GEOiD. and Autodesk files

GEOiD and Autodesk files GEO Instrument Prins Hendrikstraat 26 6828 GR Arnhem, The Netherlands Tel: (+31)-(0)26-3619900 Fax: (+31)-(0)26-3619666 E-mail: info@geo-instrument.com Website: www.geo-instrument.com Version 2.2 August 2014 1999-2014 GEO Instrument, all rights reserved GEOiD and GEO:LAT are registered trade names of GEO Instrument GEO Instrument is the trade name of GEO Informatiesystemen MS Windows, Autodesk, AutoCAD, DXF, DWG, DWF and Clean Drawing are registered trade names of their respected owners

Contents General... 3 Prefatory note... 3 Autodesk file formats... 4 The DXF and DWG file format... 4 The AutoCAD file format... 5 What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats... 6 The DWF file format... 8 Known DWF file format issues... 10 The PLT file... 12 Making a PLT file with AutoCAD... 12 Before you start using DWG files... 14 Hints... 14 Clean drawing... 15 Cleaning your AutoCAD drawings... 15 Open Design Alliance... 16 Need for ODA... 16 Notes... 17 Notes... 17 References... 18 Information... 18 Index... 19 2 Contents GEOiD and Autodesk files

General Prefatory note Prefatory note This manual offers additional information for the GEOiD users who use imported Autodesk DXF, DWG or DWF files in order to takeoff quantities. The manual is based on our clients as well as our own experience using DXF, DWG and DWF files. It a subject to further development with the years of gained specialised knowledge and expertise. Erwin R. Robijn Managing director GEOiD and Autodesk files General 3

Autodesk file formats The DXF and DWG file format Introduction DXF (Data Exchange Format) is a file format, meant for exchanging graphical information between different applications. DWG (DraWinG) is a specific internal drawing format. Both formats developed by Autodesk. DXF file format Universal exchange format created to enable work with CAD data in applications other than the AutoCAD software. Main disadvantage of the universal exchange format is that not all drawing information is properly saved in a DXF file, e.g. some cases of text objects, symbols, hatchings, etc. DWG file format Specific internal drawing format used in the Autodesk applications. Using the DWG file format in non-autodesk products may result in different sorts of problems because the DWG data structure is not entirely published. Problems using DWG files may well occur also while exchanging data between Autodesk applications. See What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats on page 6. Our membership of the Open DWG Alliance ensures you of the fact that the latest DWG technology is included in the GEOiD software. History of the DWG file format DWG (recognisable by the.dwg file name extension) originates from the Interact CAD package, developed by Mike Riddle at the end of the 70ts and acquired by Autodesk in 1982 as starting point for AutoCAD. From 1982 until 2009, Autodesk released versions of AutoCAD resulting in 19 DWG file format variations of which no source is made public. The DWG format has become the standard for the exchange of CAD drawings. The current official file format AutoCAD 2012 DWG is the same DWG-file format as in AutoCAD 2010 and 2011. The AutoCAD DWG-format is also the same DWG-file format used in the latest versions of sector specific Autodesk products suchs as AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Electrical and AutoCAD Mechanical. Despite this, files can be easily exchanged between users using earlier versions of for example AutoCAD. The difference between the DXF and DWG file format The difference between the DWG and DXF format are similar to the difference between MS Word DOC and RTF format. The DWG (and DOC) is the original (binary) format while DXF (and RTF) mainly are text based exchange formats (with an open, documented structure). The text format of DXF is responsible for the difference in file size. DWG files can be refered to as a kind of ZIP file. Data is very much compressed using a key. To read DWG files you therefor require the right key to understand the binary data. Keys are changed which every release to keep files as small as possible. See also: The DWF file format on page 8 What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats on page 6 Hints on page 14 Open Design Alliance on page 16 4 Autodesk file formats GEOiD and Autodesk files

