Huge File Growth

This is probably one of those mystery problems that cannot be answered in a forum but maybe it will generate some suggestions.

I have a file containing a part that was about 30MB.

I did some editing to the part then saved. The file is now about 600MB.

What might cause such extreme growth?

The reason I was editing was that I had hoped to make things smaller to create an example for a question I had asked earlier.

That sounds quite strange, though…

I might still check to make sure record history is off.

Using another filename, you might try saving the file with the save small setting checked. Using complicated mesh settings might affect file size. If you mesh a single 1 meter sphere with .001mm maximum edge length, I should think the file size would likely be large.

If all else fails, you can create a file a file with duplicate units, and then copy and paste everything in there.

It looks like record history is OFF. However, when I try to copy and paste to a fresh file, I get the message

“Unable to paste, no Rhino objects or text on the clipboard.”

But what about the SaveSmall suggestion? How big is the file after that?

It’s pretty geeky, but the Audit3dmFile command is my go-to tool for this sort of thing.
Usually, the file is packed full of plug-in data or maybe inappropriately large bitmap files.

No change at all with save small.

SaveSmall strips out render meshes, but not plug-ins data or embedded bitmaps.

Testing 3dm Archive: /Users//Documents/Rhino/Parts/Pylon V02 014.3dm
Start Section: Id bytes (offset Id to Id)
Offset: 0
3dm archive version: 50
Interface Name: Rhinoceros 5.0 - English Commercial, build 0000-00-00 - (compiled Oct 12 2015)
SDK Version: 201103025.201412015
OpenNURBS Version: 201412015
3dm Version: 5
Operating System: Apple Intel 64-bit Platform OS X Version 10.10.5 (Build 14F1713)
3DM I/O processor: OpenNURBS toolkit version 201412015 (compiled on Oct 12 2015)

