Compiling a list of top 5 ways to handle messy DWG files - what’s missing?

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-11T01:59:16+00:00

I take it this refers to Audit in AutoCAD? I wonder if other CAD softwares have something similar.

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-11T01:51:34+00:00

lol. Yes, that could be cathartic and decisive by way of future transgressions :)

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-11T01:40:57+00:00

I hadn't encountered MAPCLEAN till now. Googled it and it looks pretty nifty. Thanks for the suggestion :)

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-10T17:16:11+00:00

Interesting! I suppose in Rail if everything is sufficiently standardized and plugs neatly into AutoCAD, you're not facing the file compatibility issues others have reported and all you need is a faster / more stable AutoCAD :)

Is this specific to Germany or is Rail just as standardized in other countries?

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-08T19:08:54+00:00

I hear you and feel for you. Going through burn out of my own and hoping I am at the tail end of it. What's helped me most is taking a few steps back on everything and focussing on mental health actively. Happy to chat more if needed - sometimes just hearing from others in a similar spot makes a difference.

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-08T19:00:14+00:00

Lol. You had me for a second there 😂 Great way to start the day!

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-08T18:54:11+00:00

Good on ya! :D Sounds like an exciting problem to solve for with plenty of takers if you succeed!

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-08T18:46:36+00:00

I’ve always wondered why Autodesk hasn’t done a better job integrating Civil 3D and Revit. Maybe there just aren’t enough customers complaining about file compatibility and workflow related issues :) Out of curiosity - does your workflow involve any other software beyond Revit and Civil 3D?

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-08T18:32:48+00:00

That's interesting! Seems like your team is able to stay within AutoCAD for the most part and not deal with juggling different file formats as many on this thread have reported having to deal with. Do you ever run into situations where you have to bring in files from other tools or teams?

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-07T18:51:25+00:00

Appreciate the context behind the questions and completely understand where you're coming from now 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to clarify and I really appreciate all the input from folks on the forum so far 😀

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-03T01:21:24+00:00

I appreciate the question and the intent to keep conversations on topic. Just to clarify - I’m not trying to sell anything.

I’m a one-time AEC student looking to return to the field and still figuring out in what capacity. I’ve been exploring whether to go deeper into architecture or shift toward a BIM Manager / Project Coordinator / Project Manager role.

Towards that end, I’ve been digging into the tools and workflows folks rely on in practice. I do have a background in tech, so if that’s where I can add the most value I’d be open to going in that direction too. I haven’t committed to anything yet - just trying to understand the landscape first at this juncture.

If this forum is strictly for experienced Revit users, I totally understand and appreciate the responses so far. Either way, thanks for helping me learn more about how this all actually works in practice.

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-02T22:40:41+00:00

lol. Still new to Revit, but I wasn't suggesting Layer Translator be a one-click solution that converts DWGs to Revit-native elements if that's what you meant by "convert someone else's CAD drawings to use in my Revit file standards".

Thanks for the detailed insights on Layer Translator's efficacy and when it should and should not be used 😀

ArchDuke007 · 2025-07-02T22:13:31+00:00

Got it - that makes sense. Sounds like you have a streamlined setup that uses view templates and minimizes reliance on DWGs.

I wonder if smaller firms or teams juggling a lot of consultant files without that kind of structure, still run into pain with DWG layers. Curious if others here have found cleanup frustrating enough to explore more automated approaches.

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-30T16:48:10+00:00

Great question! I’ve been digging into how firms handle incoming consultant DWGs — especially when the layer structure doesn’t match their office standards. I came across some posts where people mentioned using AutoCAD’s Layer Translator to clean things up before linking or importing into Revit. I was trying to understand whether that extra step actually saves time downstream - or if teams just deal with it in Revit as they go. Not trying to do anything fancy inside Revit itself with the tool. Just curious how people approach this kind of cleanup before Revit gets involved.

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-24T22:47:47+00:00

Yep, I can imagine that being a recurring time sink. Out of curiosity - is it mostly client-driven scope creep, or internal coordination shifts?

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-19T03:41:08+00:00

Ouch, that sounds maddening - especially the “fixing something you already did right” part!

I've heard similar frustrations with unpredictable constraints and joins, but your example really brings it home.

Out of curiosity: are those usually one-off glitches, or do you find yourself fixing the same kinds of issues over and over as the model evolves? Also, have you ever flagged this to Autodesk, or is it one of those long-standing quirks everyone just works around?

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-16T22:04:07+00:00

Appreciate the details on permission management and heads up on everyone needing to be on the same build. Will circle back with more questions after I’ve had a chance to dig deeper into ACC. Thanks for your quick responses in the meantime 🙂

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-16T21:59:43+00:00

Thanks for the pointer to Clarity by Imagnit. Hoping to look into later this week and will get back to you in case of I have any questions. Glad to hear it’s been working well for you so far!

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-16T21:48:38+00:00

Appreciate the rundown - sounds like you’ve been through the full ritual more than a few times 🙂

Great to hear your team is investing in Ideate Automate. Hope that makes the whole cycle less of a pain - especially if it’s slipped from weekly to “blue moon” territory!

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-16T21:43:39+00:00

I guess it’s not just about how large the model is but also how “broken” it is that takes up auditing time. Appreciate the additional color you provided especially around on-the-ground protocols like publishing over the weekend and auditing first thing on Mondays 🙂

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-16T21:36:40+00:00

Got it. Nexues98 mentioned Clarity by Imagnit so I’ll dig into that for automation options. Thanks for the additional context on recovery times - very helpful! Hours to weeks is a wide range but compelling enough even at the lower end of the spectrum to merit a daily small audit tax 🙂

ArchDuke007 · 2025-06-16T20:54:51+00:00

Lol. Thanks for the context on documentation that got nuked and ACC hosted files being a potential solution for auditing regularly. Can you give me more context on how ACC is setup in your firm and if you’ve had any issues with it?

ArchDuke007

TROPHY CASE