Bloated files

[Scottman]

I'm certain this is NOT a new issue and has probably been answered before, I just couldn't find it:
I'm running Survey 2014, but my DWG's are accumulating un-purgeable elements, which result in my DWG's expanding to multi-Mb's in size that otherwise might normally be <1 Mb. If there is a patch or hotfix that works with this version to un-bloat my files, would someone be willing to assist in pointing me in the right direction?

[Streek]

That happens to me when I make a DXF.
A simple 20k file bloats to 26 meg.

And then, about 90% of the time, I can NOT open the DXF file, it's corrupted.

Carlson w/ACAD 2013

[Dent Cermak]

Try erasing that drawing's *.INI file, reboot and then open the *.DWG file.

[sawtelle]

I have had problems with Copy-Clipping withing AutoCAD bringing hidden and unpurgable junk in with it. What I have had to do is:
1. Open a blank drawing from my base template in Intellicad
2. Open the infected drawing in Intellicad
3. Save the layer state and Write a Layer State (.las) file out
4. thaw everything in the infected file
5. Copy clip everything from the infected file to the clean file created from the template. (repeat for all plot tabs)
6. save the infected file as a 'void' file just in case
7. import the layer state file and restore
8. save the new file over the old file.

Do not do this in AutoCAD, it will just bring all the junk with it. Intellicad ignores all of the Civil3D and other AutoCAD assemblies that are not really used in the drawing.

Another option is to open the drawing in Intelicad and save it back to a R12 format. Close and reload the drawing. This will screw up any MTEXT you have used and kill any tabs beyond the first one, but it will clean up the other junk too.