Properties Section: 3411 bytes (offset 375 to 3786)
3dm archive openNURBS version: 201412015
Application Information:
Name: "Mac Rhinoceros 5.0"
URL: "http://www.rhino3d.com"
Details: "English Commercial, build 0000-00-00"
Revision History:
Create Time: Sunday September 20 16:09:42 2015 UCT
Last Edit Time: Friday May 06 20:03:34 2016 UCT
Revision Count: 146
Created By: ""
Last Edit By: ""
Settings Section: 24469 bytes (offset 3786 to 28255)
Plug-ins:
Name: 3D Studio Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:46
Id: E39F68A5-50CF-4b1b-B7DB-F7B73A791BCD
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_3DS.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: 3D Studio Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:41
Id: 04A29790-CF0F-470e-A4CE-8CE7BC0065E5
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_3DS.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: ACIS Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:31:21
Id: 1673CC83-6BF5-4388-95A9-2A478184E4D2
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_SAT.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Adobe Illustrator Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:10
Id: 45871A96-38A2-4d6d-BC80-3B5A40EEC1B4
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_AI.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Alerter
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:34:06
Id: 7D2A9297-A74A-4218-8F3A-6610CDCF8DFB
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Alerter.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: AutoCAD file export : export_ACAD
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:01
Id: 39A88493-9E97-4f15-BD62-AD25896A2632
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_ACAD.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: AutoCAD file import: import_ACAD
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:51
Id: 6CD8563B-7BB0-4777-93F6-4DD10B3406A5
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_ACAD.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Comma Separated Value Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:57
Id: EABA7705-6B71-4a5a-8837-072779BF7AC5
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_CSV.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Commands
Version: 5.1.161.0
Id: D9F7EFF2-950D-453e-B4AC-187AE3F1C298
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Commands.rhp
SDK Version: .NET -1.-1
Name: CreaseAngle
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:34:10
Id: 4D3BF830-DBCF-47c0-9E95-AEAE95EEAB7E
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/CreaseAngle.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Cult3D Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:26
Id: C5230404-ED8A-48ec-8429-512E1A178E70
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_CD.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Export_DAE
Version: 5.1.161.0
Id: DA390819-6584-4d20-90E3-12AC849F471D
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/Resources/ManagedPlugIns/Export_DAE.rhp
SDK Version: .NET -1.-1
Name: Export_FBX
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:29
Id: 0D0240C2-791E-46a7-A37B-5064B62CD75D
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_FBX.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: General Hydrostatics (GHS) Import
Version: 4.0.0.0
Id: E98A5370-E558-49dd-9BF0-A96B7BE39454
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_GHS.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: GTS Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:02
Id: A19D173F-04AE-4124-BDB1-E7A2FB6A0DFF
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_GTS.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: GTS Triangle Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:55
Id: FC563BB4-C1D2-4529-8E7E-7B229D6F5AA4
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_GTS.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: IGES Export Plug-in
Version: 5.1.161.0
Id: 6B6393EF-1DDE-425d-8189-670B2A1EFD72
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_IGES5.rhp
SDK Version: .NET -1.-1
Name: IGES Import Plug-in
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:39
Id: 83391F95-08EA-43b7-9213-349FFF1BD06B
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_IGES.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Import_FBX
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:16
Id: 14D5DE39-A978-4b61-8504-AF2A208665ED
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_FBX.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Import_M
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:38
Id: 4CCF29CE-A21A-48b8-A0C8-09149607DE5B
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_M.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: IronPython
Version: 5.1.2015.131
Id: 814D908A-E25C-493d-97E9-EE3861957F49
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/Resources/ManagedPlugIns/RhinoDLR_Python.rhp
SDK Version: .NET -1.-1
Name: Lightwave Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:55
Id: 3D0FC9BB-DE7F-41c6-9618-026F77C842C6
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_LWO.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Lightwave Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:50
Id: 19D83E0F-187A-44e4-B7E7-D5E099089B5C
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_LWO.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: MeshTools
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:27:05
Id: 9CB599B8-B0B5-4135-BDFF-EBA6AF1A1A98
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/MeshTools.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: MicroStation file import: import_DGN
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:27:23
Id: 19BA99AA-B03F-4945-B2FC-1024F5FC4A5F
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_DGN.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Moray Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:22
Id: 96C5BC50-D98A-46a7-A22C-13C8382F28BD
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_UDO.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: MPlane
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:34:44
Id: F2A5AADB-3AFB-4101-9C82-1E77A4C934E6
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/MPlane.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: MRDKV5
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:27:12
Id: 16592D58-4A2F-401d-BF5E-3B87741C1B1B
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/MRDKV5.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: OBJ Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:31:06
Id: 45758256-E154-4995-BD0B-D5173A33C281
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_OBJ.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: OFF Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:40
Id: 5D281573-6581-4227-A72A-FD5DFEB1F3B7
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_OFF.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Parasolid Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:48
Id: E7A4C1A4-BDDD-4a32-B8B3-88CEBB907EBB
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_X_T.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: PDFReader
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:31:14
Id: 92EE4846-245C-4609-B6C9-8AE724E1CE70
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_PDF.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: PLY - Polygon File Format Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:21
Id: C4ADE4D3-58DC-417b-A92C-2EE561618F9F
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_PLY.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: PLY - Polygon File Format Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:25
Id: 6BFFD0F7-A7E4-4014-B0DA-04A4556A9F16
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_PLY.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Points Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:19
Id: 4E45526A-3D31-4093-9B02-00E767696F6B
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_Points.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Points Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:31:17
Id: EFEF7969-D01B-41bf-B1FF-8051E1228DFC
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_Points.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: POV-Ray Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:11
Id: 6AEE6B81-C722-4c50-A164-BEA0B16424EA
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_POV.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: RAW Triangle Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:14
Id: 879DBD86-C1F3-434f-A2FC-187E5958881D
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_RAW.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Raw Triangles Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:12
Id: 2478636D-031F-49cd-B467-04522B3F2A7C
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_RAW.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Renderman Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:15
Id: 7BDB2D7D-E275-4193-8028-C4C1F65137DE
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_RIB.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Rhino Bonus Tools
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:33:19
Id: 213A2661-A9EC-4ac4-867A-BC8CABE5AE29
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/RhinoBonusTools.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Rhino Labs Tools
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:33:32
Id: 2463BF39-6D92-4360-8489-9AD8F2EA8BC1
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/RhinoLabsTools.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Rhino Render
Version: 1.50, Oct 12 2015, 03:33:43
Id: 5DC0192D-73DC-44f5-9141-8E72542E792D
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/RhinoRenderV5.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: SketchUp Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:33:07
Id: 68CFEA70-451F-44f4-B2AD-C2E9D5B11AD9
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_SKP.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: SketchUp Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:33:00
Id: C1BD6FCE-F43C-4f0a-BD3F-C89C80A14DC3
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_SKP.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: SLC Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:08
Id: 8E399D5D-2BAF-4b28-B0B2-5DB9A020CD4D
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_SLC.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: SLC Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:05
Id: 3375DF13-A0A2-414e-8215-E0D3AEA5161F
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_SLC.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: SolidTools
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:27:41
Id: 01EB3D37-D856-4e8a-8D41-C2DEB7C8B4BB
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/SolidTools.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: Squish
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:34:13
Id: 414147C1-1727-4ea5-9FA4-DD8EEE659B6C
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Squish.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: STEP Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:31:47
Id: 7D97415C-0B69-4148-9000-C19F71DC829A
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_STEP.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: STEP Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:31:26
Id: 75A739B9-C358-49a3-8A16-70E2AC6B4531
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_STEP.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: STL Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:32:00
Id: 247C2434-95C3-49df-9B43-FC6747723872
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_STL.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: STL Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:31:56
Id: BAC65952-4401-4827-817C-77CCFB8E4866
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_STL.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: VDA Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:37
Id: 856075F9-F54A-4e5b-B37A-AE69F84D06D8
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_VDA.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: VDA Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:29:31
Id: BC26D871-3327-4e05-A1D0-0E1EF32551D3
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_VDA.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: VRML Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:32:54
Id: 3FA4DCBB-0D98-4dd5-8C41-B866BA0D38C0
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/export_VRML.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: VRML Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:32:44
Id: 20219C66-84EE-49be-B30A-CA9EEF40F49A
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_VRML.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: WAMIT Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:46
Id: 801902A3-3E4C-4dbc-9EF3-76241B8E0F38
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_WAMIT.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: WAMIT import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:43
Id: AF6EA7B1-E3C9-435f-92C7-4B250395EEF3
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_WAMIT.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: WaveFront OBJ Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:30:59
Id: FC96AC27-4AE5-4ae7-9109-8382756FFB07
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/import_OBJ.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: X Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:35
Id: 24276330-488D-490c-B8DD-7EC5DD0C9E57
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_X.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: X Import
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:28
Id: 864933C6-8568-4a64-ACC3-B755398E803E
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Import_X.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: X3D Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:18
Id: F96394E9-8B7A-4224-A18F-7DFF5BFBA268
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_X3D.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Name: XGL Export
Version: Oct 12 2015 03:28:32
Id: 49EF65F2-ED52-4c37-810B-AE570AC68A6E
File: /Applications/Rhinoceros.app/Contents/PlugIns/Export_XGL.rhp
SDK Version: C++ -1.-1
Bitmap Table:
0 bitmaps, 24 bytes (offset 28255 to 28279)
Texture Mapping Table:
0 texture mappings, 24 bytes (offset 28279 to 28303)
Material Table:
0 materials, 24 bytes (offset 28303 to 28327)
Linetype Table:
linetype[0]: BORDER
linetype[1]: CENTER
linetype[2]: DASHDOT
linetype[3]: DASHED
linetype[4]: DIVIDE
linetype[5]: DOT
linetype[6]: HIDDEN
linetype[7]: PHANTOM

