Comparing two AutoCAD files

[geoff.80680]

Any ideas of how to compare two autoCAD files to check for simularities? Where might this type of information be stored in the file data?

[jaberwok]

Google "dwgcompare" - there are lots of possibilities.
If it's simple - comparing lines and circles in modelspace - then change everything to one colour (red)and save to a temporary file then change everything to a different colour (blue) and insert or xref the temp file. Use the origin for location.

[cadtag]

also look into Design Review -- there's a compare capability on a dwf sheet basis so you can compare between sheets rather than just modelspace

[geoff.80680]

Apologies for any confusion but I'm probably looking at comparing hundreds of files for simularities, ie entities called the same name, entities of identical size. This would be good if it was in a "short" text/report format which could be used to compare drawings.

[rkmcswain]

You might take a look at the drawing compare tools in Toolpac (http://www.dotsoft.com/toolpac.htm).
Here is a screenshot of one:

http://www.dotsoft.com/images/tpdwgcomp.png