Write Drawing File

This screen is displayed during the export of CAD files. After selecting a file name and location, the settings can be used to control how the data is written in CAD format.

There are two versions of this screen; one for DXF/DWG data and one for DXF data. Regardless, this screen is split into two tabs; General and XDATA Columns.

Most commonly-used configuration options are found on the General tab which varies slightly between DXF/DWG and DGN formats.

In all cases, the XDATA Columns tab is used to define which of the numeric fields in the exported object data will be transferred as XDATA format. XDATA is extended object data in AutoDesk® applications.

Activity steps (if exporting DXF or DWG data)

  1. In the Object to Export dialog, pick the loaded data object to be exported.

    The Data Export screen displays.

  2. Choose the CAD Driver Category.

  3. Choose the Data Type that you wish to export.

  4. Choose a file name and location and click OK.

    The Write Drawing File screen appears. The General tab is selected by default.

  5. To choose an output File Format:

    1. Choose between DXF and DWG output formats.

    2. Choose an AutoCAD version. Data will be exported in a format compliant with the selected version.

  6. If a loaded data object attribute represents a CAD Layer attribute, select it from the Layer Column list.

    1. If a Layer Column is selected, choose how to deal with characters in the outgoing file that are deemed illegal:

      1. Select Remove illegal characters in layer names to strip out offending characters from layer names during export.

      2. Unselect Remove illegal characters in layer names to export layer data as-is, without modification.

  7. If a colour attribute is to be exported as a standard CAD colour field, select if from the Colour Column list.

  8. AutoDesk's XDATA can be used to attach extended object data to a selected object. To specify attributes to be exported in XDATA format:

    1. Activate the XDATA columns tab.

    2. Pick one or more attributes to be exported in XDATA format.

  9. Click OK to complete export.

  10. If importing a file to a Studio project, the Import Files screen displays.

  11. Use the Import Files screen:

    1. Choose which Files to create and associate with your project.

    2. Confirm the Import Fields for this operation.

    3. If required, choose how to Rename Fields during import.

    4. Click OK.

      Files references are added to the project.

Activity steps (if exporting DGN data)

  1. In the Object to Export dialog, pick the loaded data object to be exported.

    The Data Export screen displays.

  2. Choose the CAD Driver Category.

  3. Choose the Data Type that you wish to export.

  4. Choose a file name and location and click OK.

    The Write Drawing File screen appears. The General tab is selected by default.

  5. If a loaded data object attribute represents a CAD Layer attribute, select it from the Layer Column list.

  6. If a colour attribute is to be exported as a standard CAD colour field, select if from the Colour Column list.

  7. Choose how line styles will be exported:

    1. Select Standard Datamine LSTYLE line types to export the standard Datamine linestyle codes (1000,1001 etc.) as defined by a nominated numeric Line style column. Only numeric fields can be chosen.

    2. Select Linestyle names if known line style names are expected. For example, you have a custom line style resource file in the target CAD application which maps linestyle names to visual properties, so you select this option to pick an alphanumeric Linestyle column (e.g. LTYPE or DGNLSTYLE) in the exported object data.

  8. If there is an object attribute containing line thickness values, you can pick it using the Thickness column list.

  9. AutoDesk's XDATA can be used to attach extended object data to a selected object. To specify attributes to be exported in XDATA format:

    1. Activate the XDATA columns tab.

    2. Pick one or more attributes to be exported in XDATA format.

  10. Click OK to complete export.

  11. If importing a file to a Studio project, the Import Files screen displays.

  12. Use the Import Files screen:

    1. Choose which Files to create and associate with your project.

    2. Confirm the Import Fields for this operation.

    3. If required, choose how to Rename Fields during import.

    4. Click OK.

      Files references are added to the project.