ArchiCAD 6.5. DXF/DWG Conversion Guide. Graphisoft

Transcription

1 ArchiCAD 6.5 DXF/DWG Conversion Guide Graphisoft i

2 Graphisoft Visit the Graphisoft website at for local distributor and product availability information. Graphisoft R&D Rt. (Developer, international inquiries) Graphisoft Park 1, 1031 Budapest, Hungary Phone: (36.1) Fax: (36.1) General Information/ Technical Support/ Graphisoft USA 235 Kansas Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA Fax: (415) Technical Support/Phone: (415) Technical Support/ Sales Information/Phone: (800) Sales Information/ Graphisoft UK Ltd York Way, London N7 9AS, United Kingdom Phone: (44) Fax: (44) Copyright 1999 by Graphisoft, all rights reserved. Reproduction, paraphrasing or translation without express prior written permission is strictly prohibited. WASTE text engine Marco Piovanelli Package and book cover credits: Image: National Theater Budapest Competition Winning Entry. Design: Ferenc Bán and A Studio 90. Graphics: Dune Studio. Modeling in ArchiCAD, rendering with Art lantis Render. First printing. Trademarks ArchiCAD is a registered trademark and PlotMaker is a trademark of Graphisoft R&D Rt.. Autodesk and AutoCAD are registered trademarks and DXF is a trademark of Autodesk, Inc. TrueType is registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Art lantis Render is a registered trademark of Abvent S.A. ii

3 Introduction Introduction The purpose of the DXF/DWG interface is to fit ArchiCAD into the workflow: in a broader sense, to communicate with the outside (CAD) world, where DXF/DWG is the de facto standard of document exchange. Some manufacturers publish electronic catalogs of their product line in DXF/DWG format. When communicating with owners, consultants, engineers, and subcontractors, the need for translating floor plans, sections, elevations to and from DWG drawings, or for saving or inputting a 3D DXF/DWG model arises often. And those needs may vary from time to time, and from partner to partner. Over the years, Graphisoft has refined the DXF/DWG interface into a sophisticated subsystem with customizable and configurable options. The functions and settings are even divided into Novice and Expert modes: depending on your needs, you might need to know as little as "from the floor plan window you output the floor plan drawing, from the 3D window you save the 3D model", or you might consider tiny details like using the pen index in ArchiCAD or based on the AutoCAD color table. CAD managers or power users can set up configuration files (see the Customization chapter) with the desired settings for each repetitive task, and then can switch between the different configuration files as the project requires. If you are new to the topic of DXF/DWG conversion, we suggest you begin by reading the Command Reference (in Novice mode), Troubleshooting, Q&A, and Tips and Tricks chapters. If you require more detailed information, go to the Technical Details and the Command Reference (in Expert mode) chapters. When you are organizing a repetitive task either for yourself or - as a CAD expert- for your entire office, check out the Workflow Models chapter for case studies, and the Customization Chapter for how to set up the system to accommodate the model you choose. This is an evolving topic, and further information is available on the Graphisoft website. 1

4 Introduction Overview of the Manual New Features in 6.5 Introduces the new features of ArchiCAD 6.5, including the various enhancements made to the DWG/DXF interface. Command Reference Provides detailed information about how the different components of the DWG/DXF Add-On work and the settings used to modify the input or output of data. Customization Deals with those parts of the DWG/DXF solution that allow users to create special ways of reading and writing data for optimum communication with their partners. Explains the tools users can apply to achieve this: the configuration file and the template file. Gives information about how data flows during the conversion. Workflow Models Suggests a general approach to setting up a project for better communication through DXF/DWG, and explains a method for DXF->PLN->DXF communication using XREFs. Technical Details Offers a precise explanation of how the DWG/DXF Add-On works, giving data about what DWG/DXF elements are converted into what ArchiCAD elements and how the configuration and template files are utilized in this process. Recommended for users who wish to obtain a more thorough understanding of the technical aspects of the Add-On. Tips & Tricks Discusses various scenarios, and offers tips for dealing with them. Troubleshooting, Q&A Provides answers to common problems related to DWG/DXF input/output, plus answers to frequently asked questions. 2

5 Installation Introduction The ArchiCAD DWG/DXF I/O Add-On is based on ArchiCAD s API (Application Programming Interface). It is a separate file housing all the features provided by the interface. By default, the file is located in the Add-Ons folder in the ArchiCAD program folder, so ArchiCAD automatically loads it at start-up. If it is located elsewhere on your hard disk, you can load the Addon using the Load Add-On command in the Tools menu to display the corresponding dialog box. Find the folder where the file is located, select it, then click the Load button to load it. An information message appears, showing that the load operation was successful and where the new options were added in ArchiCAD. The DWG/DXF options will then be available in the Open and Save dialogs. Note: This documentation covers information related to DWG/DXF Add-On versions 6.50 and later. 3

6 Introduction AutoCAD Compatibility The DWG/DXF Add-On included with ArchiCAD 6.5 is capable of reading and writing AutoCAD R12, R13 and R14 version DWG and DXF files. Please note that data structures generated by AutoCAD applications (e.g., the ARX application) cannot be read by AutoCAD R14 on another machine if the same application that created the data is not available. For this reason, the ArchiCAD DWG/DXF Add-On doesn t support these kinds of data either. 4

7 Chapter 1: New Features in ArchiCAD 6.5 Chapter 1 New Features in ArchiCAD 6.5 This section briefly covers the new featur es of ArchiCAD 6.5 s DWG/DXF Input/Output Add-On. For mor e detailed information, see the appr opriate section of the manual. XREF Management ArchiCAD 6.5 pr ovides the same functionality as AutoCAD s XREF (External Reference Files) file handling methods. It handles both DWG and DXF version Xr ef files. The same operations and algorithms found in AutoCAD R14 ar e implemented here, and even the user interface is the same. These functions are implemented using ArchiCAD s API technology and can be found in the AutoCAD commands submenu in the Tools menu. ArchiCAD 6.0 read and wrote DXF/DWG files, but their maintenance was not solved the way it is now with the help of these commands. Paper Space/Model Space Handling ArchiCAD now allows the user to write out DXF/DWG data that contains both Paper space AND Model space information at the same time. In the previous version, only one or the other could be exported, depending on the choice of the user as specified in the Save as DWG/DXF dialog box. The way this works in ArchiCAD is that if there is a layer combination called Paper space then all elements on layers that are part of this Paper space layer combination setting will go into Paper space and all other elements 5

8 Chapter 1: New Features in ArchiCAD 6.5 will go into Model space. In PlotMaker, the layout will go into Paper space and all the placed drawings will go into Model space. When opening DWG/DXF files that contain both Paper space and Model space information, Ar chicad will handle only those Viewports created of the file that ar e Top Views. Viewports that ar e not Top Views will not be converted. Flags in the file containing clipping, scaling and layer infor mation will convert properly, but they will not be preserved as in the case of XREFs. In PlotMaker, a drawing is generated fr om the top view of the Model space entities, which will be placed onto the layout generated from the Paper space entities. Viewports are converted into drawings and will be placed. Configuration Files At both input and output, the user can choose fr om among multiple configuration files in the DWG/DXF Open/Save dialog, box where the required configuration file is selected from a popup. Now a separate configuration file can be cr eated for communication with each unique consultant or co-worker. Now PlotMaker also processes the configuration file at both input and output just as ArchiCAD does. All interpretable configuration file options have an effect on the operations during the I/O procedure. PlotMaker version 2.1 and earlier did not use the T emplate file, which it now does. Enhanced Character Matching The Add-On perdèrms a complete code page conversion. It reads and writes DWG/DXF data with the corr ect character set without editing the configuration file. The conversion gives the correct results also in a cr oss-platform environment. For example, a DWG file saved on Windows from a German version of AutoCAD R14 can be automatically r ead on the Macintosh platfor m with a Fr ench version of ArchiCAD with proper character conversion. In earlier versions, the #CHARCONV option in the configuration file served this purpose. The option remains, but its use is recommended only for exception handling. Texts referencing TrueType fonts will keep their font references. Editing the configuration file is needed for its operation. This is done by Graphisoft and shipped products will contain the necessary information. 6

9 Chapter 1: New Features in ArchiCAD 6.5 New Configuration File Options #BYLAYER: #TEMPLATE_FILE: #FONTCONV: #NATIONAL: #DIALPARS: #SPECLAYERS: A new switch in the configuration file that allows the user to specify the BYLAYER logical attribute reference value when saving as DWG/DXF. Allows the specification of a template file for output, because the parameterization of the configuration file and the template file closely interrelate. TrueType font matching table with default values provided by Graphisoft. Makes it possible to write out national characters in the names of layers and line types in DWG/DXF files. The dialog settings can be specified in the configuration file. The dialog only shows the options set in the configuration file, but does not allow the user to change these values. This feature can be used by a CAD manager to fix Dialog Sets for communication with others in DWG/DXF, so CAD operators just need to open/save a file without having to modify dialog settings. Doors and windows are placed on the layers of the walls that house them. In some cases, you may need to place them on special layers. Special layer names can be defined in this section. If needed, it is possible to merge into these special layers the layers of the walls. In special cases, you may also want to place fills into special layers, e.g., wall fills can be separated this way from the walls own layers. Examples are given in the template file. 7

10 Chapter 1: New Features in ArchiCAD 6.5 8

11 Chapter 2: Command Reference Chapter 2 Command Reference The following chapter pr ovides a detailed explanation of the dialog boxes associated with the DXF/DWG Add-On, as well as how the configuration file and the template file work. It also covers the technical aspects of DXF/DWG input and output in ArchiCAD 6.5 and PlotMaker 2.2. It assumes that you have a thorough knowledge of the Ar chicad, PlotMaker and DXF/DWG (AutoCAD) terminology. ArchiCAD Functionality With this add-on pr operly installed, you can do the following: - Save your ArchiCAD projects, Sections/Elevations, 3D models and images in AutoCAD for mats - Open AutoCAD drawings as ArchiCAD projects or ArchiCAD Library Parts - Save your PlotMaker drawings and layouts in AutoCAD for mat - Load AutoCAD drawings into PlotMaker drawings and layouts The I/O mechanism supports AutoCAD version R14 and earlier, including both DXF and DWG drawings. The infor mation provided below gives you an overview of how you should define the settings in the dialog boxes in order to get the required results. 9

12 Chapter 2: Command Reference Open DXF/DWG Document This dialog box controls the loading of an AutoCAD drawing into the ArchiCAD floor plan. It appears when you choose the Open command fr om the File menu and select the DXF or DWG file option from the file format pop-up list. When this dialog box appears, you will see the name of the DXF/ DWG file to be opened (DEMO.DWG) next to the name of the dialog box in the Title Bar. You will also see in parentheses the version (R-14) of the file to be opened. The next paragraphs describe the available options. Selecting a Configuration File You can select the configuration file that will pr ocess the DXF/ DWG file to be opened. The configuration files need to be located in the same folder as the DXF/DWG IO Add-On. There can be several configuration files to choose from in the pop-up list. The configuration file contains various keywords that you can use to influence how parts of a DXF/DWG file are input and output. You can find a complete description of these keywords in the Customization chapter of this manual. Clicking the Details button next to the configuration file pop-up menu will bring up a dialog box that pr ovides information about the curr ent states and enabled options within the configuration files. You can modify these files directly from the dialog box, making them mor e convenient to handle. The content of the tab pages of the dialog box varies, depending on whether you are opening a DXF/DWG file or saving into one. This is because there are certain options that only have an ef fect at 10

13 Chapter 2: Command Reference output, so they are not displayed when opening a file. For detailed infor mation on this dialog box, please consult the Customization chapter of this manual. Opening the File as Project or Library You can choose between two options when opening a DXF or DWG file: as an Ar chicad Pr oject or as a Library. The default value is ArchiCAD Project/Explode but keep grouped. Open as... ArchiCAD Project When choosing the ArchiCAD Project radio button, t he drawing is loaded into the floor plan. All the elements of the ENTITY section in the DXF/DWG file appear as drawing primitives (lines, circles, arcs, ellipses, texts). The contents of BLOCKs referred (dir ectly or indir ectly) from the ENTITY section are processed as well. In most cases, you get exactly what you see in AutoCAD. With this option active, the DXF-DWG Symbols radio buttons become available. They determine how the referred BLOCK definitions of the DXF/DWG file should be processed while importing the drawing data. - Explode: If you choose this option, the content of BLOCKS will be exploded into primitive elements and displayed on the 11

14 Chapter 2: Command Reference ArchiCAD Floor Plan. (Technical note: When the curr ent entity [in the ENTITY section] is an INSERT, the entities in the referred BLOCK are processed as if they were in the ENTITY section. The only differences are: The INSERT s transfor mation is applied to every coordinate and size of the primitives within the inserted BLOCK. In the case of embedded INSERTs, the transfor mations ar e combined. The ATTDEF entities (they occur only in BLOCKs) ar e substituted by the matching ATTRIBs and then imported as TEXTs. If there is no matching ATTRIB, the default value of the ATTDEF is used.) The selection nodes show that the couch is made of individual lines - Explode but keep grouped: If you choose this option, the content of referred BLOCKS will be exploded into primitive elements and these elements will be displayed on the ArchiCAD Floor Plan. The primitives cr eated from the BLOCK will be automatically gr ouped together. They can be selected and manipulated together until you ungr oup them. The selection nodes show that the couch is made of individual lines grouped together - Create library parts: If you choose this option, BLOCKs will be converted into ArchiCAD Library Objects and placed onto the ArchiCAD Floor Plan. (Technical note: The contents of the BLOCKs directly referred from the ENTITY section go into Library Parts. They will contain the elements from those BLOCKs that are [directly or indir ectly] referred from the block that makes up that Library Part. The contents of the ENTITY section go directly to the 12

15 Chapter 2: Command Reference Floor Plan. The block references are transfor med into OBJECT instances.) The selection nodes show that the couch is made of one Library Object Note: The drawing must be exploded to ensure full color, layer and line type pr eservation. When creating Library Parts, the color, layer and line type attributes may change because ArchiCAD does not allow multiple layers in a Library Part. Instances of a Library Part cannot have dif ferent floating - attributes like in AutoCAD. Open as... ArchiCAD Library When choosing the ArchiCAD Library radio button, all the BLOCKs are stored as Library Parts (except for anonym blocks). The contents of the ENTITY section remains unpr ocessed. Nothing goes to the Floor Plan. This is helpful when you have a library in DXF format. Manufactur ers commonly provide their products in DXF format to ar chitects/builders, etc. Using this option, you can create an Ar chicad library of the AutoCAD library parts included by the opened DXF/DWG drawing. Note: When you choose this option, the ArchiCAD Pr oject and the Read DXF/DWG entities from parts of the dialog box will be grayed as these do not apply when this option is active. Drawing Unit Conversion The Translate one DXF/DWG Drawing Unit into: field specifies the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within Ar chicad. Please refer to the section Drawing units in this chapter for mor e details and examples. The default value depends on Preferences data Default Values and Additional Options Near the bottom of the dialog box, you can click the Use Defaults button to revert all options (in both the Novice and Expert portions) to their default settings. 13

16 Chapter 2: Command Reference Clicking the Expert button will expand the dialog box to display additional options that may be changed less fr equently. Expert Options In its expanded format, the dialog box contains additional options for importing the DXF/DWG file. These are described in detail in the following sections. Read DXF/DWG Entities from This ar ea specifies from which space of AutoCAD to read data. For more information on Paper space and Model space in AutoCAD documents, please see the Paper and Model space section later in this chapter. The options are: - Space defined in the document: In the drawing s header info there is a flag called $TILEMODE. It is set to: 1 if the AutoCAD user chose MODEL SPACE 0 if the AutoCAD user chose PAPER SPACE Choose this option if you expect to find the entities you are interested in there. This is the default setting in the dialog box. - Model space - Paper space: Choose one of these options to override the $TILEMODE setting. 14

17 Chapter 2: Command Reference Restore ArchiCAD Elements If a drawing was saved fr om the same version of ArchiCAD you ar e loading it into, you might wish to see not just walls, but the exported windows,objects, slabs, roofs, etc. But since AutoCAD does not support these elements only lines, circles and 3D objects that could represent anything all you can get back is lines, cir cles and 3D objects (in the Library Parts). Fortunately, ArchiCAD can save all the infor mation needed to restore the original floor plan elements into the drawing, so you can choose to use this information (called extended data). The options are: - If extended data is available: All the ArchiCAD-specific information is used. Entities that do not have such infor mation ar e processed as native AutoCAD entities. This is the default setting. - Never: Choose this option when you do not want to use the ArchiCAD-specific information. Everything will be processed as native AutoCAD entities. Note: When restoring ArchiCAD elements, all the referred attributes have to exist. Some of them (layers, line types) are restored from the native AutoCAD data, others (composite walls, etc.) ar e not. Missing attributes cause an err or. For more infor mation about how to utilize the Extended Data featur e, please consult the Working with Extended Data section later in this chapter. Add 3D Data to Library Parts If you choose either Open as......archicad Project and Cr eate Library Parts Open as......archicad Library, this pop-up menu allows you to optionally load 3D information fr om the drawing. It will be stored in the Library Parts and you can see it in the 3D window. This option is enabled/disabled depending on the conditions. Set it on if you need the 3D infor mation contained in the DXF/DWG file. If you don t choose this option, only the 2D infor mation contained in the files will appear on the Floor Plan in ArchiCAD and no 3D element originally contained in the file will be displayed in the 3D Window. 15

18 Chapter 2: Command Reference Three options are available fr om a pop-up menu: - Don t process: Library parts will be cr eated but there will not be any 3D infor mation in their 3D Script. Only the 2D parts will be created. This is the default setting. - Binary 3D: 3D DXF/DWG information will be cr eated in the resulting Library Object files. However, you will only see a couple of coordinate transfor mations and a BINAR Y statement in the 3D Scripts of the objects; the actual GDL commands creating the 3D shapes will be hidden. - GDL Script: 3D DXF/DWG information will be cr eated in the resulting Library Object files and you will also see the GDL commands that pr oduce the 3D shape. This enables you to edit the 3D Script of the Object, although sometimes it can be quite challenging to find which LIN_ or PLANE (3D GDL commands for cr eating lines and planes in 3D) command creates the entity you re trying to modify or delete. Explode Vectorial Text If you encounter incompatibilities in your national alphabet between the fonts used by ArchiCAD and the AutoCAD font file, try this option. It will be time-consuming and you need the original AutoCAD font file (.shx) to explode the texts into lines and ar cs, but you will get something that visually represents the texts the same way. This option is only efective on those text entities that have AutoCAD shape (.shx) files associated to them. Texts associated with TrueType or other font files are not exploded. By default, this checkbox is not active. Color Matching Checking the Match colors to AutoCAD color table box instructs the DXF/DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting ArchiCAD file to the colors defined within AutoCAD in its color table. Please refer to the section Color matching later in this chapter for more details. By default, this checkbox is active. Open DXF/DWG Document as Library Part This dialog box controls the loading of an AutoCAD drawing (including all the 3D infor mation) into an Ar chicad Library Part. It appears when choose the Open Library Part command in the File 16