Autodesk file formats The AutoCAD file format Introduction Sometimes it is necessay to change the file format to enable improvements that are requested by users as happened with AutoCAD and similar products. A new DWG format was required that is capable to save improvements in the AEC-objects (such as wall, rooms, windows, doors etc). This paragraph describes the AutoCAD format. There are two ways to share new data with others 1) You may activate the function Export to AutoCAD to use file formats that are compatible with older versions of AutoCAD. The Architectural Desktop of Building Systems -file is saved in a uniform AutoCAD -format. The AEC-objects can no longer be represented or manipulated because they are constructed as primitive 2D elements. 2) You may convert objects as proxy objects, which is what automatically happens when you activate the function Save as and select an older version of AutoCAD. The transferred data are usable for those who use an older product version. AutoCAD file format supports all new functions and entity types that are introduced in AutoCAD, including what is refered to by Autodesk as: Trusted DWG. Trusted DWG is the marketing name for a series of codes that are used to tracé AutoCAD DWGfiles that are writen by other than Autodesk ", says ODA-CEO Evan Yares. "It has nothing to do with the liability of a DWG-file and only confuses users by stating that opening DWG files (non AutoDesk) may result in an unstable AutoCAD working environment. See also: What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats on page 6 Hints on page 14 Open Design Alliance on page 16 GEOiD and Autodesk files Autodesk file formats 5

Autodesk file formats What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats Introduction Problems related to exchanging digital drawings are a common phenomenon in every CAD environment. There is certain number of repeating and distinct problems that occur in applications while exchanging drawings in DWG or DXF format. This paragraph describes some of the most frequent problems with possible solutions provided. Save as With the development of AutoCAD, the standard AutoCAD DWG format has been developing as well. The most recent release of AutoCAD uses a different version of DWG format in comparison to its predecessors. In order to simplify exchanging DWG files between AutoCAD applications with different but still up-to-date in terms of data format versions, AutoCAD has provided the Save as functionality with an option to select the proper format (version) to write to. The possible loss of information or functionality caused by saving the AutoCAD drawings into a lower version format used to create problems in the past but is acceptable when exchanging files between the latest releases. The DXF format functionality is identical to the DWG one: saving a drawing in DXF format and importing the drawing in the same AutoCAD release, does not cause loss of information, functionality or other problems. Again, also for the DXF format, AutoCAD has provided the Save as functionality with the option to select a proper output format (version). Problems caused by differences in the AutoCAD-setup In the process of exchanging drawings in DWG format between AutoCAD users problems may occur. AutoCAD can read the DWG files however problems can arise with different AutoCAD settings for colours, line types, layers, text and dimension styles. Although not fatal, those problems are not always easy to solve. They can be resolved partially with the standard AutoCAD functionality, e.g. the Layer Translator, or using other available applications. A good example is the AutoCAD application AXF, developed by Upwards CAD Applicaties. AXF provides a collection of procedures able to correct a wide range of problems in AutoCAD drawings. Problems caused by strange entities When exchanging drawings, the general AutoCAD entities (lines, circles, arcs, quantities, etc) cause no problems. AutoCAD plug-ins that creates specific entities may cause problems. A major problem arises when these entities have to be imported and manipulated in AutoCAD without the proper plug-in being present. AutoCAD generates in this case so called proxy-entities. A good example is the mechanical application Mechanical, a genuine Autodesk product. In a drawing created with AutoCAD Mechanical, posnumbers and material lists are strictly specific Mechanical entities. A user without AutoCAD Mechanical, who wants to continue working with the drawing, cannot edit these entities. CAD software, different than AutoCAD, often do not recognise these strange entities while importing DWG or DXF files. The biggest problems while exchanging drawings in DWG or DXF format occur, when these drawings are created with CAD software other than AutoCAD. The fact that CAD software provides the option to save drawings as DXF or even as DWG format is no guarantee for correct drawing data. Some examples Lines, circles and arcs. In all CAD applications two points define a line, causing no exchange problems. Unfortunately, it is different with some more complex entities, e.g. circles. AutoCAD defines a circle by a centre point and radius. Some CAD applications, however, define a circle by a centre point and an arc of 360 degrees. In AutoCAD it is not possible to draw an arc of 360 degrees. If a DXF file, created with this specific CAD application, that is imported in AutoCAD, the circles constructed as arcs of 360 degrees, may be initially presented correctly, but if edited, AutoCAD updates them into arcs of zero degrees. This results in circles being reduced to simple points in the drawing and the visual disappearance of those circles. Arcs of zero degrees and circles with zero radiuses are entities that frequently exist in DXF files created with CAD applications different than AutoCAD. These entities are barely visible and, therefore, redundant. Besides these barely visible entities, really invisible entities are also commonly present. Empty text and block definitions are amongst the most frequently present invisible entities. In both cases, AutoCAD saves complete entity data in the drawing, e.g. position, size and angle, while the entity itself does not contain any information (the inserted text is empty or contains spaces only and the block definition does not include any subentities of which normally a block should be composed). These entities are very difficult for the user to delete and also do not disappear after invoking the AutoCAD purge command. Besides this problem, entities are often included while copying the drawing, or for example, while importing the drawing as a block. As a result, drawings are extremely polluted and even the smallest of those drawings, as far as the file size is concerned, is enormous and, therefore, unmanageable for the user. Clean drawing, an application developed by Upwards CAD applications, removes all the invisible and almost invisible redundant entities. Dimensions AutoCAD 2008 and 2007 include almost 80 dimension lay-out options. Options that determine how dimensions should appear, in terms of lay-out and value of dimension, tolerance texts, rounding value, colours and lay-out of lines, arrows etc. In addition, AutoCAD provides a feature to save true dimension entities, entities with type dimension, as separate block definition. When dimensions inserted with AutoCAD, blocks are created and updated by AutoCAD, resulting in dimension entities and blocks that match. 6 Autodesk file formats GEOiD and Autodesk files

