topic Re: Importing an archicad dwg file in Collaboration with other software

Importing an archicad dwg file

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:05:32 GMT

Hi,

I do not use archicad, but one of my clients does, and has saved a file as .dwg, and sent it to me to work on. I am trying to open it in Microstation (which opens .dwg's) and work on it in 2d. The file opens, but looks crazy! I suspect it's still in 3d.

Is this something I can fix, or do I need to ask my client to save it as 2d!?

I don't think my client is too proficient in doing this, as they have had this problem before. Is there a guide to doing this that I can point them to?

Thank you in advance for any help!

Alex

Re: Importing an archicad dwg file

TomWaltz — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:38:09 GMT

Archicad always saves its plans as 2D (thank god!!). It's actually pretty difficult to make them 3D.

I would guess it's something in the translation settings they are using. Archicad does have some pretty odd default translation settings.

I think you would have a very hard time cleaning it up yourself. It's probably best if your client learns a little bit more about Archicad's translation functions.

Re: Importing an archicad dwg file

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:22:11 GMT

I have the same complaints from the Engineers I work with when some Architect sends them a .dwg made from ArchiCAD. They start begging me to teach their colleagues how to make a proper export.

You should tell yout client to find someone who could do it, or you will have to spent some horrible hous doing the redraw yourself.

Re: Importing an archicad dwg file

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:47:57 GMT

I agree we all said so far, your client needs to create a translator to export a decent dwg. You might also want to try to provide him with a dwg to use as a template.

Re: Importing an archicad dwg file

Thomas Holm — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 09:51:10 GMT

kliment wrote:
...They start begging me to teach their colleagues how to make a proper export. ...

"Proper exort" depends on the receiver. There are as many ways to work in Autocad as there are users.

Sounds to me that the receiver here isn't too familiar with Microstation either. In Microstation, it is VERY easy to determine if a file is 2D or 3D.

In this case, a first guess might be to tell the exporter to turn on hairlines display in Archicad before saving the DWG from the floor plan.

If that isn't enough, start tweaking the translator. Preferably, start with the "Keep Pen Index Number" translator, and customize a copy. Pen control is as essential in Microstation as in Autocad. Do not attempt to use the BYLAYER or BYBLOCK options. They are just workarounds for legacy Autocad weaknesses, and to work correctly, needs that you have customized your work and layer use habits accordingly. Microstation understands item attributes just as well as Archicad.