 2006.

At this point I've exhausted all options and have supplied our reseller w/ a file to test and I turn to you CAD Gods and Godesses for wisdom. I've saved the drawing in different .dwg formats, unloaded/detached xrefs, purged, tried the MEP thingy, used 3 different workstations, copied linework into a new file...nothing works...and I haven't even had the heart to try other files on this project.

Has anyone been so unlucky as to have a similar problem?

[dzatto]

Can you post a file so I can try to open it? I'm running ACA2008, not straight A2008, but I'll give it a try.

[ccowgill]

do you have the latest service pack for 08 installed, I remember hearing about this problem before, and I thought it was either fixed in the sp or a hotfix, I'm not sure

[billy342601]

I know that the service pack was already mentioned, but also check in your save options to have the check box next to "Maintain visual fidelity for annotative objects " activated. I have also added (setvar "savefidelity" 1) to our startup routine so that it loads every drawing.

These are the settings I use and I have not had any complaints from the users on 2006 (as of yet) when I back save to 2004 format.

Hope this helps.

[curtisj]

We did install the SP with the original install. Save dwg fidelity is checked.

I'm posting the file for you to try...

[cadtag]

If your drawing is infested with MEP objects, you can drop them by using the -AEXEXPORTTOAUTOCAD command in vanilla 2008. type it in 2008 at the commandline (with the dash) and you should be able to create a exported drawing without the objects.

[curtisj]

I've tried that already and no dice...

[Jeff.Thompson.MG2]

I have only one thought. I'm positive this won't help you out but I've noticed a number of times on our users drawings that they save the drawings as A2007 via the WBLOCK tool. By default the setting is set to save all exported blocks as A2007. I have all my users change that to A2004 and we rearly see any problems. You might try that out, but I'm positive that this is a different issue.

[davechaisson]

Hi Jason,

If you have not resolved your issue yet, the only thing I can think of is this, when you save any drawing in AutoCAD 2008, just below the file name is another field that indicates that the file will be saved as an AutoCAD 2008. dwg. On the right-hand side of this field is a drop down arrow which, when clicked, allows to save the file as an older version (of your choice) and or a template file, etc. If you have not tried this, it may help. If you have, sorry to have wasted your time.

Best of luck,

David Chaisson

PS Thanks for the beer suggestion

I've looked and searched this site without finding any threads that really address the problems I'm having. So, if you would, grab a beer, have a seat and turn your ears on...

We recently upgraded to A 2008 (straight up...no twist) and thought it was a fairly seemless transition. I found out recently when sharing drawings with a consultant that others could not open our drawings with A 2006 or previous. Our configuration saves by default to v2000 .dwg file. It seems that 2007/2008 have no trouble opening the files. I've installed a test computer with 2006 on it and i run into the same symptoms reported by others. The files load between 12 and 99% then sit and eventually crash the program. When RECOVER is run the program behaves similarly and never opens the program.

I tried installing all current object enablers and in the process found that one of our base files has MEP objects in it (don't ask me how) when it warned me upon opening (see attached). Our AutoCAD reseller sent us a trial copy of A MEP 2008 and we've opened, EXPORTed TO ACAD 2000/2004 and it still will not open in 2006. However, I did open and export a known MEP file and did sucessfully open it in 2006.

At this point I've exhausted all options and have supplied our reseller w/ a file to test and I turn to you CAD Gods and Godesses for wisdom. I've saved the drawing in different .dwg formats, unloaded/detached xrefs, purged, tried the MEP thingy, used 3 different workstations, copied linework into a new file...nothing works...and I haven't even had the heart to try other files on this project.

Has anyone been so unlucky as to have a similar problem?