Importing DXF and DWG Format Files

You can import AutoCAD versions 2.5 (AC1002) through 2012 (AC1024) on Linux and versions 2.5 (AC1002) through 2017 (AC1027) on Windows. The entities are imported as 2D, not 3D. The types of entities imported are:

• 2D Polyline
• Polyline
• Line
• Arc
• Circle
• Ellipse
• Solid
• Block

To import a *.dxf or *.dwg model file (which may use an associated *.tech file):

1. Click Modeler > Import.

   The Import File dialog box appears.

2. Use the file browser to find and select an AutoCAD file for import.
3. Click Open.

   The DXF/DWG Import dialog box opens with the Layer Selection tab selected.

   

   The Input Name field shows the name of the layer in the DXF/DWG file. This field is not editable.

4. Use the Include check boxes to specify which layers to import from the selected file.
5. If there is an associated *.tech file, click Open to find and select it. A *.tech file is a plain text file that includes units, layer names, color, elevation, and thickness information. For example:

   units um

   //Layer_Name Color Elevation Thickness

   BOTTOMLAYER purple 0 200

   MIDLAYER green 500 200

   TOPLAYER blue 1000 200

6. Click Options.

   The Options tab displays.

   

7. In the Units area, the Specified field displays the layout units in the file for import. Use the Override drop-down menu to select a different unit of measure.
8. In the Objects area, use the check boxes to fine tune the import:
   • Auto-detect closure causes polylines to be checked to see whether or not they are closed. If a polyline is closed, the modeler creates a polygon in the design.
   • Self-stitch joins multiple straight line segments to form polylines. If the resulting polyline is closed, a polygon is created.
     • Default Tolerance uses default values to whether two coordinates should be considered for joining.
     • Tolerance allows you to specify a specific value for tolerance. This is useful if particular features in a model are outside of a normal tolerance allowance.
   • De-feature Tolerance removes certain small features in the imported geometry to reduce complexity. The features that are removed include: multiple points placed within the specified distance; thin or narrow regions ("thins" and "spikes"); and extraneous points along straight line segments.
   • Round Coordinates Decimal Place rounds all imported data to the specified number of decimal points.
   • Convert closed wide lines to polygons imports wide polylines as polygons. This affords more flexibility in changing the shape of such an object.
   • Import as 2D sheet bodies causes imported objects to be organized in terms of 2D sheets.
9. Select either Script or Acis for the import method.
10. Click OK.

    The file is imported into the active Layout window.