Many other CAD applications do not write dimensions in DXF or DWG files as dimensions, but as static blocks. When such a file is imported in AutoCAD, dimensions do not update automatically if edited or tolerance and rounding values are omitted. Some CAD applications do write dimensions in DXF of DWG files as dimensions. In this process, however, not all dimension options are set correctly and the block definitions do not match dimension entities. This results in dimension entities that, after being edited by user, are updated by AutoCAD based on wrong block definitions. The dimension layout in those cases usually changes entirely: lines and arrow points, tolerance and rounding values change. The AXF application, mentioned above, includes several procedures to correct dimensions and dimension layout. From 3 to 2D Specific data exchange problems appear also when 2D drawings are built in 3D CAD software. The DWG or DXF file created with a 3D CAD application contains the "flattened" 3D model. This often results in double lines and the redundant zero length lines, mentioned above. Conclusion In general, we can conclude that problems are likely to occur when drawing data is exchanged in DXF or DWG format. Those problems are likely to increase if data is exchanged between non-autocad applications. Unfortunately, AutoCAD provides no functionality in order to solve these problems. Special applications, however, may do the job. Certain corrections can be performed in AutoCAD before saving files for other CAD users, while other corrections must be performed with AutoCAD after receiving files from the other CAD user. See also: The DWF file format on page 8 Hints on page 14 GEOiD and Autodesk files Autodesk file formats 7

