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 

  • Anton,

    In Autocad there is a recover command inside Drawing Utilities that you can use to correct some errors in DWG or DXF without opening the file. Did you tried this?.

    Regards

    José

  • If ACAD 2018 won't open them, there is something wrong with the files. Gonna interweb guess it's some type of application software that has created these.

    Connect r17 10.17.2.61 self-employed-Unpaid Beta tester for Bentley

  • Then the DWG is corrupted and you'll need autocad 2015 - 2017 to recover / repair it without opening it as Jose mentioned..

    Ideally you should  ask the  original source to open their version and save it  as DWG 2014... and ask for them to open that and see it is not corrupt before they resend it to you...at least they can tell whats  missing or not exporting before they send it.. if you try to use the recover some critical data may be lost that your not aware of... this very high risk your organisation trying to fix an external source file....my manager  would never allow this .. he'd insist on a resupply of the DWG file and a pdf to compare with as when you convert to mst some things can get lost....

    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 

  • The actual acrap command is Audit, I wish I didn't know that...............

    Connect r17 10.17.2.61 self-employed-Unpaid Beta tester for Bentley

  • But that would only  work in Acad as you cant  open the corrupt DWG file acad .. This command  is not available in DWG mode in mstn...

    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 

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