Can't Open DXF files in Microstation or AutoCAD

Hi,

We get DXF files over that have been created in AutoCAD and in theory we should be able to open them in Microstation but 5% of the files that are sent over we can't seem to open in either.

I have tried to open in AutoCAD, Fusion 360 and Microstation but to no avail. I have also tried to add the file as a reference but that won't work either.

The error that comes up in Mircostation is 'Unable to open design file. Please contact your local site administrator or technical support provider for further assistance.' and it just crashes AutoCAD.

We can, however, open in it in QGIS, but can't extract the co-ordinates.

I have gone through every forum I can find but can't get any of the solutions to work.

Versions are:

Microstation - Microstation V8i (Select Series 3) [8.11.9.357]

AutoCAD - AutoCAD 2018

Many thanks!

Parents
  • Hi Anton,

    The error that comes up in Mircostation is 'Unable to open design file. Please contact your local site administrator or technical support provider for further assistance.' and it just crashes AutoCAD.

    Didn't understand this part: The error that comes up in Microstation. but crashes Autocad?

    Did you tried to open them in Autocad? It crashes? Or simple dosen't show the elements?

    Did you check the DXF versions on the files that you can't open? Can it be they been saved in a newer version that Microstation can't open?

    You can check that in notepad, follow instruction in link provided by Derval.

    Regards

    José

  • get free true view for autocad from auto desk web site .. your  acad dwgs are too new  for you  if the true view can open them then it will let you save back down to older version say 2014 and mstn ss3 will open that... it can batch save convert too.. if you mstn wont open the converted from True view then there is a problem with mstn realDWG .... if True view wont open them then the files are either corrupt or not really dwg and not just some idiot renamed the extensions...yes it has happened to me at least once in my career... no names please...

    Lorys

    Started msnt work 1990 - Retired  Nov 2022 ( oh boy am I old )

    But was long time user V8iss10 (8.11.09.919) dabbler CE  update 16 (10.16.00.80) 

    MicroStation user since 1990 Melbourne Australia.
    click link to PM me 

  • To view the codes of a particular DWG file, open it within Notepad or other text editor program. The first text in the file is the code. 

    MC0.0 - DWG Release 1.1 
    AC1.2 - DWG Release 1.2 
    AC1.4 - DWG Release 1.4 
    AC1.50 - DWG Release 2.0 
    AC2.10 - DWG Release 2.10 
    AC1002 - DWG Release 2.5 
    AC1003 - DWG Release 2.6 
    AC1004 - DWG Release 9 
    AC1006 - DWG Release 10 
    AC1009 - DWG Release 11/12 (LT R1/R2) 
    AC1012 - DWG Release 13 (LT95) 
    AC1014 - DWG Release 14, 14.01 (LT97/LT98) 
    AC1015 - DWG AutoCAD 2000/2000i/2002 
    AC1018 - DWG AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006 
    AC1021 - DWG AutoCAD 2007/2008/2009 
    AC1024 - DWG AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 
    AC1027 - DWG AutoCAD 2013/2014/2015/2016/2017 
    AC1032 - DWG AutoCAD 2018

    Lorys

    Started msnt work 1990 - Retired  Nov 2022 ( oh boy am I old )

    But was long time user V8iss10 (8.11.09.919) dabbler CE  update 16 (10.16.00.80) 

    MicroStation user since 1990 Melbourne Australia.
    click link to PM me 

  • Hi,

    It won't open in True View, just crashes it.

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