Autodesk file formats The DWF file format Introduction Design Web Format (DWF) is a secure file format developed by Autodesk for the efficient distribution and communication of rich design data to anyone who needs to view, review, or print design files. Because DWF files are highly compressed, they are smaller and faster to transmit than design files, without the overhead associated with complex CAD drawings (or the management of external links and dependencies). With DWF functionality, publishers of design data can limit the specific design data and plot styles to only what they want recipients to see and can publish multisheet drawing sets from multiple AutoCAD drawings in a single DWF file. They can also publish 3D models from most Autodesk design applications. DWF files are not a replacement for native CAD formats such as AutoCAD drawings (DWG). The sole purpose of DWF is to allow designers, engineers, project managers, and their colleagues to communicate design information and design content to anyone needing to view, review, or print design information without these team members needing to know AutoCAD or other design software. The current AutoCAD file format (.dwfx) is based on ISO/IEC 29500-2:2008 Open Packaging Conventions. This paragraph describes the DWF file format. Technology DWF is a file format developed by Autodesk for representing design data in a manner that is independent of the original application software, hardware, and operating system used to create that design data. A DWF file can describe design data containing any combination of text, graphics, and images in a device independent and resolution independent format. These files can be one sheet or multiple sheets, very simple or extremely complex with a rich use of fonts, graphics, color, and images. The format also includes intelligent metadata that captures the design intent of the data being represented. The DWF technology centers on three components: C++ libraries for developers a viewer for project team members who wish to view design data without knowing AutoCAD a writer that allows anyone to create a DWF file from any application DWF Toolkit DWF is an open file format. Autodesk publishes the DWF specification and makes available C++ libraries for any developer who wants to build applications around the DWF format, with the DWF Toolkit. Furthermore, DWF is based on other industry standards such as ZLIB, XML, and common image formats. DWF files (since version 6.0) are a ZIP-compressed container for the drawing files; despite the first few bytes of the file containing a DWF header, renaming a.dwf file to.zip will allow the component files inside to be viewed with archive compression software. Amongst various XML and binary files, is a PNG format thumbnail preview. DWF can be interfaced with.net Libraries. Design Review Autodesk Design Review (http://www.autodesk.com/designreview) is a free viewing application that enables all members of the project team to easily view, measure, markup and print designs shared electronically. Built around the DWF file format, Design Review enables users to view and print complex 2D and 3D drawings, maps, and models published from Autodesk design applications or from the DWF Writer. Also, all Markups and Annotations created in Design Review can be imported to the original file when using Autodesk applications, such as AutoCAD, Inventor or Revit Architectural. This feature makes DWF the ideal format for design reviewing and collaboration processes. DWF Writer Autodesk DWF Writer software publishes the DWF format from CAD applications that do not offer built-in DWF publishing, such as Bentley MicroStation or Dassault s Solidworks software. Autodesk DWF Writer is a Windows printer driver that converts files to DWF format. The result is that the entire project team can standardize on a common file format to exchange and review designs and sheet sets, at no additional cost. Freewheel In 2007, Autodesk introduced an online translator for DWFs called Freewheel (http://freewheel.autodesk.com/). Freewheel is a way to view a DWF file without downloading software. It is also a web service which offers developers a web-based interface for viewing, querying, and manipulating DWF files. 8 Autodesk file formats GEOiD and Autodesk files

Platforms Autodesk's DWF viewers (except for Freewheel) are all based on Microsoft Windows. The DWF Toolkit is available on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Third parties have created DWF tools on other platforms besides Windows; an example is the Mac OS X viewer McDwiff (http://www.macdwf.com/). History The DWF format first appeared in 1995 as part of the unveiling of Autodesk's "WHIP!" Netscape Navigator plug-in. The format was originally referred to as the Drawing Web Format, since DWF files were generated by the Autodesk Internet Publishing Kit. As the format grew in use beyond just AutoCAD, it was renamed to Design Web Format. Although originally a 2D-only format, DWF has evolved to include 3D. Today DWF files are generated by all Autodesk products. In addition, there are a variety of third-party applications that make use of the format. As of March 3 2008 Portuguese Law (DL 60/2007; P. 216-E/2008 #8) requires all information regarding Urban and Building licensing, in all Municipalities in Portugal, to be delivered and managed in PDF when written, DWF when drawn. This solution had already been adopted by the City of Lisbon (Portugal's Capital) in 2007, making this town the first in the world to officially adopt DWF. Alternatives PDF is an internationally recognized open file format developed by Adobe Systems to allow electronic exchange of any printable document, independent of the source application software, hardware and operating system. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an open, XML based file format. It is suitable for use both as a format for creating and editing drawings and as a format viewing and publication. For instance, Inkscape uses SVG as its native format, and both the Firefox and Opera browsers natively display SVG. Source www.wikipedia.org See also: Wikipedia DWF topic Known DWF file format issues on page 10 GEOiD and Autodesk files Autodesk file formats 9