19 Chapter 2: Command Reference menu and select the DXF or DWG file type in the format pop-up menu. The available options ar e detailed in the following section. 3D Data Handling The Keep model s 3D data in Library Part ar ea has two checkboxes: - Binary 3D: If you choose this option, 2D and 3D DXF/DWG information will be cr eated in the r esulting Library Object file. The 2D information will be placed into the 2D Symbol of the library object. However, you will only see a couple of coordinate transfor mations and a BINAR Y statement in the 3D Scripts of the objects and the actual GDL commands that ar e creating the 3D shapes will be hidden. This is the default setting. - GDL script: With this option, 2D and 3D DXF/DWG infor mation will be cr eated in the r esulting Library Object files. The 2D information will be placed into the 2D Symbol of the library object. You will also see the GDL commands that produce the 3D shape in the 3D Script. This enables you to edit the 3D Script of the Object, but in some cases it can be difficult to find which LIN_ or PLANE (3D GDL commands for creating lines and planes in 3D) command cr eates the entity you wish to modify or delete. Drawing Unit Conversion The Translate one DXF/DWG Drawing Unit into: field specifies the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within Ar chicad. Please refer to the Drawing units section in this chapter for mor e details and examples. The default setting depends on the Preferences set in ArchiCAD. 17

20 Chapter 2: Command Reference Match colors to AutoCAD color table Instructs the DXF/DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting ArchiCAD file to the colors defined within AutoCAD in its color table. Please refer to the Color matching section later in this chapter for more details. By default, this option is active. Save 2D AutoCAD document This dialog box controls how an ArchiCAD floor plan is exported into an AutoCAD drawing. It appears when you choose the Save as command in the File menu and then select the DXF or DWG format in the pop-up list. The available options ar e described below. Select Configuration File You can select a configuration file that will pr ocess the DXF/DWG file to be saved. The usage of the file at output is the same as with input (described earlier in this chapter), including the Details button that will open the Configuration File Details dialog box for editing the content of the configuration file. Target Application You can save your pr oject as a DXF or DWG drawing in or der to allow AutoCAD users, or users of other applications capable of reading DXF/DWG files, to read them. It is important to know which version of AutoCAD (or the other application), it will be read in. While the newer versions can r ead files written by older versions, older versions of a program usually fail to r ead files created by newer versions. You can select from among thr ee versions of DXF/DWG file to save into from the pop-up in this section of the dialog box. The default setting is AutoCAD R14. 18

21 Drawing Unit Conversion Chapter 2: Command Reference The Create one DXF/DWG drawing unit from: field specifies the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within Ar chicad. Please refer to the Drawing units section in this chapter for mor e details and examples. The default setting depends on your curr ent Preferences setting. Expert Options There are additional options that may be changed less fr equently; therefore, they are placed in the lower Expert part of the dialog box, which is not visible until you click the Expert button. These options are detailed below. Extended Data Handling When saving a drawing with the intention of loading it back after changes have been made by an AutoCAD user, you most likely want to restore your floor plan elements as they were. If you check the Add extended data to entities to reload in ArchiCAD option, the resulting drawing file will contain additional drawing information attached to every floor plan element. In AutoCAD terminology, this is called extended data. AutoCAD preserves these attached extended data blocks unless the INSERT entity that holds them is deleted or exploded in AutoCAD. (When something is deleted, the extended data associated with it is also deleted. However, when a wall is exploded in AutoCAD, it is difficult to recreate elements from the extended data that was attached to it.) The default value for this setting is OFF. 19

22 Chapter 2: Command Reference Layer Construction As layering in Ar chicad is typically based on inter nal office standar ds, any element can be assigned to any layer, regardless of the element s type. When exporting the project in DXF/DWG format, the Construct layers according to pop-up menu lists the following options to organize elements into layers: - ArchiCAD layers: Select this option to faithfully reproduce the layer names and element assignments of the Ar chicad Project. This is the default setting. - Pen colors: The post-processing of the DXF/DWG file may require the user to have full control over the colors of the elements, while other criteria ar e less significant, for example, at a plotter bur eau. In this case, we r ecommend this option. Layers of the exported file will be associated to the 255 pen colors of ArchiCAD. Layers will be named PEN_1 to PEN_255 in the r esulting file. Please note that in such a case you will have at least 256 layers in the DXF/DWG file. - Element types: To get a simplified but still well structured layering scheme in the DXF/DWG file, choose this option. The generated layers correspond to element types of ArchiCAD, meaning that every wall will go to the same layer, no matter which layer it was put on. Model Space or Paper Space The Write DXF/DWG entities into radio buttons allow you to specify which space of AutoCAD to write data into. For mor e information on Paper space and Model space in AutoCAD documents, please see the Paper and Model space section later in this chapter. Select the required option to place the generated entities into the Model or Paper space of the output file. Please refer to the Paper and Model space section later in this chapter for mor e details. The default value is Model space. Note: The $TILEMODE variable of the template file will be overwritten. This is the variable in AutoCAD that indicates whether the project file was in Model space or Paper space. It means that elements of the ArchiCAD project will go the requested space regardless of the default setting in the template file. 20 Handling Complex Elements ArchiCAD can generate a complex hierar chy of BLOCK definitions, which may cause some CAD programs to refuse to import the drawing. T o keep the DXF file as simple as possible, check the

23 Chapter 2: Command Reference Explode complex ArchiCAD elements option. By default, this option is inactive. Color Matching The Match colors to AutoCAD color table checkbox instructs the DXF/DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting file to the colors defined in AutoCAD s color table. Please refer to the Color matching section later in this chapter for mor e details. By default, this option is active. Binary DXF The syntax of DXF files is rather simple so they are not very compact. They are basically text files. In order to reduce both the size and pr ocessing time, AutoDesk introduced a file specification called binary DXF. Check the Write Binary DXF option to save disk space and processing time if absolutely necessary. By default, this option is inactive Notes: There are incompatibilities between the R12 and R13 formats. This option is not relevant and ther efore grayed when exporting as a DWG file. Use Defaults Clicking this button will r estore any changed option to its default value. Save 3D AutoCAD document This dialog box controls the way an ArchiCAD 3D window is exported into an AutoCAD drawing. It appears when you choose the Save as command and then select the DXF or DWG option in the pop-up menu. Available options ar e described below. 21

24 Chapter 2: Command Reference Note: Since 3D entities can exist only in Model space in AutoCAD, there is no space selection here between Model space and Paper space. Select Configuration File You can select the configuration file that will pr ocess the DXF/ DWG file to be saved. For information, please refer to the Open DXF/DWG document section earlier in this chapter. Clicking the Details button will open the Configuration File Details dialog box from where you can view and modify the content of the Configuration file. Target Application You can save your pr oject as a DXF or DWG drawing in or der to allow AutoCAD users, or users of other applications capable of reading DXF/DWG files, to read them. It is important to know which version of AutoCAD, or other application, it will be read in. While the newer versions can read files written by older versions, older versions of a program usually fail to r ead files created by newer versions. You can select from among three versions of DXF/DWG file to save into from the pop-up in this section of the dialog box. In all three cases, 3D information will be included in the resulting DXF/DWG file. The default setting is AutoCAD R14. Drawing Unit Conversion The Create one DXF/DWG drawing unit from field allows you to specify the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within Ar chicad. Please refer to the section Drawing units in this same chapter for mor e details and examples. The default setting depend on your current Drawing Unit Pr eferences. Layer Construction Elements in an Ar chicad project can be assigned to any layer regardless of the element type. Layering in ArchiCAD is typically based on internal office standar ds. When exporting the project in DXF/DWG format, the Construct layers according to pop-up menu lists the following options to organize elements into layers: - ArchiCAD layers: Select this option to faithfully reproduce the layer names and element assignments of the Ar chicad Project. The generated 3D information will inherit the layers of 22

25 Chapter 2: Command Reference the floor plan objects they are generated from. This is the default setting. - Materials: The post processing of the DXF/DWG file may require the user to have full control over the surface materials of the elements, while other criteria are less significant, for example, in a r endering program. In this case, we r ecommend this option. Layers of the exported file will be associated to the surface materials. - Element types: To get a simplified but still well structured layering scheme in the DXF/DWG file, choose this option. In this case, the generated layers correspond to element types of ArchiCAD. Color Matching The Match colors to AutoCAD color table checkbox instructs the DXF/DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting file to the colors defined in AutoCAD s color table. Please refer to the Color matching section later in this chapter for mor e details. By default, this option is active. Write Polygon Edges When exporting a 3D model, both the surface polygons and the wireframe lines ar e exported. You may want to suppress the wireframe lines. All you have to do is uncheck this option which is active by default. Additional DXF Options When saving the 3D Window as a DXF file ther e are two options available in the dialog box that ar e not visible when saving the project as DWG. Create Simplified File Structure ArchiCAD may generate complex hierar chy of BLOCK definitions, which may cause some CAD programs to refuse to import the drawing. To keep the DXF file as simple as possible, check this option (it is active by default)/ Everything will go into the ENTITY section. In this case, the layering option Construct layers according to will be disabled and the entities will have layers named 3DF ACES or 3DLINES. 23

26 Chapter 2: Command Reference Note: The option is not available when saving as DWG files. Drawings that ar e imported into other CAD programs need to meet AutoCAD standards. Write Binary DXF The syntax of DXF files is rather simple so they are not very compact. They are basically text files. In order to reduce both the size and the processing time, AutoDesk introduced a file specification called binary DXF. It is a means by which you can save disk space and processing time if absolutely necessary. On the other hand, there are incompatibilities between R12 and R13 formats. By default, this option is on. Use Defaults Clicking this button will r estore any changed option to its default value. Save Section as AutoCAD document This dialog box controls the way an ArchiCAD Section window is exported as an AutoCAD drawing. It appears when you choose the Save as command and then select the DXF or DWG option in the pop-up menu. Available options ar e detailed below. Select Configuration File You can select the configuration file that will pr ocess the DXF/ DWG file to be saved. For information, please refer to the Open DXF/DWG document section earlier in this chapter. Clicking the Details button will take you to the Configuration File Details dialog box from where you can view and modify the content of the Configuration file. 24

27 Target Application Chapter 2: Command Reference You can save your pr oject as a DXF or DWG drawing in or der to allow AutoCAD users, or users of other applications capable of reading DXF/DWG files, to read them. It is important to know which version of AutoCAD, or other application, it will be read in. While the newer versions can read files written by older versions, older versions of a program usually fail to r ead files created by newer versions. You can select from among thr ee versions of DXF/DWG file to save into from the pop-up in this section of the dialog box. By default, files ar e saved in AutoCAD R14 for mat. Drawing Unit Conversion The Create one DXF/DWG drawing unit from field allows you to specify the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within Ar chicad. Please refer to the section Drawing units in this same chapter for mor e details and examples. The default setting depend on your current Drawing Unit Pr eferences. Handling Complex Elements ArchiCAD can generate a complex hierar chy of BLOCK definitions, which may cause some CAD programs to refuse to import the drawing. T o keep the DXF file as simple as possible, check the Explode complex ArchiCAD elements option. By default, this option is inactive. Color Matching The Match colors to AutoCAD color table checkbox instructs the DXF/DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting file to the colors defined in AutoCAD s color table. Please refer to the Color matching section later in this chapter for mor e details. By default, this option is active. Write Binary DXF The syntax of DXF files is rather simple so they are not very compact. They are basically text files. In order to reduce both the size and the processing time, AutoDesk introduced a file specification called binary DXF. It is a means by which you can save disk space and processing time if absolutely necessary. On 25

28 Chapter 2: Command Reference the other hand, there are incompatibilities between R12 and R13 formats. By default, this option is on. This option is not relevant and is ther efore grayed when exporting as a DWG file. Use Defaults Clicking this button will r estore any changed option to its default value. PlotMaker Functionality The following sections explain how to work with DXF or DWG files in PlotMaker. The information pr ovided below gives an overview of how you should define the various settings in the dialog boxes to get the required results. Open DXF/DWG Document There are two ways to open a DXF/DWG file in PlotMaker: Using the Open command in the File menu or the Add Drawing command of the File menu. The Open command includes an additional option to place Model space entities in a drawing and place Paper space entities on the PlotMaker layout This dialog box contains an option that plays a significant r ole in the way the DXF/DWG file is read into PlotMaker. 26

29 Chapter 2: Command Reference Placing in Paper Space or Model Space When the Paper Space to Layout, Model Space as Drawing checkbox is checked, all Paper space entities contained in the DXF/DWG file will be placed on the PlotMaker layout, while all Model space entities of the file will be included in a drawing placed on the layout. With this option, it is possible to reconstruct the look of the DXF/DWG file in PlotMaker as it was in AutoCAD. When you check this option and click the Open button, the Open DXF/DWG File dialog box appears. The information displayed in the dialog box will depend on whether or not you checked the checkbox in the previous dialog box. If this option is checked, it will not be possible to select which entities (Model space or Paper space) you want to read; all entities will be read and put in their appr opriate locations. The dialog box will infor m you about this, as shown above. If the option is not checked, the Open DXF... dialog box will display the following information and options to choose from: This is the same dialog box that appears when you choose the Add Drawing command fr om the File menu. Available options ar e detailed in the next paragraphs. 27

30 Chapter 2: Command Reference Select Configuration File You can select the configuration file that will pr ocess the DXF/ DWG file to be saved. For information, please refer to the Open DXF/DWG document section earlier in this chapter. Clicking the Details button will take you to the Configuration File Details dialog box from where you can view and modify the content of the Configuration file. Drawing Unit Conversion The Create one DXF/DWG drawing unit from field allows you to specify the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within PlotMaker. Please refer to the section Drawing units in this same chapter for mor e details and examples. The default setting depend on your current Drawing Unit Pr eferences. Read DXF/DWG Entities from This ar ea specifies from which space of AutoCAD to read data. For more information on Paper space and Model space in AutoCAD documents, please see the Paper and Model space section later in this chapter. The options are: - Space defined in the document: In the drawing s header info there is a flag called $TILEMODE. Choose this option if you expect to find there the entities you are interested in. This is the default setting, and is set to: 1 if the AutoCAD user chose MODEL SPACE 0 if the AutoCAD user chose PAPER SPACE - Model space - Paper space: Choose one of these options to override the $TILEMODE setting. Color Matching The Match colors to AutoCAD color table checkbox instructs the DXF/DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting PlotMaker file to the colors defined in AutoCAD s color table. Please refer to the Color matching section later in this chapter for more details. By default, this option is active. 28

31 Use Defaults Chapter 2: Command Reference Clicking this button will r estore any changed option to its default. Save DXF/DWG Document This dialog box controls how a PlotMaker layout or drawing is exported into an AutoCAD drawing. A vailable options ar e described below. Select Configuration File You can select the configuration file that will pr ocess the DXF/ DWG file to be saved. For information, please refer to the Open DXF/DWG document section earlier in this chapter. Clicking the Details button will take you to the Configuration File Details dialog box from where you can view and modify the content of the Configuration file. Target Application You can save your pr oject as a DXF or DWG drawing in or der to allow AutoCAD users, or users of other applications capable of reading DXF/DWG files, to read them. It is important to know which version of AutoCAD, or other application, it will be read in. While the newer versions can read files written by older versions, older versions of a program usually fail to r ead files created by newer versions. You can select from among thr ee versions of DXF/DWG file to save into from the pop-up in this section of the dialog box. By default, files ar e saved in the AutoCAD R14 format. 29

32 Chapter 2: Command Reference Drawing Unit Conversion The Create one DXF/DWG drawing unit from field allows you to specify the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within PlotMaker. Please refer to the section Drawing units in this same chapter for mor e details and examples. The default setting depend on your current Drawing Unit Pr eferences. Layer Construction As layering in PlotMaker is typically based on inter nal office standar ds, any element can be assigned to any layer, regardless of the element s type. When exporting the project in DXF/DWG format, the Construct layers according to pop-up menu lists the following options to organize elements into layers: - PlotMaker layers: Select this option to faithfully reproduce the layer names and element assignments of the PlotMaker layout. This is the default setting. - Pen colors: The postprocessing of the DXF/DWG file may require the user to have full control over the colors of the elements, while other criteria ar e less significant, for example, at a plotter bur eau. In this case, we r ecommend this option. Layers of the exported file will be associated to the 255 pen colors of PlotMaker. Layers will be named PEN_1 to PEN_255 in the r esulting file. Please note that in such a case you will have at least 256 layers in the DXF/DWG file. Model Space or Paper Space The Write DXF/DWG entities into radio buttons allow you to specify which space of AutoCAD to write data into. For more information on Paper space and Model space in AutoCAD documents, please see the Paper and Model space section later in this chapter. Select the required option to place the generated entities into the Model or Paper space of the output file. Please refer to the Paper and Model space section later in this chapter for mor e details. The default value is Model space. Note: The $TILEMODE variable of the template file will be overwritten. This is the variable in AutoCAD that indicates whether the project file was in Model space or Paper space. It means that elements of the PlotMaker file will go the requested space regardless of the default setting in the template file. 30

33 Color Matching Chapter 2: Command Reference The Match colors to AutoCAD color table checkbox instructs the DXF/DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting file to the colors defined in AutoCAD s color table. Please refer to the Color matching section later in this chapter for mor e details. By default, this option is active. Write Binary DXF The syntax of DXF files is rather simple so they are not very compact. They are basically text files. In order to reduce both the size and the processing time, AutoDesk introduced a file specification called binary DXF. It is a means by which you can save disk space and processing time if absolutely necessary. On the other hand, there are incompatibilities between R12 and R13 formats. By default, this option is on. This option is not relevant and is ther efore grayed when exporting as a DWG file. Merge Layers In PlotMaker versions prior to 2.2, when saving a layout as DXF/ DWG, all layers of all placed drawings wer e created in the resulting file, even if several placed drawings had the exact same layer set. For example, if there were two drawings placed on the layout and both contained a layer named walls, then in the resulting DXF/DWG file there was a layer named walls_pd1 and another named walls_pd2, r eflecting the name of the drawing from which it came. This was so even when the same drawing was placed several times in a layout. This could gr eatly incr ease the number of layers in the DXF/DWG file, which beyond a certain point was not very usable. In PlotMaker 2.2, the Mer ge Layers checkbox makes it possible to create only one layer for each instance of a certain layer name in all placed drawings. This can r educe the number of layers in the DXF/DWG file greatly. So, in the above example only one walls layer will be created when this checkbox is checked, and all elements in all placed drawings that wer e on the walls layer will go to this layer in the file. By default, this option if not active. Use Defaults Clicking this button will r estore any changed option to its default value. 31

