Save View in Vector Format

Exporting the current view in 2D CAD format

Note: this topic relates to deprecated functionality. Design window functions are now superseded by those found in 3D windows.

Save View in Vector Format - Design window

To access this dialog:

  • With the Design window displayed, activate the View ribbon and select Save To | Vector | Vector

This feature allows on-screen data in the Design window to be exported to CAD format. The dialog shown here is slightly different to the equivalent display when the Plots window is active (more about this version of the dialog here).

The following file formats are supported:

  • Computer Graphics Metafile (*.cgm)
  • MicroStation (*.dgn)
  • Micrografx Designer Drawing (*.drw)
  • Autodesk Design Web (*.dwf)
  • AutoCAD Drawing Interchange (*.dxf)
  • Windows Enhanced Metafile (*.emf)
  • Gerber (*.gbr)
  • MapInfo Interchange (*.mif)
  • Macintosh Pict (*.pct)
  • ESRI Shape (*.shp)
  • Scalable Vector Graphics (*.svg)
  • WordPerfect Graphics (*.wpg)
  • Windows Metafile (*.wmf)
  • Compressed Windows Metafile (*.wmz)

note.gif (1017 bytes)

This functionality is also accessible via script, using the SaveViewAsVectorFormat method within IDmDesign.

 

Field Details:

Output file: specify the path to the output file - for example: C:\Database\Project1\blocks.dxf, or click the Ellipsis button to launch the Save As dialog. In the Save Asdialog, specify the location and file name, and select a format in theSave as type:drop-down list.

File format: select the format of the exported view from the above selection.

Output text as vectors: if selected, allows you to export text as lines, rather than characters. This provides greater accuracy in the positioning of text in the exported view.

Use world coordinates: if selected, the exported view is georeferenced - ensuring that it appears at the coordinates of the original data. If Use world coordinates is not selected, then arbitrary, non-georeferenced coordinates are used.

note.gif (1017 bytes)

The view must be in the plane of the X, Y or Z axis to allow world coordinates to be used. If the view is not aligned in this way, the Use world coordinatesoption will not be available.


Open Output file: when selected, the output file is opened after it has been saved. When not selected, the file is saved but is not opened.

OK: saves the on-screen data in the Design window as a vector-format file, and closes the Save View in Vector Format dialog.

note.gif (1017 bytes) Exported views are not clipped, and consequently may not exactly replicate their appearance in the Design window.


Cancel: closes the Save View in Vector Format dialog without creating a vector-format file.

  openbook.gif (910 bytes)   Related Topics

 

 Save View in Vector Format - Plots Window