linetype[13]: PHANTOM2
14 linetypes, 2838 bytes (offset 28327 to 31165)
Layer Table:
layer[0]: Default
layer[1]: Temp
layer[2]: Frames
layer[3]: Top
layer[4]: Forward Network
layer[5]: Aft Sweep
layer[6]: Upper Forward Network
layer[7]: Upper Aft Sweep

layer[38]: New Paths 2
39 layers, 10084 bytes (offset 31165 to 41249)
Group Table:
0 groups, 24 bytes (offset 41249 to 41273)
Font Table:
font[0]: Default
font[1]: Times New Roman
2 fonts, 586 bytes (offset 41273 to 41859)
DimStyle Table:
dimstyle[0]: Standard
1 dimstyles with 1 plug-in data items, 741 bytes (offset 41859 to 42600)
Light Table:
0 lights, 24 bytes (offset 42600 to 42624)
HatchPattern Table:
0 hatchpatterns, 24 bytes (offset 42624 to 42648)
InstanceDefinition Table:
instance definition[0]: Body
instance definition[1]: Openings 0.04
instance definition[2]: Grill 0.01
instance definition[3]: Grill 0.02
instance definition[4]: Vents
instance definition[5]: 0 Pylon
instance definition[6]: Grills High Precision
7 instance definitions, 8464 bytes (offset 42648 to 51112)
Object Table:
object[0]:
object[1]:
object[2]:
object[3]:
object[4]:
object[5]:
object[6]:
object[7]:

object[658]:
659 objects, 581212910 bytes (offset 51112 to 581264022)
History Record Table:
0 history records, 24 bytes (offset 581264022 to 581264046)
Model User Data Table:
user table[0]: (1093 bytes)
Plug-in name: MRDKV5
Plug-in id: 16592D58-4A2F-401d-BF5E-3B87741C1B1B
user table[1]: (0 bytes)
Plug-in name: Rhino Bonus Tools
Plug-in id: 213A2661-A9EC-4ac4-867A-BC8CABE5AE29
user table[2]: (497 bytes)
Plug-in name: Rhino Render
Plug-in id: 5DC0192D-73DC-44f5-9141-8E72542E792D
3 user tables, 1893 bytes (offset 581264046 to 581265939)
Archive size = 581265959 bytes (end mark size = 581265959)

Why so many objects in your file?
Please describe your file.
Did you copy around a bunch of mesh trees or something?

Each object is averaging 861kb

I’d have to ask, what constitutes an object?
The end result is a solid with carved patterns in it.
This is what the file looks like with everything visible:

One thing that makes me wonder is that the isocurves of the components are not in the same orientation. Is there a command to reorient the isocruves that I might try?

Sorry, I can’t tell from the image.
Can you upload the file to us here using this tool?
http://www.rhino3d.com/upload

In the Comments, please include this URL:
http://discourse.mcneel.com/t/huge-file-growth/32190/10

I’ll have to try over night. Keeps cutting out on me during the upload.

If you have some other preference like Google Drive or DropBox, they work too.

It looked like it may have gone through.