SWX 2004 file sizes

Just switched to 2004 from 2003 and it seems that this new version saves
files at about 3 or 4 times the previous versions sizes. I am doing a solid
model of an elliptical body with parallel cuts on elliptical and domed
surfaces and these files are huge ! Any prior experience appreciated or a
suggestion to cut down on the sizes ?

 

Try turning the display quality down AND definately turn off the saving
of eDrawing data with the files.

 

I backed off on the image quality and saved 30% or so. eDrawing was turned
off. Still huge compared to 2003 maybe by 30% also.

Thanks for the input.

 

There are a couple of settings in 04 that might be increasing the file
size, beyond what the MS shadow data does to all SW files. All of
these settings are in Tools, Options.

System Options

General - Save eDrawings data in SolidWorks document
Drawings - Save tessellated data for drawings with shaded and draft
quality views

Doc Props

Image Quality - all settings

Of course all the typical techniques for making files smaller -
suppress all features, remove configurations, save as, put a block
around all features as the last feature, move all geometry off screen,
resize part window as small as you can before saving, save parts from
assembly window, hide all bodies or parts, turn display to hlr, run
unfrag or ecosqueeze, etc.

You should only worry about file sizes when archiving, doing transfers
or storing data on media of a fixed, limited size (like floppies, zip
disks, USB drives or CDs, or transfers across internet or slow
networks). If you are working on a file from your hard drive, using
these techniques will in most cases just slow you down, because the
data that you're removing has to be recreated, such as the parasolid
data or the display list. 10 years ago we all had to worry about file
size, but if you're storing data on your hard drive or on a fast
network, it matters a lot less nowadays.


matt

 

I've noticed by doing a few "Save As" and rewriting the original file, the
file can be reduce to fractions of the original size. This removes all
configuration previews though.

Keith

 

Thank you everyone. I have been able to reduce this part size from 9000K to
6300K with the suggestions and then further using ZIP. My concern is
sending these as email attachments as my ISP has file size maximums so I
will need to use ZIP to create multiple portions.

 

IDA,

Did you try Ecosqueeze on the files? You may be able to shrink them down much further with that.

HTTP://WWW.Ecocom.com

HTH,

MT