34 Chapter 2: Command Reference Conversion Options The following sections contain the detailed description of options that ar e available for both importing and exporting DXF/DWG files, including drawing unit, color, 3D infor mation and drawing space conversion. Drawing Units ArchiCAD stores coordinates in meters (although you may see millimeters or feet/inches depending on your current Pr eferences settings). AutoCAD doesn t attach dimension units to coordinates; in other words, it is up to the user to take a coordinate as if given in meters, millimeters, inches or miles. - Output: You need to scale the coordinate values to the units expected by the person you export your plan file for. - Input: You need to know how to interpret the coordinate values in the drawing in order to scale them to meters. Note: ArchiCAD doesn t store coordinates outside the (-10 8, 10 8 ) interval because distances on the Earth s surface are never outside these limits. Still, using a wrong scale factor on input may transform coordinate values outside it with undesirable results. Default Values The Open/Save dialog boxes of fered the following default values: mm if you have set metric units (meters, centimeters or millimeters) in Ar chicad s Preferences dialog box, inch in all other cases. Examples The following table shows useful values to enter into the Translate one DXF/DWG Drawing Unit into / Create one DXF/DWG Drawing Unit fr om field in the Open/Save DXF/DWG dialog box: Drawing Unit Drawing Unit Value to enter used in AutoCAD used in ArchiCAD in dialog box mm Metric (m, cm, mm) 1 (mm) mm feet-inch (inch) m Metric (m, cm, mm) 1000 (mm) m feet-inch (inch) feet-inch Metric (m, cm, mm) 25.4 (mm) feet-inch feet-inch 1 (inch) 32

35 Chapter 2: Command Reference Color Matching ArchiCAD has 255 colors. They ar e predefined but you can change any of them. AutoCAD has 256 colors. These colors are predefined and unchangeable. Both pr ograms use indices to refer to them. Their default color mappings don t match. On Input If you activate the color matching option, the ArchiCAD color table will be redefined to reflect the predefined color values of the AutoCAD color table. If you choose this option while reading in a DXF/DWG file and then look at the Pens & Colors settings you will see the AutoCAD color table in ArchiCAD. If you choose not to activate the color matching option, the ArchiCAD color table remains as it was befor e the DXF/DWG file was imported. Elements will be displayed with the colors the indices ar e associated with (e.g., elements drawn with Pen 1 in the DXF/DWG file will be drawn with Pen 1 in Ar chicad, too). This means that the colors of drawing elements in Ar chicad will differ from the colors of elements in AutoCAD. On Output If you activate the color matching option, for every ArchiCAD color the closest matching AutoCAD color will be determined by the Add-On and this color index will be assigned to the element. This means that color indices of elements will change (e.g., it is possible that an element drawn with Pen 1 in ArchiCAD will be drawn with Pen 251 in AutoCAD because that predefined color is the closest to it in AutoCAD). Because of this color approximation and the predefined nature of AutoCAD colors, the colors might not be exactly the same in the DXF/DWG file as they were in ArchiCAD. If you choose not to activate the color matching option, no color matching will be attempted at output. Elements in the r esulting DXF/DWG file will be displayed using the colors the indices are associated with (e.g., elements drawn with Pen 1 in Ar chicad will be drawn with Pen 1 in the DXF/DWG file, too). This means that the colors of drawing elements in the DXF/DWG file will difer from the colors of elements in ArchiCAD. 3D Information You can include 3D data into the cr eated Library Parts in either binary or GDL for m. 33

36 Chapter 2: Command Reference - The 3D data is stor ed in binary form. It takes less room and can be drawn faster. It is instantly tested during r eading. If the 3D infor mation cannot be pr ocessed, you will get an error message. For troubleshooting, use the next option. - The 3D data is stor ed in GDL scripts. No testing is done with this method, as the import does not fail on such pr oblems. Later you can test, examine and - if needed - modify the script and even save it as binary fr om within Ar chicad. Note: These methods only allow you to add 3D information to the ArchiCAD Library Parts. 3D information in the ENTITY section cannot be translated into Library Parts and will be lost. If the entire DXF/DWG file is opened as an ArchiCAD Library Part using the Open Library Part... command, it will be transformed into a single real ArchiCAD library part that contains the whole drawing with all the 3D information. In this case, you must place this Library Part on your Floor Plan to see it. Paper and Model Space AutoCAD has two spaces to put entities into: the Model space and the Paper space. The Model space can contain both 2D and 3D entities, while the Paper space can contain only 2D entities. Apart from this restriction, it is up to the AutoCAD user to decide where to put the entities. Usually the Model space is where construction elements are created in AutoCAD. This is the equivalent of ArchiCAD s Floor Plan and 3D W indow. The Paper space is where users prepare their designs for printing/plotting and is provides a function similar to PlotMaker. In Ar chicad, you have three options at input/output. The first is to import elements that are in the space defined in the opened DXF/DWG file. This option is available at input. The other two choices are to either read/write only those elements that are in Paper space or those elements that are in Model space. In PlotMaker, at input you can either instruct the program to place all Paper space entities onto the Layout and all Model space entities in a drawing or you can select the space from which to place elements into a drawing/layout. When saving from PlotMaker as DXF/DWG, elements on the layout will always be saved to Paper space and elements in drawing will always be saved into Model space. When you save a drawing you can specify which space you want to save into. You can find information on the available options at each dialog box s description earlier in this chapter. 34

37 Chapter 2: Command Reference Working with AutoCAD Tools In Ar chicad 6.5, it is now possible to work with external reference files the same way you work with them in AutoCAD. External r eferencing is a way of saving disk space and work. This means that you can attach a DWG or DXF file to your drawing, which will be loaded into the project and displayed. You will be able to snap to all drawing elements within the XREF (Exter nal Reference File) and they ar e printed and plotted. A common use for XREFs is drawing elements that ar e common to several kinds of drawings within a pr oject (e.g., the outlines of exterior and interior walls). If you have a file containing this data, you can attach it to other drawings that can use the geometric infor mation contained in the XREF file without the need of the data actually being in the Project file. Also, if the source of the data in the external r eference (the DWG or DXF) is changed, then these changes can be updated immediately so the latest data is always available. With these new capabilities in Ar chicad, you can now attach and detach XREF files, unload and r eload them, bind them to the project file and view infor mation about them. These functions ar e available fr om the Tools menu under the AutoCAD commands submenu. XREF Management The first command in the menu list is the XREF Management command. Clicking it will display the following dialog box: Most XREF-related functions can be completed in this dialog box. Options are detailed in the next few paragraphs. 35

38 Chapter 2: Command Reference View Mode Buttons There ar e two buttons in the upper-left corner of the dialog box that contr ol how the list of attached XREF files is displayed. The one on the left will display all attached in the or der they were attached. If you click the second button, it will display attached XREFs in a hierar chical tr ee structure. Since DWG files used as external references can also contain additional exter nal r eferences, nesting can occur. This simply means that certain files ar e nested into other files that ar e referenced from the ArchiCAD project file. This nesting can be quite complicated, r eaching down several levels. Viewing external r eference files as a hierar chical file structur e lets you see which files refer to other externtal files, indicating what should load into the project when attaching an exter nal r eference file. If an attached file r efers to other files, a + sign will appear on 36

39 Chapter 2: Command Reference its left. Clicking the + sign r eveals the names of files refered to from this file. In the above example, you can see that the external reference file named 3D STUFF has one file r efered to from it named MISC. Knowing this, you will expect the content of MISC to also appear on your Floor Plan. The next part of the dialog box is the list that contains the infor mation about the attached files. If you ar e in list mode you will see data about each file, including: - Reference name: The name of the reference, usually the same as the name of the attached file. - Status: The exact status of the file after each operation that affects it, such as Loaded, Detached, Reloaded, Unloaded or Bound. - Type: The type of external r eferencing, either Attach or Overlay. - Date: The date at which the first instance of the exter nal reference was attached. - Insts (Instances): The number of instances of a certain external reference file attached to the Project. As with library objects, you can attach an external reference several times to a Project file and in various locations (layers, different floors etc.). Attach The command buttons r elated to XREF operations are located on the right side of the dialog box next to the list field. The first of these is the Attach button. Clicking it will display the Attach XREF dialog box. 37

40 Chapter 2: Command Reference In the XREF Name ar ea, you can specify the name of the file to be attached: - If you click the Browse button, a file selection dialog box will appear where you can select the DWG or DXF file to be attached as an exter nal r eference. - Alternatively, you can select fr om the pop-up list of already attached files if you want to place another instance of the file in the Pr oject. The Path field will always show the exact path to the selected file. In the Reference Type section, you can choose between the Attach and Overlay XREF attachment methods. The dif ference between the two methods is how nested XREFs are handled. Nesting occurs when you load an external r eference to a file that has exter nal r eferences loaded to other files. When you attach an exter nal r eference, all levels of nesting can be displayed in the Project file. When you overlay an external reference, nested XREFs from the referenced file will not be visible in the Project. 38

41 Chapter 2: Command Reference The following tables what happens when you attach/overlay DWG files that contain attached/overlaid XREFs. XREF visible Nested XREF visible (yes/no) (yes/no) XREF attached, nested XREF within YES YES originally attached XREF attached, nested XREF within YES NO originally overlaid XREF overlaid, nested XREF within YES YES originally attached XREF overlaid, nested XREF within YES NO originally overlaid Examples: 1. A DWG file named BASE.DWG that has an attached XREF named COMMON.DWG is attached to the ArchiCAD Pr oject. Both files will be visible on the Floor Plan. 2. A DWG file named BASE.DWG that has an overlaid XREF named COMMON.DWG is attached to the ArchiCAD Pr oject. BASE.DWG will be visible on the Floor Plan but COMMON.DWG will not be visible. 3. A DWG file named BASE.DWG that has an attached XREF named COMMON.DWG is overlaid to the ArchiCAD Pr oject. Both files will be visible on the Floor Plan. 4. A DWG file named BASE.DWG that has an overlaid XREF named COMMON.DWG is overlaid to the ArchiCAD Pr oject. BASE.DWG will be visible on the Floor Plan but COMMON.DWG will not be visible. In the Parameters portion of the dialog box you can define where and how you want the XREF to be placed on the ArchiCAD floor plan. You can specify coordinate and r otation values and scale factors. 39

42 Chapter 2: Command Reference - Insertion point: In the X and Y field, you can enter the exact coordinates of the location of the lower left corner of the enclosing rectangle. Alternatively, you can check the Specify On-Screen checkbox, in which case you enter these coordinates by clicking on the floor plan. - Scale Factors: You can specify a scale factor in both X and Y directions. You can also define them on the scr een. - Rotation: You can define an angle by which the whole placed XREF will be rotated ar ound its insertion point. This too can be defined on the screen. Note: if you checked any Specify On-Screen checkboxes, the input process will happen the following way: If you specified X and Y coordinates, then the lower left corner is placed. If not, you can click the point on the Floor Plan that will become the insertion point. If you specified scale factors, the XREF s enclosing box will be scaled to its appropriate size. If not, you will be able to stretch the enclosing rectangle just as if you were stretching an Ar chicad object. It is possible to input or specify negative or positive values for scale factors. By specifying negative values you can achieve mirr oring effects. If you specified a rotation angle, the XREF is rotated and then drawn. If not, you can r otate the enclosing rectangle until you input the value with a mouse click or coordinate input. If you don t check any of the above three checkboxes, the XREF will be immediately placed with the values specified in the dialog box. Clicking the Options button displays a simplified input/output dialog box containing options that apply to XREFs: 40

43 Chapter 2: Command Reference - Select configuration file: You can select the configuration file that will process the DXF/DWG file to be saved. For infor mation, please refer to the Open DXF/DWG document section earlier in this chapter. Clicking the Details button will take you to the Configuration File Details dialog box fr om where you can view and modify the content of the Configuration file. - Translate one DXF/DWG Drawing Unit into: This field specifies the conversion ratio between one drawing unit in AutoCAD and the drawing unit within Ar chicad. Please refer to the Drawing units section in this same chapter for mor e details and examples. The default value depends on your Preferences settings. - Match colors to AutoCAD color table: Instructs the DXF/ DWG Add-On to match the colors of the resulting ArchiCAD file to the colors defined in AutoCAD s color table. Please refer to the Color matching section later in this chapter for mor e details. By default, this setting is active. - Use Defaults: Clicking this button will r estore any changed option to its default value. Note: When you attach an exter nal r eference file to an ArchiCAD Pr oject, a layer will be cr eated for it. The resulting layer names will have the following format: XREF_NAME LAYER_NAME. Layer names of attached XREF files in the Layers list For example, the PEN_56 layer of a DWG file that was attached to the project with the XREF name 3D_STUFF will become the layer 3D_STUFF PEN_56. Detach The next command button in the XREF Management dialog box is the Detach button. Clicking it will detach the XREF fr om the drawing, meaning that after closing the dialog box the detached XREF will be removed from the Project file. If you want to use it again you will have to attach it again. The Status column will reflect this detached state. 41

44 Chapter 2: Command Reference Reload When the DWG or DXF file used as an external r eference has been modified, and you want to have the latest changes appear in your ArchiCAD Pr oject file, you can do so by clicking the Reload button. The program will load the whole file into ArchiCAD again and display this latest state. Also, if you unloaded an exter nal reference from the Project file, you can load it again with the Reload button. The status column of the dialog box will reflect this state. Note: The reload process does not display an options dialog box to specify the input parameters. They are present in the database: the same data will be used as specified earlier with the Attach command. Unload Clicking this button will keep the selected external r eference file attached to the project file, but it will be unloaded fr om memory and its content will not appear on the Floor Plan. As opposed to detaching, which r emoves the file from the project and the XREF Management file list, the Unload command keeps it attached. Simply clicking the Reload button will make it r eappear. You will see information about this in the Status column of the dialog box. Note: After you unload an XREF, a text will appear at the insertion point of the XREF notifying you of this fact. For example if you unload the XREF file WALLS, the message Unloaded XREF WALLS will appear on the Floor Plan in place of the XREF. Bind It is possible to take the content of the attached XREF file and make it become part of the project using the Bind command. Clicking the Bind button will mer ge the content of the external reference to the Project and delete the external r eference to the file from the list. Note: Binding will make all instances of the r eference file part of the Project. It is not possible to bind only one instance of the XREF file. When you bind an XREF, the layer names of the XREF will reflect the change, taking on following format: XREF_NAME $ NUMBER $ LAYER_NAME. 42

45 Chapter 2: Command Reference Layer names of bound XREF files in the Layers list For example, the PEN_5 layer of the XREF file with the name WALLS was converted to layer WALLS PEN_5 while it was attached. When it is bound to the pr oject file, its name is automatically changed to W ALLS$36$PEN_5, with the number 36 being a number in the list of layers. XREF found at Browse Clicking the Br owse button in the XREF Management dialog box will open a directory dialog box where you can change the file that the selected XREF points to. After you select another file and return to the XREF management dialog box, you need to click the Reload button for the change to actually take ef fect. After exiting the dialog box with the OK button, ArchiCAD reloads the new file, which will then be associated with the given XREF name. This feature is particularly useful when you have an XREF in your project whose original file was changed and saved under a new name. For example, consider a Floor Plan that is attached to the interior design project with the name Floor Plan DWG. Later, as the floor plan changes, it is saved under the name Floor Plan DWG. Clicking the Br owse button and selecting this new file will associate the link with this latest version of the Floor Plan, enabling the Interior Designer to quickly update it and use it for further work. Show Log Clicking this button will expand the XREF Management dialog box downward and a list will appear showing all steps performed in the curr ent session of the XREF Management dialog box. 43

46 Chapter 2: Command Reference This log allows you to see what will be done by the program when you click the OK button. When the list is visible, a Hide Log button appears at its bottom. Clicking it will hide the log from view. Attach an XREF Selecting this item from the AutoCAD Commands menu will take you directly to the Attach XREF dialog box. This command is useful if you know the only action you want to perform is attaching an XREF to the pr oject. Select all XREFs This command will select all XREFs placed on the curr ent story of the ArchiCAD Pr oject Floor Plan, so you will see which elements are XREFs and which ones are not. Synchronize Pens This command will simply replace all ArchiCAD pen colors with the pen colors found in the predefined AutoCAD color table. The thickness of all pens after this command will be set to the default 0.18 mm. Working with Extended Data Extended data is an AutoCAD ter m. It r efers to the information (of any type) that can be attached to a DWG or DXF file. When saving an Ar chicad Pr oject in AutoCAD format, using the Extended data capability allows you to attach all the geometric 2D, 3D and other types of information r elated to an element to the resulting entities in the DXF/DWG file. You can later r etrieve the original 3D Ar chicad infor mation fr om this extended data section of the file. For example, when you create a wall in Ar chicad and save it as a DWG file with the Extended data option checked in the Save as DWG dialog box, the DWG file will contain the full Ar chicad 2D and 3D infor mation of the original wall. This infor mation will 44

47 Chapter 2: Command Reference be attached to the block representation of the wall in AutoCAD in the form of extended data. When the file is later r ead back into ArchiCAD, you can get r etreive all the original Ar chicad information you had befor e saving as DXF/DWG. This means that a wall will be a wall again and not pur ely 2D lines and fills. Consider the following example in ArchiCAD (2D and 3D views): Let us now save this small file to AutoCAD R14 DWG format fr om the Floor Plan: Now we ll modify, drag and multiply some elements in AutoCAD. Create copies of the wall on the left as well as the two columns. The result in AutoCAD will be the following: 45

48 Chapter 2: Command Reference After reading back the DWG file you will see that even the elements created with copy commands in AutoCAD have their 3D information in Ar chicad. They simply received the ArchiCADrelated infor mation fr om the extended data of the elements they were copied from in AutoCAD. You can also see that wall intersections ar e cleaned up in ArchiCAD for the wall elements created in AutoCAD. 46

