Choose the Files to Package

The Create Transmittal dialog box displays two tabs for individual drawing files, or three tabs for sheet sets and drawing files that are referenced by sheet sets. Using these tabs, you can view and change the files to be included in the transmittal package.

• Sheets. This tab is available only when a sheet set is open. It displays a hierarchical list of sheets in the current sheet set. When you check a sheet, all dependent files are automatically included in the transmittal package.
• Files Tree. This tab displays a list of files. You can expand or collapse each drawing file in the list to display its dependent files. By default, dependent files are automatically included in the transmittal package unless you uncheck them.
• Files Table. This tab displays a table of files, their folder locations, and file details. Each file can be checked or unchecked, providing the most direct control over the contents of the transmittal package. Files are not automatically checked or unchecked.

The following table lists the common file types that are automatically added to a transmittal package. You can choose to remove any of the files automatically added and you can manually add additional files that you want included in the transmittal package.

The following table lists the common file types that are not automatically added to a transmittal package. Many of these files include information that are specific to applications that run with the product, or contains information that were originally used to format objects in the drawing and are not longer needed to properly view the drawing when sent to another user.

Include Instructions to the Recipient

A report file is automatically generated that includes a list of files in the transmittal package. The report also includes instructions describing what must be done with drawing-dependent files such as xrefs and font files so that they are usable with the included drawing files. You can also add your own notes to the report file.

Save Transmittal Setups

You will probably send transmittal packages multiple times during a project. The eTransmit feature provides a method to name and save your transmittal settings as transmittal setups. The Transmittal Setups dialog box displays a list of saved transmittal setups from which you can select each time you transmit a set of files. The default transmittal setup is named Standard.

Choose Transmittal Options

Several options are available for the transmittal package using transmittal setups. With these options, you can

• Package the transmittal package in a ZIP file, in a self-extracting EXE file, or in a folder that is copied to a specified location.
• Specify that the folder structure of the transmitted files be organized in a logical hierarchy, flattened into a single folder, or copied “as is” to the recipient's computer. If you specify an FTP or HTTP destination, the transmittal package uses the single folder option.
• Add password protection to the transmittal package, bind xrefs automatically, set the default plotter to “none,” and other options.

After you create the transmittal package, you can post it to an Internet location or send it to others as an email attachment. If you want to send the transmittal package in an email, you can use an option in the Modify Transmittal Setup dialog box that automatically launches your default system email application. When the transmittal package is created, the transmittal package and transmittal report file are automatically attached to a new email.

Transmit Sheet Sets

In the Sheet Set Manager, you can create a transmittal package conveniently from a sheet set, a sheet subset, or a sheet. Use the Sheet Set Manager to specify what you want to transmit.

The tabs in the Create Transmittal dialog box control which files are included in the transmittal package.

• On the Sheet List tab, you can easily control which of the listed sheets are to be transmitted by selecting or clearing the boxes next to the sheet names.
• On the Files Tree tab and the Files Table tab, you can add or remove drawing files and dependent files that are listed. You can also add or remove any other files.

How Transmittal Packages Work with AutoCAD LT or Previous Versions of AutoCAD

When transmittal packages are sent between different people and organizations, it is possible that AutoCAD LT or previous versions of AutoCAD are involved in the transmittals.

You can transmit packages between users of different AutoCAD-based products, and you can use eTransmit to convert files to several previous DWG file formats. In addition, transmittal packages created in AutoCAD 2005 and later can contain sheet sets, which are not available in AutoCAD LT and earlier versions of AutoCAD. The files in these sheet sets can still be sent and received by AutoCAD LT and previous versions of AutoCAD, however, if you want a more powerful, convenient method of transmitting files, the best solution is to use sheet sets in transmittal packages.

When you convert drawings to a legacy drawing file format (AutoCAD 2007 or earlier), drawings containing objects that exceed the legacy large object size limits are reported as errors in the Conversion Error Encountered dialog box and are not converted.

Transmit Files Internationally

Beginning with AutoCAD 2007, the names of the files generated by AutoCAD-based products use Unicode standards and can be shared internationally. However, eTransmit uses WinZip technology to create transmittal packages. Because WinZip currently is not a Unicode-compliant application, it is recommended that you use one of the following alternatives:

• Transmit files individually.
• Use eTransmit to create a folder containing the files to be transmitted and copy the folder to a shared server.
• Package the files using a commercial Unicode-compliant application.
• Make sure all file names use hexidecimal values below 80 before using eTransmit.