topic Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg in Collaboration with other software

3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

DangCad1 — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:11:24 GMT

Hi all,

I’m running into an issue when working with a consultant’s 3D DWG in ArchiCAD. Here’s the situation:

I attach the DWG as an Xref, including all layers.
Most layers are visible, but elements drawn in 3D by the consultant do not appear, neither in plan or 3D/section (see screenshot).
If I import the same DWG into Rhino, all elements—including the 3D ones—are visible in both plan and 3D views (see screenshot.
When I attach the DWG as an External Drawing instead of an Xref, the lines from the 3D objects are visible in plan—but I need it as an Xref to maintain layer control.
If I instead use File > Interoperability > Merge, the 3D elements are still missing, and layers are not assigned in the Xref section.
If I instead use File > Libraries and Objects > Open Object, i get the same result but the orientation and location in the file is off.

Has anyone encountered this before? Is there a known limitation with ArchiCAD’s handling of 3D DWGs as Xrefs, or is there a workflow that allows me to keep both the 3D geometry and layer control? I've tried playing around with the translator settings but to no good.

I can ask the consultant (using AutoCAD 2026) to save it in a different format, but which one would be the go-to in that case?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Rhino:

ArchiCAD:

Operating system used: Mac Apple Silicon

Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

Aaron Bourgoin — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:57:31 GMT

3D content in a DWG can be brought into the model via GDL. Use "Open Library Part" and selct DWG as the file type to open. This. will convert the 3D elements into a single Archhicad object.

Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

DangCad1 — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:03:46 GMT

Is "Open Library Part" different from File > Libraries and Objects > Open Object? Because that option I've already tried and unfortunately it only brought in the 2D elements.

Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

Aaron Bourgoin — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:43:55 GMT

Yes, Open Object (my bad). Have a look at the settings for the translator you're using. See screenshot. I've selected Binary as the GDL script would be mostly useless.

Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

DangCad1 — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:21:27 GMT

Hm, I used the Open Object dialog, but to no luck. However, I can't find anywhere where to choose a translator in this dialog. What am I missing here? Google is no help, unfortunately.

Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

Aaron Bourgoin — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:18:23 GMT

it shows up in the dialog where you choose the format DWG. bottom right of the file open dialog? smae place as it does when you use the File open command.

Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

Barry Kelly — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:14:05 GMT

And in pictures...

Barry.

Re: 3D objects not imported with 3D Dwg

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:30:54 GMT

FYI: Whenever you cannot explicitly choose a DWG/DXF Translator, for example, when you place a DWG/DXF with the Drawing tool, Archicad will use the default Translator for Import.

You can go to the DXF-DWG Translation Setup Dialog and check which one it is.

Usually, it is the "02 For editable import" Translator. The little blue left-pointing arrow before its name is that indication for that. In the green arrow column, you can specify if a Translator is used for Export, Import, or Both, and when a Translator is used for Import, you can then use the blue arrow column to specify import Translator should be the default one.