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CAD tip CAD tip # 12347:

   
Question CAD 
 %  platform  category 
Q - question

Invalid or incomplete DXF input -- drawing discarded.

A - answer When trying to open a DXF file in AutoCAD, an error is reported:

Error in drawing header on line 1.
Invalid or incomplete DXF input -- drawing discarded.
Press ENTER to continue:

This error indicates that the opened DXF file is corrupted (damaged). Common causes are:

  • The DXF file was created by an external application but it doesn't have a proper format matching the DXF specification.
  • The file was created as an export from a corrupted (e.g. non-Autodesk) DWG file.
  • The file was damaged during transmission or during copying.
  • It is not a DXF file, but e.g. a renamed .DWG file.
  • The DXF file was edited in Word.
  • The DXF file is not stored in the ASCII or UTF-8 (w/o BOM) format - it is stored e.g. in the text format encoded as UTF-16 or as UTF-8 with the leading BOM characters.

Try to create the DXF file again or repair it using a text editor, e.g. Notepad, Notepad++.

A typical DXF file (after you open it in Notepad) begins e.g. with this:

  0
SECTION
  2
HEADER
  9
$ACADVER
  1
AC1032
  9
$ACADMAINTVER
 90
      157
  9
$DWGCODEPAGE
  3
ANSI_1250
  9
$LASTSAVEDBY
...

The error may be found also on a higher line number - in this case, it is typically a syntax error in the DXF exchange format on the given row. Or the file comes from a higher AutoCAD version than you use to open it. Correct the problem in a text editoru or contact your AutoCAD vendor.

ACADLTACADM
100% *  CAD 
21.8.2019    15961×   FAQ  
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applies to: AutoCAD · AutoCAD LT · AutoCAD Mechanical ·

See also:
Tip 13938:ModDXF - utility for bulk modification/display of internal DXF properties in DWG entities.
Tip 13800:Visually compare 3D geometry in CAD and BIM files.
Tip 13541:Using Twinmotion from Revit to visualize other types of 3D scenes.
Tip 13274:How to switch the DWG TrueView viewer to the classic user interface, without ribbon?
Tip 13228:DWG or DXF file exported to/from Fusion 360 has incorrect size (scale, 10x larger/smaller).


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