topic Re: Exporting DWG's in Collaboration with other software

Exporting DWG's

Anonymous — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:41:41 GMT

We are trying to export a dwg from ArchiCAD 10 in a format that will match what our client wants. One of our big problems (there have been many) is that we have a number of layouts for diferent plan views etc & our client wants one dwg with everything in. Whatever we try we still seem to get a separate dwg file for each layout, even if single dwg is selected in the translator.

Is there any way to export multiple layouts from ArchiCAD to the paper space of a single dwg file with the model space present as well?

Since this is how AutoCAD users work how else do Graphisoft expect us to produce drawings?

Re: Exporting DWG's

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2007 12:54:15 GMT

mark.leslie wrote:
We are trying to export a dwg from ArchiCAD 10 in a format that will match what our client wants. One of our big problems (there have been many) is that we have a number of layouts for diferent plan views etc & our client wants one dwg with everything in. Whatever we try we still seem to get a separate dwg file for each layout, even if single dwg is selected in the translator.

Is there any way to export multiple layouts from ArchiCAD to the paper space of a single dwg file with the model space present as well?

Since this is how AutoCAD users work how else do Graphisoft expect us to produce drawings?

I think that u must, after u export all, opet it and copy in one file that will have all drawings !!!

Re: Exporting DWG's

TomWaltz — Thu, 24 May 2007 14:05:28 GMT

It's how SOME Autocad users work. They have the option of doing everything in one file or doing it all in separate files.

I have a couple guys who work in Autocad here and they cannot stand working all in one file. Why? It's impossible to share the files with anyone else and the files are frakking huge.

What they are asking for is in no way standard practice. I would not have any problem telling "sorry, but that's not how our office works. For an additional fee, I'd be happy to put in the extra effort to create what you need."

Re: Exporting DWG's

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2007 15:48:51 GMT

It sounds to me like you're trying to export from the Layout Book (paper space). Instead, export from the drawing itself and turn on all the desired layers (or you can set your dwg export preferences to export ALL layers instead of just the visible layers).

If you've drawn everything in one file, you can export everything in one file. If you've drawn in different files, then you'll have to combine them first.

Re: Exporting DWG's

TomWaltz — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:08:48 GMT

dcbruns wrote:
It sounds to me like you're trying to export from the Layout Book (paper space). Instead, export from the drawing itself and turn on all the desired layers (or you can set your dwg export preferences to export ALL layers instead of just the visible layers).

If you've drawn everything in one file, you can export everything in one file. If you've drawn in different files, then you'll have to combine them first.

... and how would this put all the plans, sections, elevations, and details in one file?

It sounds like this would only work for plans.

Re: Exporting DWG's

Anonymous — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:54:05 GMT

The original question said he had several "plan views" that he wanted in a single file. If he wants elevations, sections and details, he's going to have to paste them all together.

Re: Exporting DWG's

TomWaltz — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:25:09 GMT

I guess I read too much into the "etc"

Re: Exporting DWG's

Petros Ioannou — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:59:20 GMT

So what you actually want is all the layers in model space inside AutoCAD and the appropriate layer combination in each layout in model space (lighting, ceiling plan etc).

Am I correct?

Re: Exporting DWG's

Anonymous — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:48:33 GMT

Whoah... Slow down!

Yes we could export the dwg from the ArchiCAD model which would produce one dwg with the full details of the building.

However we are trying very hard to retain some control of our drawings & record what revisions are issued & when, so we always try to send drawings out from the Layout to include title block & revision notes. It also means that drawings plotted out by someone else are as we want them to be.

The problem is that for anything but the simplest of buildings you will have more than one layout & they all seem to end up on separate dwgs, each with either the whole model or just the bits relevant to that layout.

Ideally we want one dwg from multiple layouts. But I am encouraged that others think that it is not standard practice to have everything on one drawing. However we have to keep clients happy if we want to work.

Any more ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Exporting DWG's

TomWaltz — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:54:34 GMT

mark.leslie wrote:
Ideally we want one dwg from multiple layouts. But I am encouraged that others think that it is not standard practice to have everything on one drawing. However we have to keep clients happy if we want to work.

You will have to do it manually.

Remember, no client is worth going broke over. Make sure they are paying you for the extra efforts and that the client understands that your extra effort has NOTHING to do with you choosing to use Archicad and EVERYTHING to do with them asking for something unusual.

Re: Exporting DWG's

Laura Yanoviak — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:57:36 GMT

mark.leslie wrote:
Ideally we want one dwg from multiple layouts.

This is just bad practice (The 8th rule of CAD: "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should").

Re: Exporting DWG's

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:13:47 GMT

Laura wrote:
mark.leslie wrote:
Ideally we want one dwg from multiple layouts.
This is just bad practice (The 8th rule of CAD: "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should").

Good rule!

I thought about the problem because we had a bit similar situation: the plan itself is huge, but was split on many A3 layouts - everytime after export client got a number of incomplete "model space" plan views.
My suggestion (but I've didn't checked it out yet on pratice) is to replace in each *.dwg file a block with incomplete model view to external reference to the complete model space view. Tricky, huh, but should work.
I understand why they asked for complete thing - it's the way civil engineers work - they need whole picture.