Custom Residential Architects Network

Restoring CAD documents in obsolete file formats
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Mario Grigni AIA
Greensboro NC

I recently was asked to consider an addition to a building I designed in the 80s.
I found that the old AutoCad files are probably in various disks that I kept in storage.
Some are in Bernoulli Box 10 MB disks. I still have the old Bernoulli Box but I have no idea if it can still be used.
Some are in more recent disks but in this case the files are collected in kryptically named archives with extension ARC.
I tried several programs available on the web to open arc files, but they all failed.
I was able to open the few AutoCad files that were not compressed. But the visualization files, in format SLD are still unopened.

I am sure I am not the first one with problems restoring old digital files in obsolete formats.

Has anybody worked out resources directed at solving this problem?.

For the ARC files try "EF Commander" from http://www.efsoftware.com/




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David Edrington AIA
David Edrington, Architect
Eugene OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2014 10:17
From: Mario Grigni
Subject: Restoring CAD documents in obsolete file formats


Restoring CAD documents in obsolete file formats
-------------------------------------------
Mario Grigni AIA
Greensboro NC

I recently was asked to consider an addition to a building I designed in the 80s.
I found that the old AutoCad files are probably in various disks that I kept in storage.
Some are in Bernoulli Box 10 MB disks. I still have the old Bernoulli Box but I have no idea if it can still be used.
Some are in more recent disks but in this case the files are collected in kryptically named archives with extension ARC.
I tried several programs available on the web to open arc files, but they all failed.
I was able to open the few AutoCad files that were not compressed. But the visualization files, in format SLD are still unopened.

I am sure I am not the first one with problems restoring old digital files in obsolete formats.

Has anybody worked out resources directed at solving this problem?.

You can buy freestanding Bernoulli Boxes on Ebay.  You can probably download the software from IOmega and look for a USB to SCSI adapter or cable on Ebay. 

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David Edrington AIA
David Edrington, Architect
Eugene OR
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2014 10:17
From: Mario Grigni
Subject: Restoring CAD documents in obsolete file formats


Restoring CAD documents in obsolete file formats
-------------------------------------------
Mario Grigni AIA
Greensboro NC

I recently was asked to consider an addition to a building I designed in the 80s.
I found that the old AutoCad files are probably in various disks that I kept in storage.
Some are in Bernoulli Box 10 MB disks. I still have the old Bernoulli Box but I have no idea if it can still be used.
Some are in more recent disks but in this case the files are collected in kryptically named archives with extension ARC.
I tried several programs available on the web to open arc files, but they all failed.
I was able to open the few AutoCad files that were not compressed. But the visualization files, in format SLD are still unopened.

I am sure I am not the first one with problems restoring old digital files in obsolete formats.

Has anybody worked out resources directed at solving this problem?.

There are firms which provide file retrieval services from old media, including Bernoulli boxes. You can find the online and ship your disks to them. They can also retrieve/ translate old file formats. ------------------------------------------- Maurice White Architect W Designs LLC Miami FL -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 03-11-2014 10:17 From: Mario Grigni Subject: Restoring CAD documents in obsolete file formats Restoring CAD documents in obsolete file formats ------------------------------------------- Mario Grigni AIA Greensboro NC I recently was asked to consider an addition to a building I designed in the 80s. I found that the old AutoCad files are probably in various disks that I kept in storage. Some are in Bernoulli Box 10 MB disks. I still have the old Bernoulli Box but I have no idea if it can still be used. Some are in more recent disks but in this case the files are collected in kryptically named archives with extension ARC. I tried several programs available on the web to open arc files, but they all failed. I was able to open the few AutoCad files that were not compressed. But the visualization files, in format SLD are still unopened. I am sure I am not the first one with problems restoring old digital files in obsolete formats. Has anybody worked out resources directed at solving this problem?.