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enter a particular logon name and password can see and download files. FTP overcomes the file size limitations that often occur with e-mail.

Because of all these FTP benefits, it’s common for people at larger companies to place drawing files on their company’s FTP site and tell you to go get them. This approach relieves them of having to e-mail you the files, and relieves you of waiting for that 10MB e-mail download when you least expected it.

The person making the files available to you via FTP will usually send you a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that looks like a web page address, except that it starts with ftp:// instead of http://. Simply enter the FTP URL into the address field of your web browser and follow any instructions regarding login name, password, filename, and/or password that may appear. As an alternative to FTP, see “Cloudy with a Shower of DWGs,” later in this chapter.

Bad reception?

As soon as you receive an e-mail message or FTP download that contains drawings (zipped, we hope!), copy the file to a new folder on your hard drive or a network disk and unzip the files.

Check at least a few of the drawings in the package to make sure that all the xrefs and other reference files, fonts, and raster image files were included. You can perform this check by opening each main drawing in that folder. After you open each file, press F2 to view the AutoCAD text window and look for missing font and xref error messages of the following sort:

Substituting [simplex.shx] for [helv.shx].

Resolve Xref “GRID”: C:\Here\There\Nowhere\grid.dwg

Can’t find C:\Here\There\Nowhere\grid.dwg

Write down each missing file and then tell the sender to get on the ball (in a nice way, of course) and send you the missing pieces. While you’re at it, tell that person to buy this book and read this chapter! Or buy it for them yourself!

If you receive drawings with custom TrueType font files (files whose extensions are TTF), you must install those files in Windows (not AutoCAD) before Windows and AutoCAD will recognize them. Refer to your Windows version’s online help for instructions on installing fonts.

Help from the Reference Manager

In Chapter 18, we warn you about the complications of xref paths and the potential perils of AutoCAD not being able to locate xrefs if you move project folders around or transfer drawings to or from someone else. A similar

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454 Part IV: Advancing with AutoCAD

danger exists for raster image files and DWF/DWFx, DGN, and PDF underlays (Chapter 18) and for font files (Chapter 13). The ETRANSMIT command, described in the section “Rapid eTransmit,” earlier in this chapter, does a good job of gathering dependent reference files, raster files, and font files, but it can’t gather what AutoCAD can’t locate.

The AutoCAD Reference Manager utility (not included with AutoCAD LT) is a real lifesaver if you find yourself suffering from file-path perils — whether they occur in your own company or when sending files to or receiving them from others.

Reference Manager is a separate program, not a command inside AutoCAD. Follow these steps to launch the utility from your Windows desktop:

1.Choose Start All Programs Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Reference

Manager.

The Reference Manager program opens, as shown in Figure 20-2.

Figure 20-2: The Reference Manager.

2.Click the Add Drawings button to add one or more DWG files to the Drawings pane on the left.

Navigate to the folder that contains the drawings you want to send, select them, and then click Open.

3.In the Reference Manager – Add Xrefs dialog box, choose Add All Xrefs Automatically Regardless of Nesting Level.

The Reference Manager processes the drawings and displays all referenced objects in its right pane.

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