Autodesk file formats Known DWF file format issues This paragraph describes issues that effect the use of DWF in AutoCAD, CAD based software like GEOiD as well as DWF viewers. DWF does not show after import in GEOiD Because the GEOiD-Main window is the same as Model space in CAD software, CAD drawings that are exported to DWF file format from within Paper space do not show in the GEOiD-Main window. Users needs to execute the following procedure to show Paper space based DWF files in the GEOiD-Main window after import into GEOiD. Select from the menu Edit Explode all blocks. Select View Regenerate drawing. The DWF drawing is now visible in the GEOiD-Main window and can be used to take-off quantities etc. As from the GEOiD that will be released in the summer of 2012, functionality is added that automate the steps mentioned above. Line weight too strong The AutoCAD default DWF plotter (see picture below) include several options that influence the appearance of the graphic in particular the line weight. The line weight becomes too strong in compare to the original DWG drawing. Do you see this? When you want to see this? The effect is caused by three settings: Plot object lineweights; Plot with plot styles and Inch notation. 10 Autodesk file formats GEOiD and Autodesk files

The DWF author is adviced to uncheck Plot object lineweights; Plot with plot styles and change the notation to mm (metric) in the default AutoCAD DWF plotter configuration file, see picture below. Additional information from the Autodesk forum You must use a DWF PC3 (plotter configuration) file to plot DWF files. By default, AutoCAD plots are plotted with line weights. If you haven t specified line weight values in the Layer Properties Manager, a default line weight of.01 inches is applied to all graphical objects when you plot a drawing. This can cause areas of your plotted DWF files to look significantly different from how they appear in the AutoCAD drawing area when viewed in an external viewer or Internet browser, particularly during zoom operations. To avoid this, clear the Plot with Line weights option from the Plot Settings tab in the Plot dialog box. From: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autodesk-design-review/line-weight-problem-viewing-dxf-dwf-files/td-p/2392510 As from the GEOiD that will be released in the summer of 2012, functionality is added to allow user to change line weights and line colours. GEOiD and Autodesk files Autodesk file formats 11

The PLT file Making a PLT file with AutoCAD Introduction You may perform take-offs from a PLoT file as with a DXF or DWG file. As with a DXF or DWG file, drawing information in a plot file consists of vectors. Advantage of a plot file however is that it does not include references to external sources as may well be so with a DWG file. (See What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats on page 6). The plot file includes all the information necessary to plot the drawing. This paragraph describes how to make a plot file using AutoCAD. Select from the menu File Plotter manager. A list with available plotters is displayed. Select Add a plotter wizard. Confirm by pressing the Next button. Select My computer. Confirm by pressing the Next button. In the plotter model window select Hewlett Packard from the Manufacturers list. Select 7586B from the Models list. Confirm by pressing the Next button. In the import Pcp or Pc2 window apply the Next button. In the Ports window select Plot to file. Select a COM-port from the COM-port list. Confirm by pressing the Next button. In the plotter name window enter the desired plotter configuration name, in the entry field Plotter name. Confirm by pressing the Next button. In the Finish window press the Edit Plotter Configuration button. The Plotter configuration editor is displayed. Select the tabsheet Device and document settings. Select Source and size from the settings list. If needed apply the +/- button to open or close the list of a sub-list. Select the desired paper format in the window section Size. We advice ISO AØ. Select Physical Pen Characteristics from the settings list and change stylus colours wenn required. Close with OK. The software returns to the Finish window. Press the Finish button. The software returns to the main window. Select from the menu File Plot. Select the tabsheet Plot settings. Adjust settings as mentioned below: -Save changes to layout; -Paper size ISO AØ (841.00 x 1189.00 MM); -Printable area mm; -Drawing orientation Landscape; -Plot scale 1:1; -Plot area Extends; -Plot offset X Ø, Y Ø; -Plot options Plot with plot styles. 12 The PLT file GEOiD and Autodesk files

