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An Insight to AutoCAD e-TransmitEmilio Valentin,
April 25, 2011
If you've ever received drawings from someone else only to
find that you are missing xref's, plot styles, custom fonts,
images, or more then you'll appreciate eTransmit.
The eTransmit is feature of AutoCAD. It used to be an AutoCAD
Express Tool many years ago. The eTransmit feature helps you
send drawings to others by collecting all of a drawing's
associated files. You can organize a transmittal set of files
including drawings, spreadsheets and more using the Add Files
option, reference files like fonts and more packed into a single
folder (useful when moving files), Zip file, or self extracting
EXE. You can even convert the DWG files to a specific DWG
version; bind external references "Xref's", set the plotter,
purge, apply a password protect, and send as an email. The
eTransmit is a great way to pack up files to send externally,
and take all files from multiple directories and formats and
with one click set to a single directory and the required
format. This will surely help reduce the possibility of errors.
Note: All figures in this article are taken from AutoCAD
2010.
To get started, choose the eTransmit from the File
pulldown menu.
The Create Transmittal dialog box opens (this varies with
each version, but all have some similarities).
You can click the 'Files Tree' or 'Files
Table'
tab to check which files will be included in the
transmittal file.
More files can be added to the package by 'Add File ...'
button if you wish. This is important because eTransmit will
only add certain files to the transmittal package and let you
add the rest.
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File Types Automatically Added to a Transmittal
Package |
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File Type |
Description |
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*.dwg |
Root drawing file and any attached external references |
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Various image file types |
Raster image files that are attached externally to the
root drawing or external referenced drawings, or as part
of a material |
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*.dgn |
DGN files that are attached externally to the root
drawing or external referenced drawings |
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*.dwf |
Design Web Format files that are attached externally to
the root drawing or external referenced drawings |
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*.dwfx |
DWF file with XPS information that is attached
externally to the root drawing or an externally
referenced drawing |
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*.pdf |
PDF files that are attached externally to the root
drawing or external referenced drawings |
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*.dxe |
Data extraction files that contain extraction settings
and data link information |
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*.xls |
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files that are linked to
data extraction tables |
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*.fmp |
Font Mapping File used for the In-Place Text Editor when
working with Multiline Text objects |
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*.ctb |
Color-dependent plot style files used to control the
appearance of the objects in the drawings of the
transmittal set when plotting |
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*.stb |
Named plot style files used to control the appearance of
the objects in the drawings of the transmittal set when
plotting |
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*.pc3 |
Plotter configuration files used to control the device
and settings for the device when plotting the layouts of
the drawings in the transmittal set |
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*.dwt |
Drawing template file that is associated with a sheet
set |
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*.dst |
Sheet set file |
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*.dws |
Drawing standards file that is associated to a drawing
for standards checking |
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File Types Not Automatically Added to a Transmittal
Package |
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File Type |
Description |
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*.arx, *.dbx, *.lsp, *.vlx, *.dvb, *.dll |
Custom application files (ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, AutoLISP,
Visual LISP, VBA and .NET) |
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*.shx |
Compiled shape files used for text styles or complex
linetypes |
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*.ttf |
True Type font files used for text styles |
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*.pfa, *.pfb |
PostScript Type 1 font files |
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*.pat |
Hatch pattern files |
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*.lin |
Linetype definition files |
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*.mln |
Multiline definition files |
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*.pmp |
Plotter model parameter files, used to store
configuration information specific to a plotter such as
custom paper sizes |
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*.unt |
Unit conversion file, used by QuickCalc and the CVUNIT
AutoLISP function |
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*.pss |
Plot stamp settings files |
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OLE objects (linked files) |
OLE objects that are linked to files in the drawing are
not included in the transmittal package |
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Rtext objects (linked files) |
Text files that are referenced by the RTEXT object are
not included in the transmittal package |
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*.xls (Microsoft Excel files |
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files that are linked to
data extraction tables are not included in the
transmittal package |
If you want, enter a note to the recipient in the 'Enter
notes to include with this transmittal package:' text box at
the lower-left corner of the 'Create Transmittal' dialog box.
Tip: You can incorporate a standard note with the
transmittal package or emails. To pre-define a custom note, so
it would automatically appear in the "Enter notes to include
with this transmittal package", for adding any legal disclaimers
(copyright, confidentiality, authorization...), technical
descriptions, or instructions, simply create a text file named etransmit.txt in your support directory, or in another support
folder searched by AutoCAD (usually in C:\Program Files\AutoCAD
20##\support), and the notes field will be pre-populated with
your standard text automatically. To insure, view report.
There is a default setting in the 'Select a transmittal
setup' called 'Standard' however, you can prepare your own
settings by clicking the 'Transmittal setups' button.
Once in the 'Transmittal setups' dialog, you can form new
settings or arrange the default one via this window. I advise
you to form a "new" setting and naming it, instead of changing
the default one.