49 Chapter 3: Customization Chapter 3 Customization The ArchiCAD DXF/DWG interface has more options than what is covered in the Command Reference chapter. If you are not satisfied with your input/output, consult this chapter. The ArchiCAD DXF/DWG interface offers two additional ways to help you achieve the desired goal: configuration files, and the use of existing DXF/DWG files for r eference (template). In this chapter, you will see what and how you can tweak in the translation process, and how you can use these configuration files to set up office standards for individual consultants/clients. Components There are two main components giving you the possibility to customize the DXF/DWG interface. - The Configuration File is a simple text file and must be located in the same folder as the DXF/DWG Add-On. It describes the way ArchiCAD and AutoCAD database items should be matched to each other. - The Template File is a DWG or DXF file. It is used to provide templates for ArchiCAD to export an AutoCAD drawing file. The dialog boxes described in the Command Reference chapter do not provide customization possibilities, the parameters are not client or consultant dependent. However, these dialog boxes allow the user to select a configuration file for customization purposes. The configuration file may r efer to a template drawing to use the two main customization components together. The following section will describe how these two components interact with Ar chicad and each other. 47

50 Chapter 3: Customization The figure below illustrates how a DXF/DWG file can be input. DWG ArchiCAD default Drawing.DWG Config.TXT Project.PLN There ar e two possible routes to take: - The first is to simply read the file into ArchiCAD without any further intervention. This is the default setting. - The second way is to use a Configuration file for translation. ArchiCAD will r ead the DXF/DWG file, then modify its content according to the options specified in the Configuration file. You can r ead in detail about the options available in the Configuration file later in this chapter. Among other benefits, it enables you to convert layers, line types, styles, fonts, etc., to their ArchiCAD equivalent to suit your needs or office standards. The picture below illustrates the methods available at DXF/DWG output: ArchiCAD default 1 DWG 2 Config.TXT 3 Drawing.DWG Project.PLN 4 Template.DWG There are four possibilities that can be used at output: - The first which is the default is not to use either the Configuration or the T emplate file. All ArchiCAD elements will be converted to AutoCAD elements, and no changes are made to layers, line types, styles, fonts, etc. - The second option is to specify a Configuration file at output, but not select any Template file to be used. All options that 48

51 Chapter 3: Customization were set in the Configuration file used at the time of the output will be fully in effect, and the r esultant DXF/DWG file s content and structur e will change accor dingly. - The third is to use the Configuration file and also specify a Template file in the proper section of the Configuration file. In addition to the effect of the options of the Configuration file, the resulting DXF/DWG file s version, structure and attribute set will be based upon the version, structure and attribute set of the Template file. - The fourth possibility is similar to the third because it uses both the Configuration and the T emplate files. (The Configuration file must always accompany the T emplate, which is specified within it.) But with this option, you specify a Template file in the Configuration file, but do not set any other options in the Configuration file itself. Only the content of the Template file will influence the output. The Configuration File The configuration file is a simple text file, located in the same folder as the DXF-DWG Add-On. It can be edited either by a text editor program or fr om within Ar chicad. In the following pages, you can r ead about the available options when working with the Configuration file. Note: There ar e certain rules for naming a configuration file. Since it is possible to use several configuration files, which must reside in the same folder, the file names must be distinguished. See the Q&A chapter for more details. Every option begins with the # character on the first position of a line. It can be followed by one of the subsequent keywords: - CHARCONV - STYLECONV - SPECLAYERS - PENLAYERS - LAYERCONV - LTYPECONV - SEARCHPATH - NATIONAL - SOLIDFILL - FONTCONV 49

52 Chapter 3: Customization - TEMPLATE_FILE - BYLAYER - DIALPARS By enabling and setting up data in the configuration file you can influence how the referred portions of the ArchiCAD and AutoCAD database ar e matched. Each option communicates between a part of an AutoCAD and an Ar chicad file, in that or der. Most of the options are bidirectional, so they affect both the input and the output data flow. When you read an AutoCAD drawing with a dialog setup and a configuration file you get a restructured project in ArchiCAD. When saving the project back into a DXF/DWG drawing, the inverse algorithm is used when you use the same configuration file. The following rules must be adhered to when editing the configuration files: - The keywords must be entered as shown; they must start with the # character and the keywor ds ar e all CAPITALS. Example: #PENLAYERS ( #Penlayers is not correct) - If there is any problem with the syntax of a line in the configuration file, the command of that line will not be carried out. With the above option (#Penlayers), that part of the configuration file will not be pr ocessed. - If the data given does not contain <SP ACE> characters, it is not necessary to put it between quotation marks. However, we recommend using the quotation marks anyway for safety. Example: #STYLECONV STANDARD Times 0 But: #STYLECONV STANDARD Times New Roman 0 - When there are several values in a line the first datum always refers to AutoCAD and the second datum always refers to ArchiCAD. In the above example, STANDARD refers to what the style is called in AutoCAD, and Times refers to the 50

53 Chapter 3: Customization TrueType font to be used in ArchiCAD. After these two data, there can be other data as well in a line. The #SPECLAYERS and #PENLAYERS options are exceptions to this rule. Please see their description to find out how they work in this situation. You can add lines to your configuration file that begin with the! character. These lines will not be interpreted and can contain comments and r egards that impr ove communication about the file. Example:!The following line will place all windows on a layer called Window because it was the definite request of our!structural consultant #SPECLAYER WINDOWS Window Here only the last two lines will be interpreted. The #CHARCONV option This option performs character conversion between AutoCAD and ArchiCAD based on the values given under this section. Each line must contain two numbers separated by at least one <SP ACE> character. The first number specifies the ASCII code of the character in AutoCAD and the second number specifies the ASCII code of the character it has to be converted to in ArchiCAD. The conversion works both ways. Note: In Ar chicad 6.5, character conversion has been improved so it will give the correct result without using this configuration file option. This option can still be used, but it is recommended only for those cases when you want to obtain a different character than in the other application (e.g., when saving as DXF/DWG all characters should be CAPITAL.) A conversion table needs to be written for the task. Example: #CHARCONV 30 64! 97 65! a <-> A 98 66! b <-> B In this case, when opening a DWG file a characters will be converted to A, b will be converted to B and characters 51

54 Chapter 3: Customization The #STYLECONV option Performs text style conversion during the DXF/DWG I/O process. Each line in this section contains two character strings and a number. The first string is the name of an AutoCAD text style, the second one is the name of the TrueType font that the text in the DXF/DWG file will be converted into. The number is a slanting value in degr ees from the vertical that gives the font an italic shape. The slant value has an ef fect only when saving to DXF/DWG. When opening a DXF/DWG file the italic bit for the font will be set if the AutoCAD style was ITALIC and the slant was higher than 15 degrees. Example: #STYLECONV STANDARD Times 0 ITALIC New York 20 In this example, texts in the DXF/DWG using the text style called STANDARD will be converted to Times font with no oblique angle. Texts using the style ITALIC (if there are any) will be converted to New York font with its italic checkbox checked instead of its nor mal checkbox. The #SPECLAYERS option In ArchiCAD, doors, windows and wall hatches do not have their own layers. They always belong to their parent wall (the wall in which they are located) and ar e always on the same layer as the wall. This option can be used when outputting a DXF/DWG file to force ArchiCAD to put such elements on layers different from that of their parent wall. The option does not have an effect when opening a DXF/DWG file. The option is efective only when the ArchiCAD layers option is chosen in the Construct layers according to field of the Save as DXF/DWG dialog box. It has no effect if either of the other choices ( Pen colors or Element types ) is selected for use. This section can contain a maximum of thr ee lines and each line contains two strings. The first string is one of the following in all capitals: DOORS, WINDOWS or HATCHES. The second string specifies the name of the layer that is to be constructed in the DXF/DWG file for the placement of these elements. 52

55 Chapter 3: Customization Example: #SPECLAYERS DOORS WINDOWS HATCHES Doors-layer Windows-layer Hatches The resulting file will contain all doors on the layer Doors-layer, windows on the layer windows-layer and hatches on the layer Hatches. Note: It is possible to specify the same AutoCAD layer for more than one of these three types of elements. For example, the below commands in the configuration file #SPECLAYERS DOORS WINDOWS WALLPARTS WALLPARTS will place all doors and windows onto the layer WALLPARTS in the resulting DXF/DWG file. The #PENLAYERS option Allows you to place all elements or drawing primitives (e.g., line or fill within a wall) drawn with a certain pen on a specified layer in the r esulting DXF/DWG file. The option is interpreted only during the output process. With the Pen colors option, elements with the specified pen color will go to the specified layer instead of the default layering structur e ( PEN1, PEN2, etc.) Each line contains a string and a number separated by at least a <SPACE> character. The string stands for the name of the layer where elements are to be placed, and the number gives the index of the pen. Example: #PENLAYERS ELECTRICAL_LINES 23 SITE_FEATURES 35 In this situation, all elements using pen 23 will go to the layer ELECTRICAL_LINES and all elements using pen 35 will go to the layer SITE_FEATURES 53

56 Chapter 3: Customization Note: It is possible to specify the same AutoCAD layer for more than one pen. For example, the below commands in the configuration file: #PENLAYERS CONSTRUCTION 12 CONSTRUCTION 13 CONSTRUCTION 14 will place all elements drawn with pens 12, 13, and 14 onto the layer CONSTRUCTION in the resulting DXF/DWG file. It is also very important to think what one wants to achieve before actually starting the Pr oject. The #PENLAYERS is one very useful option by which you can achieve things not possible with other options. Read more about this in the Setting up a Pr oject section of the Workflow Models chapter. Also, consult the Tips & Tricks chapter of this manual for additional uses. The #LAYERCONV option The option allows the user to perform layer name conversion during DXF/DWG Input/Output. Each line within this section contains two strings. The first string gives the name of a layer in AutoCAD and the second string specifies what the layer will be called in Ar chicad. The conversion works both ways. Example: #LAYERCONV A1-WALLS A1-FILLS A1-OTHER Exterior walls Fills Lines In this situation, all elements in Ar chicad on layer Exterior walls will go to layer A1-WALLS in the DXF/DWG file, element on layer Fills will go to layer A1-FILLS and elements on layer Lines will go to layer A1-OTHERS.. Note: It is possible to specify the same AutoCAD layer for more than one layer. For example, the below commands in the configuration file, #LAYERCONV A1 A1 A1 Exterior walls Fills Lines 54

57 Chapter 3: Customization will place all elements on the above three ArchiCAD layers onto layer A1 in the r esulting DWG file. Since the #LAYERCONV command, unlike the above #SPECLAYERS and #PENLAYERS commands, works during both input and output, the above example would try to place elements from the DWG layer A1 onto three different layers when a DXF/DWG file is opened in ArchiCAD. The first command is executed, and when opening the DXF/DWG file in ArchiCAD, all elements on layer A1 would go to layer Exterior walls in the ArchiCAD file. The #LTYPECONV option Commands in this section r egulate which line types in the DXF/ DWG file will be the equivalent of which line types in the ArchiCAD file. Each line contains two strings. The first string provides the name of the name of the line type in AutoCAD and the second string specifies the corresponding line type name in ArchiCAD. The option works in both directions. Example: DASHDOT CENTER Dot & Dashed Double Dashed These commands will convert the ArchiCAD line type Dot & Dashed to line type DASHDOT in AutoCAD, and the ArchiCAD line type Double Dashed to line type CENTER in AutoCAD, and vice versa. Note: The ArchiCAD line type Solid line is always converted into line type CONTINUOUS and vice versa. On output, two more line types necessary in every DXF/DWG file are created: BYBLOCK and BYLAYER. These are logical line types and have meaning only in AutoCAD. The #SEARCHPATH option Allows the user to specify directories or folders where files during or after DXF/DWG I/O are located. Such files can be of several type: line description files (*.lin), shape description or font files (*.shx), blocks or external r eference files XREFs (*.dwg, *.dxf), etc. These files are needed by the DXF/DWG files read into ArchiCAD. The section can contain several lines, each of which pr ovides an exact path to a folder or a dir ectory. The program will know which paths apply to the Macintosh and which ones to the Windows platform from the difference in characters used in the specification 55

58 Chapter 3: Customization of paths (on the Macintosh the character : (colon) is used to mark a subfolder, while on Windows the \ (backslash) character is used. Important: You must always use quotation marks for the path. Example: D:\ACADR12\FONTS! Windows D:\ACADR12\SAMPLE D:\ACADR12\SUPPORT PROGRAMS_D:ACADR12:FONTS! Macintosh PROGRAMS_D:ACADR12:SAMPLE The #NATIONAL option All AutoCAD versions allow the standard ASCII characters in layer, line type, etc., names: - letters of the English alphabet ( a... z, A... Z ) - numbers (0...9) - the underscore character ( _ ) When saving as a DXF/DWG file, all non-ascii characters will be substituted with the closest matching character without an accent. Example: A German Ar chicad project file contains a layer named Dächer (meaning in English: Roofs). The saved AutoCAD file will contain the layer Dacher instead. Localized versions of AutoCAD allow letters of the national alphabet as well. For example, if you ar e using a German version of ArchiCAD and want to save DXF/DWG files for a consultant working with a German version of AutoCAD, use this command. Layer, line type, etc. names will go through without filtering the non-ascii letters. The #SOLIDFILLS option This option allows you to save every fill into the resulting DXF/ DWG file as a solid fill. It is an option used only at exporting, and only has an ef fect if the version of the exported DXF/DWG is R14. With R12/R13 output, it is not consider ed. To use it, simply enable it in the configuration file by either entering it or uncommenting it. Example: #SOLIDFILLS 56

59 Chapter 3: Customization Note: The appearance of the fills in the exported file is determined the following way: 1. If the export file is in R14 DXF or DWG format: a. If #SOLIDFILLS is ON all fills will be SOLID b. If the Display Options of ArchiCAD or PlotMaker is either UNIVERSAL SOLID or SOLID all fills will be SOLID c. If the Display Options of ArchiCAD or PlotMaker is either EMPTY or NO FILLS all fills will be EMPTY d. If the Display Options of ArchiCAD or PlotMaker is VECTOR SYMBOL fills are exported as SOLID (AutoCAD up to R14 doesn t support anything like this). All the other fills retain their original appearance (EMPTY, SOLID or VECTOR) e. If the Display Options of ArchiCAD or PlotMaker is BITMAP since AutoCAD doesn t accept bitmap fill patterns, they ar e exported as if the Display Options were VECTOR 2. If the export file is in R12 or R13 for mat: The #SOLIDFILLS option is IGNORED. The appearance of the fills is determined only by the Display Options (even including SYMBOL fills) The #FONTCONV option This is simply a section for conversion of TrueType fonts. The content of this section is filled with default values provided by Graphisoft. The #TEMPLATE_FILE option Allows you to specify a DWG or DXF file to be used as a template when outputting DXF/DWG files. With the use of such a template file, the resulting file can get the definitions of certain database items (attributes, blocks, environment swithes) from another DXF/ DWG file - called template file -, which can be desirable when working with consultants. The option works only at output. The section contains one dir ectory path that specifies the name of the file to be used as a template. The file name extension (.DXF or.dwg ) is ignored, the name applies to both formats. If there are two files in the same directory - one having the DWG and the other the DXF extension - the that is the same format as the tar get format (i.e., T emplate.dwg when saving a DWG file) will be used. Make sure that the path is always between quotation marks. It is important to know that when you use a Template file, the resulting DXF/DWG file will have to be the same version as the 57

60 Chapter 3: Customization Template file. This will be indicated by the fact that the version field in the Save as DWG Dialog will be grayed. This option is important because it creates the connection between the Configuration file and the Template File. The connection of these files can be understood the following way: if we compared it to a dictionary the Configuration file would contain the headwords and the Template file would contain the exact definitions within the file. You can read more about the usage of the Template file in the Template file section later in this chapter. Example: D:\MyWork\Template! Windows only This will search for either Template.dwg or Template.dxf in the D:\MyWork directory. Work:MyWork:Template! Macintosh only It will search for either Template.dwg or Template.dxf in the Work:MyWork folder. Note: If either the specified directory or the specified file doesn t exist, you will be prompted by the program to choose whether or not you want to continue saving the file without considering the infor mation contained in the template file. The #BYLAYER option Use this option at output to get ArchiCAD to specify the BYLAYER attribute for the color and line type for elements in the r esulting file. This attribute has meaning only in AutoCAD and assigns to an element the color and the line type the layer possesses onto which the element is placed. At input, Ar chicad will assign the color and line type values to elements that result from resolving this logical assignment. To use it, simply type it in the configuration file or uncomment it if it is commented. Example: #BYLAYER The #DIALPARS option This section is written by ArchiCAD into the configuration file when you click the Capture Options button in the Edit Configuration File dialog box, which is accessible by clicking the 58

61 Chapter 3: Customization Edit button in the Details of Configuration File dialog. T o learn about its use, see the section covering the Details of Configuration File dialog below. The efect of capturing the options set in the Open/Save dialog is that the whole content of the dialog becomes grayed. Users will not be able to change any of the options within the dialog except by going and deleting this portion of the Configuration file and r eturning to the dialog. This featur e is allows, for example, an office to create configuration files for data exchange (input and output) with each of their consultants, captur e the settings of the dialog, and subsequently always use the same settings. Communication becomes more reliable and less prone to human err or. You can delete this line if you want to enable modifications to the dialog data. The Template File The Template File can be specified from the Configuration File setting up the #TEMPLATE_FILE option correctly. Other options of the configuration file pr ovide the possibility to create dictionaries between various AutoCAD and ArchiCAD database elements, or to modify the default conversion algorithms. The purpose of the Template File is different. This is a standar d DXF or DWG file. It is used to hold and transfer data to the output file not present in the ArchiCAD database, but r equired in the communication pr ocess. A simple example: Let us assume that you have to fulfill a layering standar d which requires to set the default color and line type to each exported layer. These kinds of data ar e not part of the ArchiCAD database, so you cannot define them in Ar chicad. The only possibility is to use a template file, containing this infor mation. The output algorithm then mer ges the data coming from the ArchiCAD database and the template drawing. In this example the name, the lock/unlock and the visible/hidden attributes coming fr om the ArchiCAD database, while the default line type and color comes from the Template File. When merging the content of the selected template file with the data exported from ArchiCAD, the template file has the higher priority. Template files should be created in the same file format (DXF/DWG) and with the same version number (R12-14) as the output file. The details of the conversion are as follows: The whole HEADER section comes from the template file, except for the model dependent values including, like the drawing extent or the drawing modification time. 59

