Cadtales

eTRANSMIT: The file transmittal utility

by Jim Rogers, CADreps

AutoCAD, and all of its vertical implementations, includes the eTransmit utility for gathering, compacting and transmitting an AutoCAD DWG file, external references, fonts, shape files, images, plot configuration files, linked & embedded objects (i.e. Word & Excel files) and all other supporting documents. In short – everything you or your client needs to open the DWG file without those annoying missing font or XREF error messages.

In addition, there are selections to preserve the original path to files, place all files in one folder, include fonts, send an email, file compression formats, optional notes or to save down to an earlier AutoCAD version, etc.

On the File pull-down menu select the eTransmit command. (The underlined “T” is the keyboard character to select the command; ALT+T).

1. The top-left window shows the Files Tree view of the elements in the DWG file. The Files Table tab provides an alternate view of the list.
2. Click the Add Files button to add other (DOC, XLS, DWG, etc.) files.
3. The top-right window shows available transmittal setup configurations.
4. Click the “Transmittal Setups” button to create a new or edit an existing transmittal setup file.
5. In the “Transmittal Setups” dialog box click the Modify… button to change the highlighted setup.
6. Click the New… button to name and create a new transmittal setup.
7. In the “Transmittal package type” window select ZIP, Folder or EXE for file compression type.
8. In the “File Format” window you can keep the existing AutoCAD file format or save down to an earlier version.
9. In the “Transmittal file folder” window select the destination directory for the eTransmit file.
10. The “Transmittal file name” window offers three file-naming options. Utilizing the “Prompt for a filename” option also permits redirection to a different directory than that listed in #9 above.
11. The “Transmittal Options” listed in the bottom half of the window are self-explanatory.
12. The Transmittal setup description is an optional notes section.

General Recommendations:

1. Use the ZIP format for emailing and general distribution of eTransmit files. The EXE format is a self-extracting file format and may be restricted or rejected by email ISP’s, spam blockers, network and operating system security settings. The Folder and EXE formats are useful for internal distribution and archiving.
2. Include fonts if you are using custom or fonts other than the standard fonts provided with your AutoCAD, or Autodesk vertical application, software.
3. If the recipient does not have a computer directory structure identical to yours then it might be best to check the option to “Place all files in one folder.”
4. Checking the box “Send e-mail with transmittal” will open your default email client and attach the eTransmit file automatically.
5. If the recipient does not have the same plotter model then you might want to check the “Set default plotter to ‘none’.”
6. eTransmit is an excellent vehicle for preserving project files at legal, progress and billing benchmarks, and for final contract (as-built) documentation using the “Bind external references” option.
7. An eTransmit file, by it’s very nature, is a “snap shot” in time and it’s good practice to include a date code in the file name, i.e. “My project status (5-14-07).”