When clicking 'Modify…' button, the 'Modify Transmittal
Setup' dialog will appear. Here you will have an array of
options that can be grouped in five sections:
- Transmittal type and location
- Path options
- Actions
- Include options
- Transmittal setup description
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Transmittal type and
location
Transmittal Package Type allows you to choose as: Folder,
Self-extracting Executable (*.exe), or Zip.
Note: eTransmit uses WinZip which is not UNICODE
compliant (a representation and handling of text expressed in
most of the world's writing systems). Attempting to add certain
files to an archive using WinZip prior to 11.2 results in the
error message "Warning: Could not open for reading: ...".
Although the (*.exe) are more convenient, they are also
vulnerable to viruses.
File Format allows you to choose an earlier release of
AutoCAD (options will vary with each version).
Tip: It is more convenient to send the files using
older versions of AutoCAD, just in case the recipient has an
earlier release. Otherwise, the recipient might come back with
questions because of invalid file on their end. If you choose an
old version, it will be better to add a note in the 'Transmittal
setup description' to remember.
Maintain Visual Fidelity for Annotative Objects is
checked by default. This keeps your drawing scale, so if you are
using Annotative Scaling, each scale of annotation will be
placed on separate layer for recipients using older version.
Transmittal File Folder allows you to navigate to the
location you want to find your transmittal file. More than one
file will be created in the path if the file format is set as
folder. If you leave this blank, the files are saved in the same
folder as the current drawing.
Note: If you're transmitting a sheet set, the file
goes in the same folder as the DST files (Look into the Archive
command in regards to sheet set)
Transmittal File Name allows you to be prompted for a
file name, let AutoCAD assign a name (overwriting any existing
file with that name), or let AutoCAD assign an incremental file
name.
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Path options
Use organized folder structure/source root folder:
defines the source root folder (primary folder) for relative
paths of drawing-dependent files, such as folders containing
material textures, external references (xref) etc.
A Fonts, PlotCfgs, and SheetSets/DTS folder is created if
necessary.
This option is not valid if the file is being packed to a web
path.
Place all files in one folder - All files are placed
in one location. This is mostly the best choice because AutoCAD
firstly seeks for the external references in the drawing folder
when a drawing is opened.
"Keep files and folders as is" recreates the exact
paths of the existing files. This is very useful if there is a
certain order the company uses.
- Actions
Send e-mail with transmittal check box to open your
e-mail program, create a new message, insert the note in the
body of the message, and attach the transmittal file.
Default Plotter to 'None' if your recipient will plot
the drawing and has a different plotter. This way when the
drawing is opened and plotted by someone else, the user won't
get the dreaded error of your plotter not being found on their
system.
Tip: It's also a good idea to consider documenting the colors/widths used since plotters usually displays widths and
lines differently.
Bind External References: This option attaches the
external references (XREF) to the drawing. AutoCAD 2010 improved
the eTransmit setup by giving the user an option to Bind or
Insert. When sending a transmittal, the xref's link may be lost,
so one option (especially if the recipient is not familiar with
xref's) is to bind or insert, the difference is 'Bind' put a $0$
in front of the name of every layer coming from an Xref's and
the 'Insert' keeps the original layer name.
Tip: When eTransmit does not bind the xref's - run an
audit on the drawings and try it again. Also, consider putting
all files in one folder if you have xref's and making your
xref's relative path.
Prompt for Password allows you to specify a password
after you save the transmittal file to keep safe and avoid any
possible corruption. The password should be given to the
recipient (by phone), to make sure no one else can open the
drawing.
Purge drawing maintains the basic drawing requirements
on all drawings. It could also minimize the file size.
- Include
options
Here you can choose what types
of file to be included. Sometimes you don't need to share
certain files in a data link.
Include Fonts to include
AutoCAD fonts used. Particularly if you have created your own
AutoCAD fonts that the recipient might not have.
Note: TrueType fonts (*.ttf) are not included just the
font map file (*.fmp). Make sure to use the 'Add Files' feature
in the 'Create Transmittal' dialog to include custom fonts. Be
cautious with copyright, purchased fonts, or other restrictions
that may apply with fonts.
Include Textures from Materials to include JPG, TIFF
and TGA etc.. type of files used for material assigned.
Include Files from Data Links to include Excel or CSV
files that the drawing links to.
Include Photometric Web Files include web files that
you have used for photometric data for lights.
- Transmittal setup description
The information here will display in the 'Create Transmittal'
dialog within the 'Select a transmittal setup' section.
Finally, before completing your transmittal, it always a good
practice to consider checking the 'View Report' in the Create
Transmittal dialog - as if you were receiving the information.
Many operators will just send the information and then realize
that something was missed.
About the Author
Emilio Valentin is a Technical Associate in computer-aided
design and drafting operations on civil and structural projects
for 14 years. His experience includes a wide range of
engineering including: roadway design, structural design,
geotechnical engineering, traffic data collection, water
management, right-of-way, utility engineering, environmental,
land surveying and digital mapping projects since 1997. The
clients for these projects have included state, county and local
governments, transit authorities, and private corporations. He
provides CADD support on Microstation, AutoCAD, Iplot, and
peripheral devices.
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