62 Chapter 3: Customization The content of the CLASSES and OBJECTS sections come entirely from the template file. No ArchiCAD data is mer ged. The content of TABLES section is also merged. All of the table definitions of the template file will be placed in the output file without any change. Since attributes (layers, line types, etc.) with the same name ar e not duplicated, table definitions coming fr om ArchiCAD must be merged. If such an attribute is encounter ed, it is skipped, meaning that the required definition coming fr om the template file will be preserved. Of course, attributes that do not exist in the template file, but do exist in the ArchiCAD database will be exported based on the default conversion process. The content of the BLOCKS section is also merged. The merging process is the same as for the attributes. The whole section of the template file will be copied into the output file, then the blocks made up by ArchiCAD will be exported. When a block name is the same as the one in the template file, it will be skipped. The ENTITY section of the template file is completely ignored, only ArchiCAD-generated entities ar e exported. The Template file can either be specified by modifying the Configuration file dir ectly or selected from the Details of Configuration dialog box, which can be accessed fr om the Open/ Save as DXF/DWG dialog boxes. See earlier the section detailing the Configuration file. DWG unchanged DWG data DWG ArchiCAD DWGIn.DWG Project.PLN DWGOut.DWG Data flow using a Template file As shown above, the DWG -> ArchiCAD -> DWG communication should be based on specifying the original (loaded) DWG file as the template file. This setup allows you to reproduce that all of the data missing at the input time when cr eating the modified DWG file. In this case, the communication is conducted the following way: DWG data is r ead into Ar chicad. Some of this data is changed. When the ArchiCAD project file is saved as DWG, portions of the original DWG file ar e written into the new DWG file without any change and Ar chicad-specific data is also merged into the file. 60

63 Chapter 3: Customization Details of the Configuration File The Details of the Configuration File dialog box appears when you click the Details button next to the Configuration File pop-up list in the Open/Save DXF/DWG File dialog box. The dialog box is divided into several tab pages that provide all infor mation about the curr ent state of the selected Configuration file. It is also possible to edit these files and save the changes made to them. Below is an explanation of each option used in this dialog box. Layer Conversion Components The first tab page provides information about the settings of the Layer Conversion, Pen Layers and Special Layer components. The Layer Conversion section on top lists values set in the #LAYERCONV section of the Configuration file. The Penlayers section lists which pens are assigned to which layers as set in the #PENLAYERS section, and the Special Layers section shows layers set for these types of elements in the #SPECLAYER section of the Configuration File. The above shown view of this Tab page appears this way only when exporting to DXF/DWG. Since the #PENLAYERS and #SPECLAYERS sections are not processed at input time, infor mation about these is not shown when opening a DXF/DWG 61

64 Chapter 3: Customization file. In that case only the Layer Conversion part of the Tab page is displayed as shown below. Note: When saving fr om the 3D Window as DXF/DWG you will again see only the Layer Conversion part of this Tab page since the other two sections do not apply to saving from the 3D Window. When saving fr om a Section/Elevation window, the Doors and Windows part of the Special Layers section is not available for the same r eason. Line Type Conversion Components The next Tab page contains infor mation about line types settings as set in the #LTYPECONV section of the configuration file. Since this option works at both input and output, the outlook and infor mation pr ovided here is the same when opened either from the Open DXF/DWG or the Save as DXF/DWG dialog. 62

65 Chapter 3: Customization Text Conversion Components The next tab page shows information about styles and font conversion. It is divided into two sections: the Text style conversion section at the top and the Font mapping section at the bottom. The Text style conversion section lists all AutoCAD text styles and their equivalent in the ArchiCAD project files, as set under the #STYLECONV portion of the Configuration file. The Font mapping section shows which AutoCAD font (.TTF) and shape files (.SHX) are set to have an equivalent in ArchiCAD, according to what is set in the #FONTCONV part of the Configuration file. The option works at both input and output so its appearance is the same in both cases and the same infor mation is displayed as seen below. General Components The next tab page contains infor mation about all other settings in the Configuration file. The first section located on this tab page is the Search paths section. It provides information on which dir ectory routes you have told ArchiCAD to look in for DXF/DWG-related data when opening/saving as DXF/DWG. It contains the path you enter or modify in the #SEARCHPATH section of the configuration file. Since this option applies to both input and output, this information is displayed in both cases. 63

66 Chapter 3: Customization The other four areas of this Tab page appear only at output because they contain settings that only have an ef fect at that time. When opening a DXF/DWG file, only the above Search paths part is displayed. Below the Search Paths section is the Template file section, referring to the #TEMPLATE-FILE option. It lists the directory path you set for the DWG or DXF file to be used as a Template file at output time. If either a DWG or a DXF file is found, it will display the version of the file. This information is also contained in the #SEARCHP ATH section of the Configuration file. In our example, an R14 version DWG file named Demo.dwg was found in the dir ectory path D:\Program Files\DWGDemo\ and no DXF file named Demo.dxf was found. The next area is the Fills exported as section. What is displayed here is controlled by the #SOLIDFILLS switch of the Configuration file. If #SOLIDFILLS is in the file, it is displayed here. If it is not enabled in the Configuration file, the following infor mation appears: The area below this is about characters and is influenced by the #NATIONAL switch. Depending on the switch, it will inform you that layer names, line type names and block names can or can not contain national characters that ar e not part of the standar d ASCII character set. On the opposite page, you see what is displayed if the switch is ON. If it is OFF the following information appears: The last part of the Miscellaneous tab page concerns the #BYLAYER option. If the option is ON, the information on the opposite page appears, informing you that elements will contain the BYLAYER logical attribute as their color and line type infor mation. If it is not set in the Configuration file, the following message appears: 64

67 Capturing the Dialog Settings Chapter 3: Customization The final tab page, Saved Options, provides information about which dialog box s values were captured and written into the Configuration file. Capturing the actual dialog settings can be done by clicking the Capture Options button in the Edit Configuration File dialog box. This dialog box can be opened by clicking the Edit button from any tab page. It always displays infor mation about the pr ogram it was completed in (Ar chicad or PlotMaker), whether it was an Open or a Save procedure and the name of the place fr om where it was saved (Floor Plan, 3D, Section/Elevation, PlotMaker Layout). Edit the Configuration File There is an Edit button on the bottom of the dialog box. Clicking on this button will bring up a new dialog box, wher e you can directly edit the content of the Configuration file without opening the file with an external text editor. This makes it more convenient since you can make a change in the file, save the changes and immediately see those changes in the tab pages of the dialog. It also shows you immediately if anything is wr ong since the expected change in displayed information will not be present. You can then r eturn to edit the file until it is corr ect. 65

68 Chapter 3: Customization The larger part of this dialog box is occupied by its text window. The Find Section field is located immediately below the text window. This is especially useful when you need to edit your configuration files that have gr own lar ge in size. If you click on the pop-up, a list containing all possible sections of a configuration file will appear. When you select any of these sections the program will scroll to that part of the text window and the entire section will be selected giving you good visual feedback. For instance, selecting the #SEARCHPATH option gives the following results in the text window: There are four buttons at the bottom of this dialog window. The first fr om left is the Select Template File button. Clicking this file will bring up a File Selection Dialog where you can find and select the DWG or DXF file you want to use as the Template file. After you make your selection, the Configuration file is automatically updated to r eflect the change. 66

69 Chapter 3: Customization Clicking the Captur e options button will save the current state of the Open/Save dialog box into the configuration. If there is such a line in the Configuration file, all options in the dialog will be grayed. The data enter ed into the Configuration file by clicking this button has no special meaning for the user. It simply stores the infor mation about the state of the dialog box. The content of the #DIALPARS section of the Configuration file Below is the look of the dialog box when there is such a line in the Configuration file (all options ar e grayed and cannot be modified): The third button fr om the left is the Cancel button. Clicking it will leave this dialog without applying any changes. The last button is the Save button. Any change you have made in the dialog is executed only when you click the Save button. After clicking it, the program will r eturn you to the Details of Configuration file dialog box. 67

70 Chapter 3: Customization 68

71 Chapter 4: Workflow models Chapter 4 Workflow Models In the previous chapters you learned how to find the controls you need to achieve specific r esults. This chapter presents a larger scale road map of the decision processes that lead you to those optimal results. Then we will discuss in detail the process of setting up the workflow to ensur e optimal communication with an external design partner using DXF/DWG format. Based on a real world case study, this workflow achieved a fairly ambitious goal: once set up, it provides a smooth roundtrip communication between design partners using different CAD programs, different setups (e.g. line types, layers) with minimal disruption of the office CAD standards. Setting up a Project Almost all client/consultant r equirements can be met if the rules of the project s organization ar e worked out properly in advance. The following pages suggest a model for your project setup. Using this model will enable you to provide your partners with the kind of DXF/DWG information they r equire, and in the for mat that best suits their needs. The following flow charts explain in detail two important aspects of DXF/DWG data exchange with other parties: - setting up the entire project with the help of the other party, and utilizing the configuration and template files - covering the steps included in obtaining the DXF/DWG file from ArchiCAD in the for m desired by the other party. 69

72 Chapter 4: Workflow models The flow chart below shows the steps involved in setting up the project before actual work on the files begins: 5 open DXF/DWG file as ArchiCAD library objects client.lib project.lib YES 4 6 Start obtain client/ consultant DWG prototype place client.dwg in project template folder need to use client library? NO create project 9 review/adjust project layers 8 adjust/create all sections of configuration file NO confirm that client/consultant protocol exists & is correct 7 End start development of project database setup special rules YES Start of the project setup process. This assumes you have created your own office protocols. 2. Contact the client/consultant and inquire whether they have a drawing prototype that contains the layer structure, attribute set, library elements, etc., needed for the fulfillment of their office standard. If there is such a drawing, obtain it from the client. 3. The obtained file is placed in the template folder of the project, as it will be used for DXF/DWG communication with the other party. 4. Based on contracts or other agr eements, the decision is made whether the other party s library needs to be used. Some offices may r equire this. 5. If the other party s library is to be used, then a DWG file (possibly the template file) is opened in ArchiCAD using the Open as ArchiCAD Library option.. The file is read and all blocks placed in it will be converted to ArchiCAD library parts that you can use in the project. It is the responsibility of the other party to supply a file containing all required library parts. 6. In this step, the project file is created. The project s own library is loaded. If there is a client library to be used, it is loaded as well. 7. With the saving of a sample DXF/DWG file outlined in the following flow chart, it is confir med whether the output from. ArchiCAD is agr eeable to the other firm. 8. If there are parts of the DXF/DWG drawings saved from ArchiCAD or PlotMaker, the various sections of the 70

73 Chapter 4: Workflow models configuration file ar e checked and modified as needed. This includes cr eating them in case they didn t exist befor e. 9. The layer structur e of the ArchiCAD project is checked and modified in case it doesn t match the expected criteria. 10. Special rules ar e set up based on the agreement with the client/consultant (e.g., specification for file names, etc.). 11. Actual work on the Ar chicad project database begins. 12. End of the project setup process. Confirming the Protocol The flow chart below shows the steps involved in executing step 7 of the first chart: 1 2 Select Start content for export 3 Select client/consultant configuration/template files (optional) 4 5 Export DXF/DWG file Audit export file 7 Review Configuration and Template files NO Is file OK? 6 NO YES End YES Is file OK? Issue to Client Start of the save process. 2. Select the file that you want to save as DXF/DWG. Go to the appropriate story and switch on the desired layer combination. Make sur e that display options are set properly for optimal result in the DXF/DWG file. 3. In this optional step, select the configuration file to be used for the output. This step is required only when a custom output is needed for the other party. 4. Export the DXF/DWG file. 5. Audit the exported file. This includes opening the file to check that everything was changed as intended. In this step, you watch the specification of the other party for desired form and content of the output and decide if there are any parts of it that ar e not correct. 6. Based on the information gathered in the previous step, decide whether or not the file is OK to be issued to the other party. 71

74 Chapter 4: Workflow models 7. It may not be necessary for you to do this step if the resulting DXF/DWG file fulfills the expectations for content. If it doesn t, go to the Configuration and template files and make the necessary corrections to the setting. After the corrections ar e completed, return to step 2 and r epeat the sequence. 8. If the file is correct, you can issue it to the client or consultant. 9. The client/consultant checks the file to see if its content is in the desired form. If there ar e objectives not yet achieved, this is communicated and you pr oceed to step 7 to review the configuration and template files to accomplish. If the client accepts the file, the process is finished. 10. This marks the end of the process for confirming the protocol of a given client/consultant. 12. This process should be done with each DXF/DWG file saved for each separate client/consultant. Note: There is still a possibility that the other party has a form/content requirement that cannot be accomplished with the curr ent possibilities of the DXF/DWG Add-On. If this is the case, it should be communicated in advance. Data Exchange Model based on XREFs The following diagram illustrates a r ecommended working method for exchanging data with AutoCAD users. The diagram shows the entire ArchiCAD -> DWG -> ArchiCAD route. ArchiCAD Config File Template File XREF AutoCAD Project.PLN DWGOut.DWG Merge XREF Drawing.DWG Config File Temporary Project.PLN DWGIn.DWG 72

75 Chapter 4: Workflow models The data exchange consists of four distinct steps: 1. A DWG file is saved from the ArchiCAD Project. This can be done several ways, with or without the use of the Configuration and Template files. Please refer to the Customization chapter of this manual for details about their use. ArchiCAD Config File Template File Project.PLN DWGOut.DWG The result of this step is a DXF/DWG file that the client/ consultant can use and that complies with the for mat/attribute, etc., requirements of that office, if any. 2. The other office receives the DWG file. The person working on the drawing in the office must not open the DWG file directly for editing. Instead, he or she opens a new DWG document that will contain his or her work and loads your file as an Exter nal Reference file (XREF). Two types of attachment methods can be specified when creating an XREF in AutoCAD: attach and overlay. The of fice should use the overlay method when external r eferencing the DWG file coming from ArchiCAD. (You will see after the description of these four steps why this is necessary.) XREF AutoCAD DWGOut.DWG Drawing.DWG 3. The client/consultant works on its own DXF/DWG drawing. When it is time to exchange data or send infor mation to the office using ArchiCAD, they save a DXF or DWG file. 73

76 Chapter 4: Workflow models AutoCAD Drawing.DWG DWGIn.DWG In this step, the client/consultant sends over to your ofice not only this saved DXF/DWG file but also all the files that are needed for its correct reproduction in Ar chicad. This can include external r eferenced DWG files (*.DWG), shape files (*.SHX), bitmap files, etc. Please refer to the Tips & Tricks chapter of this manual for advice on how to do this in AutoCAD. The DWG file coming from ArchiCAD is not part of this package, however. This way only those drawing elements created by the client/consultant will be will be sent to your office. This makes it possible to avoid redundant data occurr ence in files. 4. After you r eceive these files you have two choices: A. Using the AutoCAD Tools explained in the Command Reference chapter of this manual, attach or r eload the DXF/ DWG file into your original Ar chicad Pr oject file as External References. It is important to use the overlay method when attaching the files as XREFs and not the attach method. ArchiCAD Project.PLN XREF DWGIn.DWG B. Your other option is to use the same Configuration file used for saving the DXF/DWG file sent to the other party to create 74

77 Chapter 4: Workflow models an Ar chicad (PLN) file out of the DXF/DWG file. Then you can mer ge this ArchiCAD file with your Pr oject file. ArchiCAD Project.PLN Merge Config File Temporary Project.PLN DWGIn.DWG The differences between the two methods in Step 4. are the following: - If you attach or r eload a DXF/DWG file, any layer/line type/ font, etc., conversion that you may have specified in the Configuration file when saving the DWG file will not be in effect. On the other hand, the DWG file will not become part of the Project, so you will always know which parts were done by you and by others. - If you use the second method then you will have the option to convert it back using the Configuration file s settings. The drawback of this method is that those drawing elements created by the client/consultant will become permanently part of your Project file. You will then have to use some other method to differentiate between elements (e.g., client s/ consultants draw on specific layers) or you can use the Hotlinked Modules feature, new to ArchiCAD 6.5. Which method you use will, of course, depend on the actual situation. Explanation: The first working method allows you and your consultants to always work in your own files, and use other s files only by external r eferencing them, thereby excluding outside data. Of course, all data can be viewed when the external r eferences are loaded. 75

78 Chapter 4: Workflow models Notes: If you ar e using the first method, you will have to save DWG files and send those to the other party. The reason for this is that AutoCAD can use only DWG files as Exter nal Reference files. When the other party saves the file, it can either be DXF or DWG, as ArchiCAD can use both formats as Exter nal Reference. The reason the overlay method is recommended when attaching an Exter nal Reference file to any DWG drawing or ArchiCAD Pr oject is to avoid having the same data loaded into a file twice. When you overlay a DXF/DWG file, those files that ar e XREF-ed from that file will not be loaded into the file. In our example, the DWG file saved from ArchiCAD and named DWGOut.DWG is loaded as Exter nal Reference in the file Drawing.DWG. Then this Drawing.DWG file is loaded into the original Ar chicad Pr oject file as external r eference. If XREFs were attached using the attach method, the content of the file DWGOut.DWG would be visible in the ArchiCAD Project when loading Drawing.DWG as Exter nal Reference, producing an undesirable duplication of data. 76

79 Chapter 5: Technical Details Chapter 5 Technical Details This chapter gives technical details on the way ArchiCAD and AutoCAD database items can be matched to each other. The DXF and DWG drawings contain the same information; the only difference is that the DXF file format is public. The DWG format is not published, as it is completely owned by AutoDesk. Element Conversion Algorithms (Output) The exported data mainly depends on the following settings of the output dialogs: - drawing version number (R12-R14), - the template file, - state of the explode switch, - state of the Produce extended data checkbox. The section of the chapter is structured the following way: Conversion without Template File - Attribute conversion explains how ArchiCAD and PlotMaker attributes (line types, layers, etc.) ar e stored into the AutoCAD TABLES section. - Element conversion defines how ArchiCAD floor plan elements and PlotMaker elements are stored into the AutoCAD BLOCKS and ENTITIES sections. Conversion with Template File - How the conversion algorithms are affected by the presence of the template file. 77

80 Chapter 5: Technical Details Export without Template Drawing The following table gives you an overview of the relations among parts and pr operties of an ArchiCAD floor plan and the sections of an AutoCAD drawing. The r ows represent the AutoCAD drawing sections, the columns represent the categories of the floor plan data to be exported. Global data Attributes Elements HEADER section Floor Plan boundary (extent) box TABLES section VIEW table -> line types quick views ->LTYPE, ->STYLE ACTIVE VPORT-> (STANDARD) layers -> grid settings LAYER table BLOCK section Complex elements: - walls, columns, slabs, roofs, meshes - windows, doors, objects, lights - fills - dimensions, sections - texts ENTITIES section Section fill Simple elements: attributes - hot spots (as part of the - lines* R14 HATCH - circles, ellipses, arcs* entity specification) Complex elements: - walls, columns, slabs, roofs, meshes - windows, doors, objects, lights - fills - dimensions, sections... - texts * if lines or ar cs have arr owheads, they are treated as complex elements Attribute Conversion (TABLES section) In both ArchiCAD and PlotMaker, elements have certain attributes (line type, color, layer, etc.). In order to faithfully r eproduce the elements, these attributes must be exported. The place to put them in a DXF/DWG file is the TABLES section. Some of the AutoCAD tables contain data that can t be associated with attributes (VPOR T, VIEW, BLOCK_RECORDS) or even anything in Ar chicad, but they must be there. 78

