Infratech Civil

An AutoCAD drawing can contain a substantial amount of external data, such as X-refs, font styles, images, excel tables, materials for 3D drawings, textures, and other elements. Once you have completed the project, it's critical to ensure the transmission of all these external files. 

Not doing so might result in not all data being displayed correctly in the AutoCAD drawing of the final user. Manually selecting external files can be tedious and prone to mistakes.

Thankfully, eTransmit, a tool in AutoCAD makes this operation quick and simple. It generates a package containing all the drawing-related items in a ZIP file or folders.

Starting eTransmit

1. To utilize eTransmit, ensure your drawing is saved. 

2. After saving, click on the application button (AutoCAD logo) in the top left corner of your AutoCAD window and select Publish, then eTransmit option as shown in the pictured example.
    
    

1. The 'Create Transmittal' window will appear, showcasing a tree view of all the attachments in your drawings. 
    
    

1. If you prefer the list view, you can toggle to Files Table tab.
2. The tree view will display a current drawings panel where all attachments are shown.

1. You can include multiple files in the eTransmit package by clicking the 'Add File' button towards the bottom of the Current Drawings panel, as shown in the image below.

1. Below this area is the 'Enter Notes' panel, where you can add comments to the package for the recipient to see.
2. Once your eTransmit file is created, a report will be generated and sent as a TXT file with the full package.
3. The report can be viewed by clicking the 'View Report' button on the bottom left corner of the window, as shown in the image.

1. On the right side of the 'create transmittal' window, you'll find the 'Transmittal Setups' button.

1. When clicked, a new window will appear enabling you to adjust the settings for the transmittal package and save it for future use.

1. Press the New button, assign a name to your configuration, and then click Continue.
2. You can now adjust the eTransmittal package's preferences using the Modify Transmittal Setup window.
3. Below are a few of the window's helpful settings:

TRANSMITTAL TYPE AND LOCATION

In this panel's "Transmittal package type" drop-down list, you can choose the package style you wish to construct, such as a zip file or a regular folder. If the recipient has an older AutoCAD version, you can also save designs in an earlier format using the File format dropdown list. Choose where the transmittal file should be saved using the ellipses next to the Transmittal file folder field.

PATH OPTIONS

You'll see three radio buttons here, as evidenced in the image below.

The first radio button arranges the eTransmittal package so that each component resides in its own folder.

The option to include all files in a single folder will store all associated components in one folder.

The third feature will produce a hierarchically structured folder, with each component keeping its pathway within the transmittal package.

For instance, if an X-ref is put in folder B, which is within folder A, this method results in a folder A within folder B, with the Xref positioned inside folder B.

ACTIONS

Here, there are several radio buttons, most of which are self-evident. The Bind external references radio button will bind your Xref inside the ongoing design, essentially converting the Xref into a block within the design.

The Purge drawings radio button will get rid of all redundant components including layers, blocks, and line types, thereby establishing the eTransmit package with those sanitized designs. Once you've finalized your settings, press OK to close the Modify Transmittal Setup window box and OK once more. Your comprehensive package will be published in the designated location, reflecting all configurations you've executed up until this point. 

CONVERTING FILE VERSIONS 

If you wish to modify your AutoCAD file version to a previous one for compatibility with older software, this can easily be achieved using the eTransmit options.

To begin, initiate eTransmit and select the modify button. In the "Modify transmittal setup" popup, choose an earlier file format from the "File format" dropdown as depicted in the below image.  

This process allows all files in the eTransmit package to transform into a compatible earlier version simultaneously.

SUMMING UP 

eTransmit is a convenient tool for compiling a bundle of all drawing files without the need to manually look for files. It also includes a superb AutoCAD version converter which enables the transformation of AutoCAD file versions to a previous one with a few simple clicks. Should you have any queries relating to this post, feel free to reach out in the comments section below.