Select the tabsheet Plot device. Select the desired plotter configuration (7586B). Enter the name of the plot file to be and select the desired file location. Check settings below: - Plot style table name Acad.ctb; - What to plot Current tab; - Plot to file Plot to file. Press the OK button to make the plot file and to save it on the indicated location. You may continue by using the plot file to perform take-offs. Use of colours If the PLT file incorporates (HPGL/2) coloures, than the GEOiD software will use these colours. If not, the GEOiD software will apply the following default colours for the first 18 styli. See table below. Stylus colour table Pen Pen 0 Pen 1 Pen 2 Pen 3 Pen 4 Pen 5 Pen 6 Pen 7 Pen 8 Pen 9 Pen 10 Pen 11 Pen 12 Pen 13 Pen 14 Pen 15 Pen 16 Pen 17 Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Lime Gray Purple Silver Maroon Teal Navy Olive Fuchsia Aqua Light Gray Dark Gray GEOiD and Autodesk files The PLT file 13

Before you start using DWG files Hints Introduction This paragraph provides some hints on how to reduce the chance of getting problems in DWG files. Additional drawing components While creating the drawing, the author must be aware of the fact that most likely the party receiving them will not have the same set of additional plug-ins and/or external drawing components used. Hint1 The constructor must include information regarding the additional drawing components used while creating the drawing. XREF indicators It is possible to link external drawings to a DWG drawing using the XREF command. However, this may cause error messages in other CAD software and insertion blocks are invisible. The XREF command links a document/drawing (usually available only on the PC of the constructor) into the current drawing without physically including it. Similar situation is a MS Word document containing references to other documents or data, e.g. graphics, etc. If the document which referred to is not included and the references information is not adjusted, an error message pops-up with the missing components enumerated. Hint2 The XREF reference should be included in the drawing as a real block entity. Use the AutoCAD commands XREF or XBIND to bind the XREF reference. See your AutoCAD manual. Empty layers A CAD drawing usually contains multiple layers. Unfortunately many layers appear to be empty. Empty layers contribute significantly to the size of the CAD drawing. Consequently the CAD drawing claims more capacity from your computer. Processing the CAD drawing takes more time. The computer becomes slower. Hint3 The constructor should remove all empty layers, using the PURGE command. The PURGE command removes all redundant layers from the CAD drawing. Errors in the CAD drawing Use the AUDIT command to remove errors from the CAD drawing. See also: What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats on page 6 14 Before you start using DWG files GEOiD and Autodesk files

Clean drawing Cleaning your AutoCAD drawings Introduction Clean drawing is software, developed by Upwards in Arnhem (The Netherlands) that prepares AutoCAD drawings to smooth exchange with other graphical applications, e.g. GEOiD. Upwards is authorized AutoDesk Developer and has many years of experience with conversion problems. From the newsletter of Upwards "Polluted" AutoCAD-drawings appear more often and the "pollution" becomes increasingly worse. For several years empty blockdefinitions and empty texts where usually responsible for incorrect links and entities in technical drawings. Recently, different problems pop up: - Increasing amount of 'wrong' entities as a result of exchanging drawings with other CAD applications, rather than AutoCAD. - Double, overlapping or interfering lines as a result of exchanging drawings made with 3D CAD-software. - The so-called 'proxy' entities as a result of exchanging drawings created with applications that make their 'own' entities (e.g. AutoCAD Mechanical). - Wrong use of layer filters from within other CAD software, different than AutoCAD, result in thousands, sometimes tens of thousands 'layer filters', which in turn result in an unworkable drawing. Clean Drawing offers all features to resolve described problems. All options are easy to manipulate in the special dialog provided. Together with the possibility to execute relevant actions in all Lay-outs and the option 'Purge All', the drawing can be completely cleaned by using Clean Drawing. Often file size can be reduced with 50 to 90% without losing significant graphical information, of course. Hint The complete newsletter text can be found on http://www.upwards.nl/applicaties/meer/meer.htm. More information For more information and pricing, you may contact our Sales department, phone +31-(0)26-3619900 or the Upwards company +31-(0)26-3818531. GEOiD and Autodesk files Clean drawing 15