81 Chapter 5: Technical Details Note: Colors in AutoCAD ar en t stored in any table; AutoCAD simply uses 255 pre-programmed colors. Entities (and layer table entries) refer to them using color indexes. Therefore, ArchiCAD pens (colors) are not associated with any of the tables written to the DXF/DWG file. The AutoCAD Color Index of an exported entity is found by closest color component RGB- matching). Tables associated with ArchiCAD/PlotMaker attributes: LTYPE table All the curr ently defined ArchiCAD line types are exported: - SOLID LINE (default in Ar chicad) is exported as CONTINUOUS (default in AutoCAD) - BYBLOCK and BYLAYER line types (mandatory since AutoCAD R13) ar e also created (except when writing R12 DXF/DWG). They are SOLID. - Dashed/dotted line types are exported as dashed/dotted. AutoCAD has an upper limit (12) of the number of dashes/ gaps in a line type (which is usually mor e than enough). - Complex, two dimensional - SYMBOL - line type definitions ar e converted properly. Their parts are stored in a shape file generated along with the DXF/DWG file. The name of this shape file is the same as the name of the DXF/DWG plus a serial number except that the spaces are replaced with underscores; its extension is.shx. Don t forget to provide it with your DXF/DWG file when giving information in this format to clients/consultants. If ther e ar e more than 255 symbol line types created, more than one shape file will be created. The ArchiCAD names of custom (non-default) line types ar e converted to meet certain AutoCAD naming r equirements. Important: While coordinates of a symbol line type fragment in Ar chicad ar e REAL numbers (meaning they have high precision) the AutoCAD shape files can contain only INTEGER coordinates of a small range (-127 < x < 127). Shape segment coordinates ar e to fit the shape within that range to maximize precision. However, sometimes the result of coordinate rounding will not be corr ect. If this is the case, we recommend changing the line type definition in Ar chicad by multiplying or dividing line type segments by a value (such as 2, 3 or 5), and then trying again. 79

82 Chapter 5: Technical Details LAYER table STYLE table Conversion depends on the option set in the dialog box. - One entry generated for each curr ently defined layer. AutoCAD s default 0 layer is also cr eated. Default line type is specified as CONTINUOUS, the default color is 7. Hidden layers keep their attribute. Windows and doors go to the layer containing their wall, but this default can be overridden by the #SPECLAYERS option. Fills, too, can be placed onto their own separate layer this way. (See also the configuration file s #SPECLAYER option.) - One entry generated for each pen. By default the name is PEN_X, where X is the pen index. The AutoCAD s default 0 layer is also cr eated. Default line type specified as CONTINUOUS, the default color is generated according to the color conversion option. Every layer is visible. (See also the configuration file s #PENLAYERS option.) - One entry generated for each ArchiCAD element type. The layer names will be: Walls, Windows, Slabs, etc. AutoCAD s default 0 layer is also cr eated. Default line type is specified as CONTINUOUS, the default color is 7. Every layer is visible. The ArchiCAD names of custom (non-default) layers ar e converted to meet certain AutoCAD naming r equirements. The AutoCAD default STANDARD style is generated. If there are complex line types, one or more (nameless) styles are generated to hold the name of the shape file. If you have a number of #STYLECONV and #FONTCONV entries in the configuration file, they will be added. The sample configuration file shipped with ArchiCAD contains a useful set of #FONTCONV entries. Note: In AutoCAD, the default shape for the STANDARD style is TXT.SHX. The STYLE entries generated from the #STYLECONV table will be attached to TXT.SHX as well, unless you use a template file with the same styles attached to other fonts. On the other hand, the #FONTCONV table associates ArchiCAD fonts to AutoCAD TrueType or.shx fonts that best match the ArchiCAD fonts (in the same system the same TrueType (.TTF) fonts can be matched. The #STYLECONV entries override the #FONTCONV entries. Important: In R12 for mat, TrueType fonts cannot be used! 80

83 Chapter 5: Technical Details Tables associated with global ArchiCAD/PlotMaker data: VPORT table VIEW table APPID table DIMSTYLE table UCS table One entry generated that contains the actual grid data (spacing, on/off), and the curr ent floor plan view rectangle. One entry generated for each QuickViews item specifying the corresponding zoom parameters. Tables that ar e always required to be there: This table is mandatory as of AutoCAD R13, and it must contain an entry named ACAD. If you write the DXF/DWG file in a way that will allow reloading ArchiCAD elements, another entry with the name AC650D is added. The AutoCAD default STANDARD dimension style is generated. Since no DIMENSION entities are generated, its parameters ar e indif ferent. No other entries are generated into this table. User Coordinate System table. No entries ar e generated. BLOCK_RECORDS table This table is mandatory since AutoCAD R13. It contains the names of the blocks generated into the DXF/DWG file (see the BLOCKS section). There are ArchiCAD attributes (materials, composite walls, etc.) that don t match anything in the AutoCAD T ABLES section. One of them, the FILL attribute, is r epresented elsewhere: it is part of the data of the HATCH entities in the R14 for mat. (In R12 and R13 formats the hatch patter n is simply exploded into the so-called HATCH BLOCKS; since the generated hatches aren t associative, the specification doesn t have to be exported.) Element Conversion Some general rules that influence which elements ar e exported from the database: - elements that ar e not on the current floor ar e not exported - elements that are on invisible layers are not exported, although the layers, along with their invisible flag, are exported. 81

84 Chapter 5: Technical Details Before covering the conversion process in detail, some naming conventions need to be mentioned. An element is simple if it corr esponds to one AutoCAD entity. Simple elements are, for example, lines (LINE), arcs (ARC), cir cles (CIRCLE), splines (SPLINE) and hotspots (POINT). An element is complex if it cannot be exported into one AutoCAD entity. For example, a wall contains contour lines, hatch lines, associated windows etc. In order to select such an element in AutoCAD, the components of it must be kept in a BLOCK definition, and an INSER T entity is put into the ENTITY section to refer to this BLOCK. Simple elements can go right into the ENTITY section; but if a line or open arc/spline has at least one arrowhead, it becomes complex since it needs more than one drawing primitive to represent it. The conversion algorithm of the complex elements depends on the Explode complex elements option switch. - If this flag is ON, no BLOCK definitions will be generated for complex elements. In this case their drawing primitives go right into the ENTITY section. - If this flag is OFF, every complex element of the floor plan (i.e., label, win dim, wall, ceil, r oof, dim, levdim, fill, cut plane, etc.) is grouped into an appropriate block. The block name is generated fr om the name of the element type and an individual index. Note: The Explode complex elements option doesn t af fect the generation of Library Parts; their bodies ar e always written into blocks. The BLOCKS section WALL The graphical r epresentation of a wall contains at least one hatch and some contour lines. If ther e are other elements attached to the wall (windows, doors, labels), references - INSERT entities - to their BLOCKS appear in the wall s BLOCK following the wall s drawing primitives (lines and hatches). The general outline of a BLOCK representing a wall is this: {hatch}+ {contour LINE}+ {window INSERT [win dim INSERT] [window label INSERT]}* {door INSERT [door dim INSERT] [door label INSERT]}* [wall label INSERT] 82

85 where: Chapter 5: Technical Details [something] means that something may or may not follow {something}* means that a number of something might follow {something}+ means that at least 1 something must follow hatch means an INSERT to a previously written HATCH BLOCK if the drawing is in R12 or R13 format; a HATCH entity in R14 format contour LINE One of the visible contours of the wall (where the wall is connected to another wall or to a column, the contour is invisible); or the separator between different hatches of a composite wallarc wall contours appear as POLYLINE sequences - or LWPOLYLINEs - instead of ARCs. It s the consequence of some internal tricks in ArchiCAD. window INSERT The INSERT entity of a window attached to this wall. It may be followed by ArchiCAD-specific extended data. door INSERT The INSERT entity of a door attached to this wall. It may be followed by ArchiCAD-specific extended data. win/door dim INSERT If the dimensioning of the window or door is on, its INSERT entity is followed by another INSERT to the window or door dimension s BLOCK. The win dim INSERTs ar e never followed by ArchiCAD specific extended data, since everything about it has been put into the extended data block of the window/door. Note: A window or door may have custom window/door dimension. It is drawn dir ectly into the block of the window/ door and ther e is no INSERT for it here. window/door label INSERT If there is a label attached to the window/door, an INSERT to the label s BLOCK follows the window s/door s INSERT and its optional win dim INSERT. The label s INSERT is followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data. wall label INSERT If there is a label attached to the wall, an INSER T to the label s BLOCK is put into the wall s BLOCK. The label s INSERT is followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data. 83

86 Chapter 5: Technical Details The reason why the win dim INSERTs and window/door label INSERTs ar e put here is that they ar e attached to this specific instance of the window/door and it is r epresented by its INSERT, not by the BLOCK (although windows, doors with customized parameters have separate BLOCKs to every INSERT instance.) COLUMN LIBRARY PARTS The graphical r epresentation of a column contains two fills (representing the core and the veneer), the contour lines and the optional slash lines acr oss the core. The contours are usually drawn as POLYLINEs or LWPOLYLINEs. If there is a label attached to the column, the INSERT to its BLOCK is put at the end of the column s BLOCK followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data. They are prefabricated elements in Ar chicad. Several instances of the same library part (e.g., a chair) can be put on the floor plan. There are many types of Library Parts. Five categories ar e discussed here: - OBJECTS - LIGHTS - WINDOWS - DOORS - ZONE STAMPS Library Parts may have custom parameters. The library part specification assigns default values to them. Their graphical r epresentations may be similar r otated or scaled but otherwise the same; others might change their appearance depending on the instance parameters and sometimes on other circumstances. They get decomposed to drawing primitives according to these factors. These drawing primitives are stored into BLOCKs. - In the case of a window or door, the INSERT to its block is stored into the BLOCK of the wall that owns it. - In the case of an object, light or zone stamp, the INSERT goes into the ENTITY section. These INSERTs ar e followed by their ArchiCAD specific extended data. W ith windows and doors the extended data also contains the window/door dimension, if any. 84

87 Chapter 5: Technical Details Depending on whether or not different instances of a Library Part look similar (apart fr om scaling and r otation), they belong to one of these categories: Nonparametric symbols If a Library Part has neither a 2D nor MASTER GDL script, the appearance of its instances (on the Floor Plan) depend only on the applied transfor mations (r otation, X and Y scaling) and the combination of thr ee parameters: the mirrored, use symbol pen and use symbol line type flags. Since the transfor mations ar e parts of the INSERT entity representing the symbol instance (in the ENTITY section), a nonparametric symbol may have up to eight representations, depending on the existing combinations of these flags in the instances. Entities in the block generated with fixed pen are forced to appear in the color attached to the INSERT. Note: The mirrored flag (N for normal, R for mirr ored) makes different font texts in the library part, meaning that they must be mirrored twice to remain r eadable. - Entities in the block generated without a fixed pen appear in their own color. - Entities in the block generated with a fixed line type ar e forced to appear with the line type attached to the INSERT. - Entities in the block generated without a fixed line type appear with their own line type. Naming conventions: - If neither parameter is fixed, the block name is SS_ + the name of the symbol - If the pen is fixed but the line type isn t, the block name is PS_ + the name of the symbol - If the line type is fixed but the pen isn t, the block name is SL_ + the name of the symbol - If both parameters ar e fixed, the block name is PL_ + the name of the symbol Parametric symbols If a Library Part has either a 2D or MASTER GDL script, the appearance of its instances may depend on mor e than the actual parameter values. Therefore, every instance must be drawn into a separate block. The efect of the fixed pen and fixed line type flags is represented within the block. In other words, the entities in it will have the explicit values. The line type and the color attached to the INSERT entity ar e irrelevant. 85

88 Chapter 5: Technical Details Naming conventions: The block name is the name of the symbol + _ + the index of the symbol instance If the symbol of a Library Part contains a text block that gets its value from the parameter list, it becomes an ATTDEF entity in the block definition. The corresponding ATTRIB entity gets value from the matching parameter when it is inserted in the entity section. Note: In AutoCAD, there are strict rules concerning the block names. Only letters (from the English and your national alphabet), digits ( 0-9"), underscor e _ and dollar sign $ ar e accepted. The length of the name cannot exceed 32 characters. The Ar chicad symbol names (that can contain anything) under go a conversion to match these rules. You should know whether the particular copy of AutoCAD you will be communicating to thr ough DXF/DWG is localized to the same language as your Ar chicad copy. If you are not sure, you should turn OFF the #NATIONAL option in the used configuration files. SLAB ROOF BEAM The graphical r epresentation of a slab contains its outline and a number of holes. The outline always comes first. Both the outline and the holes ar e drawn as POLYLINEs or LWPOLYLINEs. If there is a label attached to the slab, the INSERT to its BLOCK is put at the end of the slab s BLOCK. It is followed by its ArchiCADspecific extended data. The graphical r epresentation of a r oof contains its outline and a number of holes. The outline always comes first. Both the outline and the holes ar e drawn as POLYLINEs or LWPOLYLINEs. If there is a label attached to the r oof, the INSERT to its BLOCK is put at the end of the roof s BLOCK. It is followed by its ArchiCADspecific extended data. The graphical r epresentation of a beam contains its outline. It is drawn as POLYLINEs or LWPOLYLINEs. If there is a label attached to the beam, the INSERT to its BLOCK is put to the end of the beam s BLOCK. It is followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data. 86

89 Chapter 5: Technical Details MESH The graphical r epresentation of a mesh contains its outline and a number of holes and ridges. The outline is followed by the holes and then by the ridge specifications. Both the outline and the holes are drawn as POLYLINEs or LWPOLYLINEs. The (userdefined) ridges and the lines connecting the vertices ar e simple LINE entities. If there is a label attached to the mesh, the INSERT to its BLOCK is put to the end of the mesh s BLOCK. It is followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data. The INSERT to the mesh s BLOCK is put into the ENTITY section. It is followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data. The extended data doesn t contain the outline and the holes of the mesh, since it can be retrieved from the block itself. On the other hand, the ridge data and the z coor dinates of the outline/hole vertices are stored here. LINEAR DIMENSION (or simply DIMENSION) The graphical r epresentation of a linear dimension is made up of a number of lines, texts and arr owheads. This is all put into a BLOCK named DIM_<index>. RADIAL DIMENSION ANGLE DIMENSION LEVEL DIMENSION LABEL The graphical r epresentation of a radial dimension is made up of a couple of lines, a text and an arr owhead. This is all put into a BLOCK named RADDIM_<index>. The graphical r epresentation of an angle dimension is made up of an ar c, a number of lines, texts and arr owheads. This is all packed into a BLOCK named ANGLEDIM_<index>. The graphical r epresentation of a level dimension depends on what shape you chose, but it s made up of some lines, circles, solid fills and a text. This is all packed into a BLOCK named LEVDIM_<index>. The graphical r epresentation of a label is made up of two lines or a spline determined by three points, an arr owhead and either a text or a symbol. This is all packed into a BLOCK named LABEL_<index>. If the label is attached to a wall, column, slab, r oof, mesh or fill, its INSERT is put into the block of that element. If the label is attached to a window or door, its INSERT is put into the block of 87

90 Chapter 5: Technical Details the containing wall (see above). The INSERT of an independent label on the label of an OBJECT is put into the ENTITY section. In all cases it is followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data. FILL TEXT It is an ar ea enclosed by an outline and maybe with some holes inside. It is filled with a patter n. In Ar chicad, there are four ways to provide this pattern. - Solid The area should be completely filled. In AutoCAD R12 and R13 only triangular or quadrangular shapes can be filled with solid color, since there are only vector hatches. The result is that the solid fills will be triangulated. AutoCAD R14 intr oduced the solid hatch, so there are no conversion problems. - Empty This fill type is handled in the same way as the solid fills, but using the specified background color. - Vector R12 and R13 drawing files do not contain the definition of the referenced hatch patterns when you save the drawing in AutoCAD. The contour of the fill is exported as a POLYLINE and the generated hatch lines ar e placed in a simple BLOCK. The R14 drawing file for mat intr oduced the HATCH entity that owns the hatch definition also. When exporting R14 drawings, ArchiCAD fills will be converted into HATCH entities. - Symbol This sort of fill pattern cannot be converted into HATCH entities, since it is more complex than a simple vector fill. It is exported into HATCH BLOCKs, even in R14 mode. Only solid fills within the pattern will become HATCH entities in R14 mode. Text blocks preserve the justification and anchor point. The alignment point is based on the anchor point setting. If ther e is no #FONTCONV for its font, a style with a TrueType font is generated (except in R12 format where TrueType is not available). The STANDARD text style is used by default when a TEXT entity is exported. (See the description of the configuration file s #STYLECONV and #CHARCONV options also.) In order to load multi-line texts as ONE ArchiCAD text, they are stored in BLOCKs (since the Add-On receives them line by line). 88

91 Chapter 5: Technical Details Special considerations - If an element has a label, its block definition will contain the insert for the block of the label. Non-associated labels are inserted in the entities section. block ceil_45... insert label_23 endblk The exception is Library Parts (windows, doors, etc.), which must not store the label in the block. Therefore, the INSERT to the label follows the INSERT of the library part. - If an element contains fill lines, they ar e grouped into a separate block and inserted as part of the block definition of the given element. block wall_45... insert *ACX_24 endblk - If a window/door has dimensions, they are grouped into a separate block and inserted after the INSERT of the given opening. block WALL_3... INSERT WINDOW_12 endblk Custom window/door dimensions are parts of the block definition of the library part. - If a wall contains windows/doors, they ar e inserted as a part of the block definition of the wall. block wall_13... insert P_simple_door endblk - Dimensions ar e not converted into AutoCAD dimensions, just into blocks and inserts. 89

92 Chapter 5: Technical Details The ENTITY section LINE CIRCLE ELLIPSE ARC SPLINE If there are no arr owheads attached to it, it is r epresented by a simple LINE entity followed by the ArchiCAD-specific extended data. If ther e is at least one arr owhead, the line and the arr owhead(s) are put into a BLOCK. The ArchiCAD-specific extended data is attached to the INSERT in the ENTITY section. It is represented by a CIRCLE entity followed by the ArchiCAD specific extended data. Since it can t have arr owheads, it always goes into the ENTITY section. It is represented by an ELLIPSE entity followed by the ArchiCAD specific extended data. Since it can t have arr owheads, it always goes into the ENTITY section. If there aren t arr owheads attached to it, it is r epresented by a simple ARC entity followed by the ArchiCAD-specific extended data. If ther e is at least one arr owhead, the arc is put into a BLOCK along with the arr owhead(s). The ArchiCAD-specific extended data is attached to the INSER T in the ENTITY section (AutoCAD makes a distinction between full cir cles and ellipses but not between circular and elliptic ar cs). Note: R12 drawings do not support ellipses and elliptic ar cs; therefore, they are decomposed into POLYLINEs for that version. Since the spline drawing algorithm in Ar chicad differs from AutoCAD s, we export its linear approximation as an AutoCAD POLYLINE. If the output is an AutoCAD R14 DXF, this is r eplaced by an LWPOLYLINE entity. If there are no arr owheads attached to it, it is put into the ENTITY section. The ArchiCAD specific extended data is attached to the SEQEND (or the LWPOLYLINE). If there is at least one arr owhead, the POLYLINE representation is put into a BLOCK along with the arr owhead(s). The ArchiCADspecific extended data is attached to the INSERT in the ENTITY section. 90

93 Chapter 5: Technical Details HOTSPOT Although it appears as a small cr oss on the floor plan, it is represented by a POINT entity in the ENTITY section followed by the ArchiCAD-specific extended data. Reference to library elements Symbols placed on the project are inserted with the right rotation and scaling parameters. The INSER T entities ar e followed by their ArchiCAD-specific extended data blocks. Reference to complex elements Complex elements of the project are inserted. No transformation is required. The INSERT entities ar e followed by their ArchiCADspecific extended data blocks. In the case of slabs, roofs, meshes and fills with outline, these extended data blocks don t contain all the geometry. To save space, polygon outlines and holes can be retrieved from the native AutoCAD data instead. Export Using a Template Drawing The procedures are basically the same as those described above, so only the differences will be discussed here. This option makes sense only if used in conjunction with the by ArchiCAD layers convention. A bidir ectional transfer, DXF - ArchiCAD - DXF, poses the following problems: - some attributes ar e lost (or changed) during the process (line type of layer definitions, color indices) - if a library is generated, the definition of the library elements will contain modified layer, color, and line type infor mation - blocks may lose their defined attributes - elements ignored by ArchiCAD (shape) The solution is to keep the original input drawing file for use as a data r eference file to preserve information that would otherwise be missing. After analyzing the template file, the infor mation is used during the generation of the output drawing. The HEADER section Model-dependent variables generated as above. Other variables ar e taken from the template file. 91

94 Chapter 5: Technical Details The TABLES section LTYPE table LAYER table STYLE table VPORT, VIEW tables APPID table All the definitions fr om the template file are transferr ed. All the line type definitions of the ArchiCAD project that ar e not part of the template file are added. All the layers from the template file are written (if there is an identical Ar chicad layer, the status of the layer will be updated - locked, hidden- ). The other layers from the ArchiCAD project that ar e not part of the template file are added. All the style definitions from the template file are transferr ed. The AutoCAD default STANDARD style is added if it is not defined in the template drawing. Styles assigned in the configuration file ar e created with defaults also. If a text cannot be associated with any of them a new style with a TrueType font is created (except in R12). Not transferr ed from the template drawing. The original entries ar e preserved; AC650 entry is added. All the other tables from the template file will go through to the output file without any change. The original entries will be preserved. The BLOCKS section All the original blocks ar e exported without change, followed by the blocks generated according to the floor plan data. If a generated block name is the same as one in the template file, a dollar sign and the block index ar e appended (e.g., WALL_123$246). Blocks that ar e not defined in the template file ar e created as specified above. The ENTITIES section Nothing is used from the ENTITIES section of the template file. The generation of the section is not affected and is exactly the same as without template file. 92

95 Element Conversion Algorithms (Input) Chapter 5: Technical Details The HEADER section The HEADER section contains global data and curr ent settings of the DXF/DWG file. The used ones are listed below: - $ACADVER: the version identifier of the DXF/DWG file. It isn t used in input pr ocess. Used only during saving with a template file. - $TILEMODE: If you choose the Space defined in the document option in the Read DXF/DWG entities from: option, $TILEMODE determines whether Model space or Paper space entities are imported. If $TILEMODE is 1, Model space entities are imported; if it is 0 everything is imported (the Model space entities are transfor med into the Viewport and clipped). - $FILLMODE: Depending on this flag, some objects (TRACE, SOLID) must or need not be filled. - $EXTMIN, $EXTMAX: the extents of the drawing. If Model space entities are imported, they are used as zoom box to fit the drawing in the window. - $PEXTMIN, $PEXTMAX: the paper space extents of the drawing. If Paper space entities ar e imported, they are used as zoom box to fit the drawing in the window. - $DWGCODEPAGE: it contains the code page of the texts in the drawing. If the drawing code page is the same as your system code page, texts in the drawing don t have to be converted. If it isn t, attempts ar e made to convert the texts. Sometimes the conversion produces acceptable results (e.g., between Eastern Eur opean and Western code page); but there are cases when the conversion fails (e.g., Russian to Japanese).. The TABLES section LAYER table The original Ar chicad layers ar e deleted (except the ArchiCAD layer). Layer combinations ar e deleted, too. All the LAYER table items ar e imported with their locked and hidden flags. 93

96 Chapter 5: Technical Details LTYPE table VPORT table VIEW table STYLE table The original Ar chicad line types are deleted (except the SOLID line type). All the LTYPE table items are imported. Complex line types (containing 2D shapes) can be imported now into SYMBOL line types of ArchiCAD, provided the necessary shape files (.SHX) ar e available. The first active view port (named *ACTIVE) provides the following information: - grid on/off enables the floor plan grid display - main and auxiliary grid spacing - grid snap base, step and angle - zoom factor is disr egarded, the drawing will be displayed as fit in window The plan views will be converted into named Quick Views. Only top views are processed. Name and zoom factor is used to create the corresponding quick view definition. The STYLE table contains: - Font file specifications for the styles defined in the drawing - Shape file specifications for complex line types (see above) and for SHAPE entities If the Explode Vectorial Text option is set, the font files (only the SHX files!) ar e used to explode the texts into individual lines and ar cs (they are always grouped together). At least one valid SHX font file must be available (but pr eferably all the referenced ones) otherwise it can t be done. If you don t set the option, texts will be imported as texts. In the #STYLECONV and #FONTCONV sections of the configuration file you may attach fonts used by Ar chicad to the expected AutoCAD style names (STANDARD style is always present). Styles that aren t found in the #STYLECONV section are attached to a (country dependent) default font. If your AutoCAD-using client or consultant has a font set (TTF+SHX fonts) similar to the ones used by you (usually the names ar e similar, too) there is no problem; otherwise you can experiment with the #STYLECONV and #FONTCONV tables. 94

97 Chapter 5: Technical Details APPID table The presence of the AC650 entry is used to decide whether the drawing was exported from ArchiCAD. It affects the import of LINE TYPES (using their original ArchiCAD names instead of AutoCAD names) and the processing of ArchiCAD-specific extended data. Other tables are not processed. The BLOCKS section The way the content of the BLOCKS section is processed depends on several options: - Open as... ArchiCAD Pr oject Only the referred blocks data is used. Depending on the DXF/ DWG symbols option, they can be put on the Floor Plan (grouped or not grouped) or stored in Library Parts. Library Parts ar e made of the blocks directly referred from the ENTITIES section ( parent blocks ). The content of a block referred to by another block is stored as part of the Library Part made of the par ent block. - Open as... ArchiCAD Library All the BLOCKs are stored as Library Parts. The contents of the ENTITIES section remains unpr ocessed. Nothing goes to the Floor Plan. Note: anonym blocks (HATCH blocks) are never processed. - Add 3D data to Library Parts as: If the reading process involves creating Library Parts, you can read the 3D infor mation stor ed in the blocks. It can be stored in either binary or GDL for m. Please refer to the 3D infor mation section for mor e details. The ENTITIES section Every entity will be placed on the floor plan. AutoCAD ENTITY ArchiCAD element(s) POINT Line (with 0 length) LINE Line CIRCLE Circle ARC Arc ELLIPSE Ellipse or elliptic arc TEXT Text or exploded into lines, arcs (grouped) MTEXT (multi-line text) Text or exploded into lines, arcs (grouped) 95

98 Chapter 5: Technical Details SHAPE Contents of the Shape specification exploded POLYLINE, {VERTEX}*, - 2D: Line segments between consecutive SEQEND (that is, a vertices, solid fills (if it represents a POLYLINE entity POLYLINE) followed by at least 2-3D: Polyface, Mesh or 3D POLYLINE VERTEX entities and a SEQEND entity) LWPOLYLINE (R14) Line segments between consecutive vertices HATCH (R14) Fill objects (they may contain holes) LEADER Line segments between consecutive vertices. The arrowhead block is exploded at the beginning of the 1st segment (triangle for a default arrowhead) SPLINE Spline 3DLINE Line 3DFACE Line segments and a fill if it is filled on floor plan PLANE_ as 3D VPORT Lines around the viewport rectangle If the viewport is TOP VIEW the Model space elements are transformed and clipped into it for ArchiCAD; the model space is stored in the drawing in PlotMaker; the viewport will be a placed drawing INSERT [{ATTRIB}* - Explode the contents of the referred block SEQEND] (that is an (substitute the ATTDEFs with the matching INSERT optionally ATTRIBs) followed by a number - or store it into a Library Part and put an of ATTRIBs and a instance of that object onto the Floor Plan (treat the ATTDEFs treat the ATTDEFs as parameter specifications SEQEND entity) and the ATTRIBs as instance parameters) BLOCK, ENDBLK Nothing is generated (consistency checking only) DIMENSION see INSERT TRACE Lines around a triangle or rectangle and a fill inside, if it is filled SOLID Lines around a triangle or rectangle and a solid fill inside, if $FILLMODE is set MLINE Line segments, optional arcs and an optional solid fill XLINE Line segment (although XLINE represents an infinite construction line) RAY Line segment (although RAY represents a semiinfinite construction line) 96

99 Chapter 5: Technical Details If an entity r efers to a missing attribute, the default attribute of that sort will be attached to it, so that entity will have the corr ect attributes on the floor plan. Special Considerations ArchiCAD can place the drawing elements of a library part 2D symbol only into one layer, but AutoCAD allows entities in a block definition to r efer to different layers. This means that elements of the 2D symbol of the created library part can be placed with different attributes as in AutoCAD. The placed object will get the attributes of the INSERT entity in Ar chicad. The only options that completely preserve the layer, color, and line type attributes for each drawing element ar e the Explode and Explode but keep grouped options. Use one of these options if attribute modification is not allowed, because in these cases no object library is cr eated. ATTDEF entities become parametric texts in the created Library Part. They get value from the corresponding ATTRIB entity when this Library Part is placed on the pr oject. If the blocks are exploded to the floor plan, they become simple text blocks. A text block preserves the justification and anchor point. If the style name is found in the #STYLECONV or the font of that style in the #FONTCONV section, then the matching font is used; otherwise, a country-dependent default font is used. The font style is nor mal by default. AutoCAD settings may modify it to underlined. Italic style is generated if the text has lar ger slant value than 15 degr ees. (See the configuration file s #STYLECONV and #CHARCONV options also.) DIMENSION entities ar e not translated into Ar chicad dimensions, but decomposed into floor plan drawing elements. Basic AutoCAD Terminology In this following some AutoCAD related naming ter minology is explained. HEADER Section Only those header variables mentioned elsewhere in this document ar e described below. - $ACADVER: the version identifier of the DXF/DWG file. 97

100 Chapter 5: Technical Details - $TILEMODE: determines if paper space and paper space view port entities are enabled. 0: enabled 1. R10 compatibility mode ON (default) - $EXTMIN: lower left point of drawing extents - $EXTMAX: upper right point of drawing extents - $PEXTMIN: lower left point of paper space drawing extents - $PEXTMAX: upper right point of paper space drawing extents - $DWGCODEPAGE: the identifier of the code page of the system under which the drawing was written. Text characters interpretation is af fected by it. CLASSES Section The CLASSES section holds the information for application defined classes whose instances appear in the BLOCKS, ENTITIES, and OBJECTS sections of the drawing. AutoCAD version R12 files don t contain this section. TABLES section The TABLES section contains several tables, each of which can contain a variable number of entries. These tables ar e: APPID table Contains application ID strings. The default APPID entry is ACAD. BLOCK_RECORD table Contains the list of the blocks that ar e put into the BLOCK section. AutoCAD version R12 files don t contain this table. DIMSTYLE table LAYER table Contains dimension style specifications that contr ol the appearance (arr owheads, colors, line types, fonts) of the DIMENSION and LEADER entities they are attached to. If you ar e interested in their details, you can find them among the AutoCAD header variables. Contains the list of layers of the drawing. 98

101 Chapter 5: Technical Details LTYPE table STYLE table UCS table VIEW table VPORT table Contains the line type specifications. There ar e three mandatory line types in a drawing: CONTINUOUS, BYBLOCK and BYLAYER (the last two are intr oduced in the R13 for mat); and any number of user-defined (or predefined) line types. They can be simply dashed, dotted, a combination of the two, or line types with 2D shapes or texts inserted into them. its entries ar e used for different purposes: - Text styles: style names are associated to font files. In AutoCAD R12 only shape (.SHX) were supported as font files; in R13 and R14, other fonts, including T ruetype fonts, are supported as well. - Shape file assignments for complex line types or SHAPE entities. The user coordinate system (UCS) is an alternate movable coordinate system for entering coordinates. AutoCAD s editing commands take effect inside the UCS. Contains the view specifications in the drawing. A view is a portion of a drawing displayed in a view port. Divides the graphics area into multiple tiled viewports. The number and layout of active viewports and their associated settings are called viewport configurations. The VPORT table is unique; it may contain several entries with the same name (indicating a multiple-viewport configuration). The entries corresponding to the active viewport configuration all have the name *ACTIVE. The first such entry describes the current viewport. BLOCKS section It is often necessary to repeat a part of the drawing many times in different places, rotated or stretched. For this reason, it is useful to put them into BLOCKs. This saves room because the entities that form that part ar e not multiplied but stored only once. You also save time, as you only have to select those entities once; later you only have to recall the name you attached to that part (that is, the name of the BLOCK). Each block has an insertion point. When 99

102 Chapter 5: Technical Details you determine where to insert the block, the insertion point will be placed there. The BLOCKS section can contain any number of blocks. Entities in these blocks can insert other blocks. Circular references aren t allowed. There ar e different kinds of blocks: - User-created blocks contain entities the user put into them. Their names ar e given by the user. - Anonym blocks are created for the DIMENSION entities or for HATCHED areas to hold their graphical r epresentations. (AutoCAD R14 intr oduced the HATCH entities instead so in an R14 drawing you don t find blocks containing the hatch lines.) - Mandatory blocks called *MODEL_SPACE and *PAPER_SPACE appear since AutoCAD R13. In DXF files, they ar e always empty - in DWG files they contain the ENTITY section. Every block - be it user-created, anonym or mandatory - must be listed in the BLOCK_RECORD table (not necessarily in that order). ENTITIES section When you start an AutoCAD drawing everything you draw is put into the ENTITIES section. Later you can pick some of them and put them into blocks - but if you want to see them, you must INSERT those blocks into the ENTITIES section. Some entities automatically cr eate blocks (the DIMENSIONS and - in R12 and R13 - the HATCH operations do it). OBJECTS section Unlike entities, objects have no graphical or geometric data. The OBJECTS section contains all objects that ar e not entities. The DXF names of object types defined by an application must always be associated with a class name in the CLASS section. AutoCAD version R12 files don t contain this section. 100

103 Chapter 6: Tips & Tricks Chapter 6 Tips & Tricks AutoCAD: Pack & Go There is a featur e in AutoCAD that enables Ar chicad users to get all necessary files when receiving a DWG file from a consultant/ client working with AutoCAD. ArchiCAD users can suggest or require those working with AutoCAD to do the following: - In AutoCAD, write the Pack command and pr ess ENTER. This will start a utility in it that saves all files needed for a DWG file to a common directory, including text shape (*.SHX) files, external r eference DWG files (XREFs) and bitmap images placed in AutoCAD (*.BMP,*.TIF etc.).in this dialog, the user can specify the directory where all r elevant files will be saved. Then the AutoCAD user can take the content of that dir ectory and give it to the ArchiCAD user as a complete package. This is similar to Ar chicad s Archive file format, although not as elegant. With its use, data exchange between the two programs can be impr oved as all infor mation will be available in Ar chicad as needed. Getting various parts of composite ArchiCAD elements onto different layers in AutoCAD There ar e countries where regulations r equire that certain elements go to certain layers in a DXF/DWG file. For example, a composite wall is always on one layer in ArchiCAD because all primitive element parts of a wall go to the same layer. However, regulations may r equire that the various skins of these composite walls go to different layers. The following example will illustrate how to solve this problem: 101

104 Chapter 6: Tips & Tricks The above is a composite wall. Its skins from top to bottom are: common brick, rigid insulation and face brick. The skin fill pens are 99, 98 and 97, r espectively. The edge lines of the skins ar e all drawn with pen 1. The wall is placed with the Use line & fill colors of composite and Use background colors of composite checkboxes enabled, although only the latter will have an effect at DXF/DWG output. In the Configuration file, the #PENLAYERS command is used to specify to which layer elements with a certain pen should go. Let s enter the following: #PENLAYERS COMMON_BRICK 99 RIGID_INSULATION 98 FACE_BRICK 97 WALL_LINES 1 The result: In the resulting DXF/DWG file, all elements with pen 99 go to layer COMMON_BRICK, all elements with pen 98 go to layer RIGID_INSULATION, all elements with pen 97 go to layer FACE_BRICK and all elements with pen 1 go to layer WALL_LINES. Note: When you save a DXF/DWG file, a wall will usually become an AutoCAD block unless you check the Explode complex ArchiCAD elements checkbox. If this is so, first you need to explode the wall s block and then all the block parts will display their corr ect layer attributes. There may be another situation when this featur e is useful. Some users would like to be able to put the core skin of a composite wall to a layer other than the r est of the skins of the wall. This can be accomplished using the #PENLAYERS option. All you need to do is assign a specific color (e.g., PEN 255) to all skin layers of composite walls and add a statement to the #PENLAYER section of the Configuration file similar to this: #PENLAYERS WALL_CORES