Open Design Alliance Need for ODA Introduction As mentioned before the construction of the DWG file format is not made public. There was however a growing needs to get access to the construction of DWG files by software developers who wanted to read and write these files. Users of DWG files required access to the contents of files but did not require AutoCAD for their purposes. Eventually this lead to the foundation of ODA (Open Design Alliance). ODA s mission Despite the public availability of transparent file formats like IGES and STEP, the majority of CAD drawings is saved in genuine formats, suchs as the DWG file format which is World wide the most popular format for saving and exchanging of 2D and 3D CADdrawings. In the US and commonly governmental institutes demand that drawing data is saved and supplied in DWG format. ODA s goal is to provide libraries that enable reading and writing CAD files such as DWG and DGN or other formats if necessary. For this a membership is required. ODA commits herselve to maintain compatibilty between DWGdirect libraries and the DWG-file format. ODA developers have always been capable to update ODA-libraries within one year after a new release of Autodesk AutoCAD. ODA offers OpenDWG, not as substitute for the DWG-file format, but because it is compatible with DWG-file format. OpenDWG distincts itselve because it is a well documented standard that is supported by an advanced program library which is available to ODA members. There are over 400 software producers who use OpenDWG. The amount of OpenDWG members is significant larger than that of Autodesk DWG. What does GEO s ODA membership bring you? Participating in ODA means: Participating in a World wide band of attentive and interested developers in CAD-oriented applications. A huge knowledge base so to speak in which GEO also contributes towards transparency and accessibilty to each and everyone. GEO s ODA membership for you implies that you are assured bespoken techniques that are supported by a multidisciplinary team of specialists. See also: What do you need to know when using DXF and DWG file formats on page 6 16 Open Design Alliance GEOiD and Autodesk files

Notes Notes Introduction We appreciate any additional information, suggestions and remarks that may contribute to a better understanding of the graphics exchange problem and assist providing better solutions. Send your remarks to support@geo-instrument.com. My remarks See also: GEO s web page Support - Downloads GEOiD and Autodesk files Notes 17

References Information The company Upwards Upwards CAD applications Ing. M. Bronsema Koewei 7 6843 ZL Arnhem The Netherlands E-mail info@upwards.nl Website http://www.upwards.nl 18 References GEOiD and Autodesk files

Index A Additional drawing components... 14 AUDIT command... 14 AutoCAD setup... 6 C Clean drawing... 15 D Dimensions... 7 DWF does not show after import in GEOiD... 10 DWG file format... 4 DXF file format... 4 E Empty layers... 14 F From 2 to 3D... 7 H HPGL2 colours... 13 L Line weight too strong... 10 O ODA s mission... 16 P Plotter configuration editor... 12 Plotter manager... 12 PLT file... 12 PURGE command... 14 R Remarks... 17 S Save as... 6 Strange entities... 6 Stylus colour table... 13 Stylus colours... 12 T The AutoCAD 2007 file format... 5 The DWF file format... 8, 10 U Upwards... 18 W What does GEO s ODA membership bring you?... 16 X XBIND command... 14 XREF command... 14 XREF indicators... 14 GEOiD and Autodesk files Index 19