105 Chapter 6: Tips & Tricks General recommendations for ArchiCAD Display Settings before saving as DXF/DWG There are certain options in Ar chicad s Display Options dialog that can gr eatly influence how resulting DXF/DWG files are generated. See the illustration below for the recommended settings. The two most important settings in this dialog ar e the Line Weight and Construction/Polygon Fills settings. When line weights in ArchiCAD ar e set to True Weight, the thick lines ar e saved in the AutoCAD file as polylines since in the DXF/DWG file it has to look exactly as in Ar chicad and this is the only way to achieve this. This can gr eatly incr ease file size. When the Hairline option is used, lines ar e saved as lines with no extra luggage involved. The other option is Fills. When a bitmap or vector option is selected, the resulting file can become a block of a huge number of lines. This is because both bitmap and vector fills are converted to vector fills in AutoCAD since it doesn t have a capability to display bitmap fills. File size incr ease is especially true when the Explode complex elements checkbox is checked in the save as DXF/DWG dialog, because this can tur n one single ArchiCAD fill into hundr eds or thousands of lines in the DXF/DWG file. Notes: - The Fill option is less relevant when saving as AutoCAD R14 because in that version fills ar e converted to fills. With previous AutoCAD versions this is not true. 103

106 Chapter 6: Tips & Tricks - The #SOLIDFILLS option in the Configuration fill can also affect how fills are imported. For more information, see the Configuration file section of the Customization chapter of this manual. - The file size increase can be quite significant. When you save a DXF/DWG file from a multi-megabyte Ar chicad project with poor settings, it may incr ease in size to several dozens of megabytes. This can prevent the file from saving because ArchiCAD simply runs out of memory. What difference does the write polygon edges checkbox of the Save 3D as DXF dialog make in the resulting file when it is checked? The illustration below shows a box saved as DXF with and without writing polygon edges. Both files were saved from the ArchiCAD 3D Window as DXF. The one on the left was saved with the write polygon edges option checked and the one on the right was saved when it was unchecked. 104

107 Chapter 7: Troubleshooting Q&A Chapter 7 Troubleshooting, Q&A The following section covers various pr oblems you may encounter while working with ArchiCAD s DXF/DWG IO Add-On, and offers suggestions on how to solve them. I want to open/save as DXF/DWG, but when I am in the File dialog, DXF/DWG is not listed among the File Types to choose from. There are two possible reasons for this. The first is that the Add-On is not in the proper place (the Add-Ons/Import-Export folder within the ArchiCAD folder) or is not loaded. Make sure the file is there or it is loaded with the Tools/Load Add-Ons menu command. The second possible reason is that the file was corrupted. If this is true, reinstalling the program can help. Alternatively, you can download the latest DXF/DWG Add-On from the Graphisoft website at I open a DXF/DWG drawing in ArchiCAD, but when I go to the 3D Window there is no 3D information there. When opening a DXF/DWG file as a project, ArchiCAD creates only 2D infor mation that will appear on the Floor Plan. If you also need the 3D information stor ed in the file, you need to open it as a Library Object and then place it onto the Floor Plan. 105

108 Chapter 7: Troubleshooting Q&A When I try to open a DWG or a DXF file, the Open DXF/ DWG File dialog box comes up, but I cannot choose from any configuration files. The configuration files need to be located in the same folder as the DXF/DWG Add-On. Also, the names of the configuration files must follow a certain convention: they start with DXF-DWG Config and their extension is always.txt. Y ou can add extra characters before the extension. Below are some examples: DXF-DWG Config - client1.txt - accepted DXF-DWG Config - client2.txt - accepted DXF-DWG Config.txt - client1 - refused, extensions was changed Client1 Config.txt - refused, file name doesn t start with DXF-DWG Config Please also make sure the file name (including the dot (.) and the extension (txt) does not exceed 31 character. This is needed for compatibility r easons between the Macintosh and Windows platforms. I set some options in the configuration file, but when I open a DWG or DXF file or save it in these formats it doesn t give me the expected result. It seems as if it hasn t executed certain commands. Check the syntax of the configuration file. All keywords must be all-capital letters and start with the # character. Any ar gument that contains spaces must be put between quotation marks. If any of these rules is not followed, the command in that line of the configuration file is not pr ocessed. By clicking the Details button in the Open/Save as DXG/DWG dialog box you can view what the result of the conversion will look like. If you don t see some of the options her e, it means that there is a problem with its syntax and ther efore it was not interpreted. You can click the Edit button in that dialog to edit the content of the file. When you save your changes, you will immediately see whether they fixed the problem. 106 I go to the Details of Configuration dialog box from the Open/Save as DXF/DWG dialog box, but I don t see a setting I defined when editing the configuration file. Configuration file entries ar e checked for syntax and only those that confor m ar e displayed in this dialog. Pr obably there is a syntactical err or in the Configuration file.

109 Chapter 7: Troubleshooting Q&A I sent a DXF/DWG file to a client/consultant who is using a CAD application other than AutoCAD, and I am told they cannot read the file. Two things should be checked. The first is what version of DXF/ DWG the other program is capable of importing. Then you need to make sure you save the file in that format. The other is that the file saved from ArchiCAD may have too complex of a structure of nested BLOCK definitions for the other program to read. In this case, you should try checking the Explode complex elements option in the Save as DXF/DWG dialog. Note: When saving as DXF, check the Create simplified file structur e option to achieve this. I added a DWG drawing to my PlotMaker layout, but it doesn t seem to display both Model space and Paper space entities. Make sure you use the Open Drawing command in PlotMaker and check the Paper Space as Layout, Model Space as Drawing checkbox in the file dialog. This is the only way you will get information contained in both spaces onto the PlotMaker layout. I cannot see the AutoCAD command menu item on the Tools menu. There are two possible reasons. The Add-On may not be in the proper place (the Add-Ons/Tools folder within the ArchiCAD folder or anywhere within the Add-Ons folder) or it may not be loaded. Make sure the file is there or it is loaded with the Tools/ Load Add-Ons menu command. The second r eason is that the file was corrupted. Reinstalling the program can help. I want to open/save a DXF/DWG drawing but when the dialog box opens all the options are grayed. This happens when options set in the dialog during a previous open/save session were captured from the Edit Configuration file dialog. This locks the content of the dialog to ensure that one set of options is always used. It is convenient because there is no need to set these options every time and it is less probable that someone opens/saves a DXF/DWG file with the wr ong settings chosen in the dialog. If you delete or uncomment the #DIALPARS section of the configuration file, the settings can then be modified. 107

110 Chapter 7: Troubleshooting Q&A I open a DWG drawing in ArchiCAD, but symbol AutoCAD line types do not come through. Parts of the definitions of symbol line types in AutoCAD are stored in shape files (with the SHX extension). There is a shape file in AutoCAD called ltypeshp.shx that can be found in the SUPPORT folder of AutoCAD. If you obtain this file from the AutoCAD user, then you can select it when ArchiCAD prompts you while opening the DWG file containing the symbol line types. Then the symbol line types of the other party will be available to you in ArchiCAD, although you might have to resize them in the Line Types dialog to fit your needs. Note: Some AutoCAD symbol line types contain characters. Example of this are the GAS_LINE or the HOT_WATER_SUPPLY line types. The characters of these line types will not come through in ArchiCAD, only their line segments. 108

111 Index Index #BYLAYER 64 #CHARCONV 51 #DIALPARS 58 #FONTCONV 57, 63, 94, 97 #LAYERCONV 54, 61 #LTYPECONV 55, 62 #NATIONAL 56, 64 #PENLAYERS 53, 61 #SEARCHPATH 55, 63 #SOLIDFILLS 56, 64 #SPECLAYER 61 #SPECLAYERS 52 #STYLECONV 52, 63, 94, 97 #TEMPLATE-FILE 64 #TEMPLATE_FILE 57 $ACADVER 93, 97 $DWGCODEPAGE 93, 98 $EXTMAX 93, 98 $EXTMIN 93, 98 $FILLMODE 93 $PEXTMAX 93, 98 $PEXTMIN 93, 98 $TILEMODE 93, 98 3D Data Handling ~ when opening DXF/DWG as Library Part 17 3D Information 33 ~ missing from converted file 105 A Add 3D data to Library Parts as 95 Add-On missing ~ 105 Adding 3D Data to Library Parts 15 Additional DXF Options ~ when saving 3D document 23 ANGLE DIMENSION 87 API 3 109

112 Index APPID ~ table 81, 92, 95, 98 ARC 90 ArchiCAD Library open DXF/DWG as ~ 13 ArchiCAD Project open DXF/DWG as ~ 11 Attach an XREF ~ command 44 Attached Files 36 Attaching an XREF 37 Attaching XREF Attach method 38, 73 Overlay method 38 ATTDEF 97 Attribute Conversion 78 AutoCAD Commands ~ missing from menu 107 AutoCAD Compatibility 4, 107 AutoCAD Shape Files 16 AutoCAD Tools ~ in ArchiCAD B BEAM 86 Binary DXF 21 BLOCK_RECORDS ~ table 81, 98 BLOCKS ~ section 82, 92, 95, 99 ~ section of template file 60 handling ~ when opening file 11 BYBLOCK ~ line type in AutoCAD 79 BYLAYER ~ attribute in AutoCAD 58 ~ line type in AutoCAD 79 C Capture Options ~ in configuration file 58 Capturing Settings 65 Character ~ conversion 51 ~ matching 6 special ~ conversion 56 CIRCLE 90 CLASSES ~ section 98 ~ section of template file Clients meeting ~ requirements 69 Code page conversion 6 Color Matching 33 ~ when opening DXF/DWG as ArchiCAD Project 18 ~ when opening DXF/DWG as Library Part 16 ~ when opening in PlotMaker 28 ~ when saving 3D AutoCADocument 23 ~ when saving AutoCAD 2D Document 21 ~ when saving from PlotMaker 31 ~ when saving Section as AutoCAD Document 25 ~when opening as Library Part 18 Colors 79 COLUMN 84 Command Reference 9 Complex Elements definition 82 handling ~ when saving 2D AutoCAD document 20 handling ~ when saving Section as AutoCAD document 25 Configuration File 49, 71, 106 ~ for opening DXF/DWG in PlotMaker 28 ~ for saving 2D AutoCAD document 18 ~ for saving 3D AutoCAD document 22 ~ for saving from PlotMaker 29 ~ for saving Section as AutoCAD document 24 check syntax 106 definition 47 Details 10 details of the ~ 61 editing the ~ 65 keywords 10 location of the ~ 10 selecting the ~ 10 Configuration Files 6 Conserving attributes 13 Consultants meeting ~ requirements 69 CONTINUOUS ~ line type in AutoCAD 79 Conversion ~ options 32 ~ with template file 77 ~ without template file 77 general ~ components 63 Coordinate System ~ conversion 81 Create Simplified File Structure ~ of 3D DXF file 23 Customization 47 Components 47

113 Index D Dashed ~ line type conversion 79 Data Exchange Model based on XREFs 72 Default Settings ~ for opening DXF/DWG file 13 Details ~ of the configuration file 10 DIMENSION ~ entities 87, 97 Dimension ~ style conversion 81 DIMSTYLE ~ table 81, 98 Directory Definition 55 Display Options ~ of Fills in ArchiCAD 57 DOORS 84 Drawing Unit Conversion ~ when opening as ArchiCAD Project 13 ~ when opening as Library Part 17 ~ when opening in PlotMaker 28 ~ when saving as 2D AutoCAD document 19 ~ when saving AutoCAD 3D document 22 ~ when saving from PlotMaker 30 ~ when saving Section as AutoCAD document 25 Drawing Units 32 Drawing Version 77 DXF/DWG Document opening a ~ 10 DXF/DWG Symbols ~ handled when opening file 11 E Element Conversion 81 ~ algorithms (input) 93 ~ algorithms (output) 77 Element Types layering according to ~ 20 ELLIPSE 90 Empty Fill 88 ENTITIES ~ section 92, 95, 100 ENTITY ~ section 90 ~ section of template file 60 Expert Options ~ for opening DXF/DWG file 14 ~ for saving 2D AutoCAD document 19 Explode 97 ~ contents of BLOCKS when opening file 11 ~ vectorial text 16 Export ~ using a template drawing 91 ~ without a template drawing 78 Extended Data ~ handling when opening DXF/DWG file 15 ~ handling when saving a 2D AutoCAD document 19 working with ~ 44 F FILL 88 Fill Conversion 56 Fixed Dialog Sets 7 Font Files 94 Fonts matching ~ 16 G Grid Conversion 81 H HEADER ~ section 91, 93, 97 ~ section of template file 59 Hotlinked Modules 75 HOTSPOT 91 I INSERT 83 Installation 3 Instances ~ of XREFs 37 K Keywords ~ in configuration file 10, 49 L LABEL 87 LAYER ~ table 80, 92, 93, 98 Layering 71, 97 ~ according to Pens

114 Index ~ when saving 2D AutoCAD document 20 ~ when saving 3D AutoCAD document 22 ~ when saving a 2D AutoCAD document 20, 30 ~ when saving a 3D AutoCAD document 22 conversion 80 conversion components 61 name conversion 54 Layers merging ~ in PlotMaker 31 special ~ for Doors/Windows 7, 52 LEVEL DIMENSION 87 LIBRARY PARTS 84 LIGHTS 84 LINE 90 Line Type Conversion 55 ~ components 62 LINEAR DIMENSION 87 Load Add-On ~ command 3 LTYPE ~ table 79, 92, 94, 99 M MESH 87 Model Space 14 ~ for saving 2D AutoCAD document 20, 30 ~ when opening in PlotMaker 27, 28 N Nesting ~ XREFs 36 New Features in ArchiCAD O OBJECTS ~ section 84, 100 ~ section of template file 60 Open as... ArchiCAD Library 95 Open as... ArchiCAD Project 95 Opening a DXF/DWG file ~ as a Library Part 16 ~ as ArchiCAD Library 13 ~ as ArchiCAD Project 11 ~ in ArchiCAD 10 ~ in PlotMaker 26 3D Data Handling 17 Overlay ~ method 73 P Pack ~ command in AutoCAD 101 Paper Space 14 ~ for saving 2D AutoCAD document 20, 30 ~ when opening in PlotMaker 27, 28 Paper Space/Model Space 34 ~ & ArchiCAD 5 ~ and PlotMaker 6 Pen colors layering according to ~ 20 PlotMaker 26 Model Space and Paper Space 107 Polygon Edges ~ handled when saving 3D AutoCAD document 23 Q QuickViews ~ conversion 81 R R12 version files 4 R13 version files 4 R14 version files 4 RADIAL DIMENSION 87 Read DXF/DWG Entities from ~ options in ArchiCAD 14 ~ options in PlotMaker 28 Reference Name ~ of XREFs 37 Restoring ArchiCAD Elements 15 Restoring ArchiCAD Floor Plan Elements 19 ROOF 86 S Save 2D AutoCAD Document 18 configuration file selection 18 Save 3D AutoCAD Document 21 Save DXF/DWG Document ~ from PlotMaker 29 Save Section as AutoCAD document 24 Select all XREFs ~ command 44 Setting up a Project 69 Shape Files

115 Index Simple Element definition 82 SLAB 86 Solid Fill 88 SOLID LINE ~ line type in ArchiCAD 79 SPLINE 90 STANDARD ~ dimension style in AutoCAD 81 ~ style in AutoCAD 80, 94 Status ~ for XREFs 37 STYLE ~ table 80, 92, 94, 99 Symbol ~ line types in ArchiCAD 79 missing ~ line types 108 Symbol Fill 88 Symbols nonparametric ~ 85 paramatric ~ 85 Synchronize Pens ~ command 44 T TABLES ~ section 78, 92, 93, 98 ~ section of template file 60 Target Application 18 Technical Details 77 Template File 59, 70 ~ specification 57 definition 47 Text ~ conversion components 63 ~ style conversion 52, 80 TrueType 52 ~ font matching 6, 57 Type ~ of XREFs 37 U View Mode ~ in XREF Management 36 Viewports 6 VPORT ~ table 81, 92, 94 W WALL 82 WINDOWS 84 Working with Extended Data 44 Write Binary DXF ~ option when saving 3D AutoCAD document 24 ~ option when saving from PlotMaker 31 ~ option when saving Section as AutoCAD document 25 X XREF Management 5 ~ command 35 XREFs 73 data exchange based on ~ 72 Z ZONE STAMPS 84 UCS ~ table 81 V Vector Fill 88 VIEW ~ table 81, 92,

116 Index 114

117 Contents Contents Introduction 1 Overview of the Manual 2 Installation 3 AutoCAD Compatibility 4 Chapter 1: New Features in ArchiCAD XREF Management Paper Space/Model Space Handling Configuration Files Enhanced Character Matching New Configuration File Options Chapter 2: Command Reference 9 ArchiCAD Functionality 9 Open DXF/DWG Document Selecting a Configuration File Opening the File as Project or Library Drawing Unit Conversion Default Values and Additional Options Expert Options Restore ArchiCAD Elements Add 3D Data to Library Parts Explode Vectorial Text Color Matching Open DXF/DWG Document as Library Part D Data Handling Drawing Unit Conversion Match colors to AutoCAD color table i

118 Contents Save 2D AutoCAD document Select Configuration File Target Application Drawing Unit Conversion Expert Options Save 3D AutoCAD document Select Configuration File Target Application Drawing Unit Conversion Layer Construction Color Matching Write Polygon Edges Additional DXF Options Use Defaults Save Section as AutoCAD document Select Configuration File Target Application Drawing Unit Conversion Handling Complex Elements Color Matching Write Binary DXF Use Defaults PlotMaker Functionality 26 Open DXF/DWG Document Placing in Paper Space or Model Space Select Configuration File Drawing Unit Conversion Read DXF/DWG Entities from Color Matching Use Defaults Save DXF/DWG Document Select Configuration File Target Application Drawing Unit Conversion Layer Construction Color Matching Write Binary DXF Merge Layers Use Defaults Conversion Options 32 Drawing Units Default Values Color Matching On Input ii

119 Contents On Output D Information Paper and Model Space Working with AutoCAD Tools 35 XREF Management View Mode Buttons Attach Detach Reload Unload Bind XREF found at Browse Show Log Attach an XREF Select all XREFs Synchronize Pens Working with Extended Data 44 Chapter 3: Customization 47 Components 47 The Configuration File The Template File Details of the Configuration File Layer Conversion Components Line Type Conversion Components Text Conversion Components General Components Capturing the Dialog Settings Edit the Configuration File Chapter 4: Workflow Models 69 Setting up a Project 69 Confirming the Protocol Data Exchange Model based on XREFs 72 Chapter 5: Technical Details 77 Element Conversion Algorithms (Output) 77 Export without Template Drawing Attribute Conversion (TABLES section) Element Conversion Export Using a Template Drawing iii

120 Contents Element Conversion Algorithms (Input) 93 Special Considerations Basic AutoCAD Terminology 97 Chapter 6: Tips & Tricks 101 Chapter 7: Troubleshooting, Q&A 105 Index 109 iv