topic Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad in Collaboration with other software

3d .dwg export and import in archicad

jespizua — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:51:38 GMT

Hello,

I´m working with a colleague who use autocad, and i´m trying to import his 3d dwg within archicad with not success. Im a bit desperate and any help would be very handy.

Thanks in advance and cheers.

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

Stig Bengtsson — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:26:28 GMT

You have to open the dwg as an object: file/lib&obj/open object.

Stig

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

Robert Fuchs — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:44:22 GMT

We to have had problems opening 3D dwg files from consultants.
What we have figured out so far is that ArchiCAD can not open
dwg files as library parts if the dwg file was modeled using solids.
All we could open from our Engineer were 3D reference lines because
all the other objects were created as solids. The fix I was told (which I
haven't tried) is to have the file exported as a 3DS file and then
open the 3DS file in AutoCAD and save it as a DWG file. That is supposed
to remove the solids feature of the model. I can't get my consultant to do
this so I don't know if it really works.

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

jespizua — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:52:16 GMT

Thanks for your answers. But the problem reside when i import .3ds within autocad, because autocad translate solids elements to triangulated furface which make the file useless. I think that there is no way to solve it, i hope that archicad improve the .dwg export import in the next release.

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

Thomas Holm — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:12:29 GMT

You might try to install the 3DS import addon in Archicad - I don't know if it'll solve your problem but worth a try. Check the Goodies section of the Help menu, download it form Graphisoft. It will convert 3DS files to GDL objects:
"HOW DO I USE "3DStudio In" ADD-ON?

To convert a 3DS object:

Select the 3ds file with the Convert 3DS to GDL object command from the Design/ Design Extras>>3DS Converter menu.
The add-on displays information about the original 3DS file (number of points, polygons and object count). You can modify the object sizes (X dimension(A), Y dimension(B) and height).
Force smooth option: The add-on tries smoothing all object surfaces.
Import hidden objects: Hidden objects will also be imported from the file.
Use texture’s alpha channel: The transparency information will be imported from the 3D Studio file, if the related TGA/TIFF textures contain alpha channel information.
Click OK."

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

David Larrew — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 12:25:36 GMT

Have you and/or your consultant tried saving the .DWG to a .DXF and then tried bringing the 3D .DXF into AC?

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

jespizua — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 12:30:05 GMT

David wrote:
Have you and/or your consultant tried saving the .DWG to a .DXF and then tried bringing the 3D .DXF into AC?

No, i have not tried that, i did not know that archicad support 3d .dxf. I´ll try that just now . Thanks so much!!

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

jespizua — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 12:41:55 GMT

Sorry but not luck with this workaround ,same problem as importing 3d .dwg. Are there any special steps to follow within the import dialog box ?

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

jespizua — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 12:44:07 GMT

All i can see with this method is a proyected (frontal) view of the 3d model.

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:19:00 GMT

jespizua wrote:
All i can see with this method is a proyected (frontal) view of the 3d model.

If all you see is a 2d view, then you did not open the file as an object.

3DS is superior to dwg/dxf for 3D as mentioned below.

There are shareware programs that can help convert between different formats. Perhaps one of them can read the dwg solid info and convert to 3DS.

Karl

Re: 3d .dwg export and import in archicad

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 14:09:26 GMT

Compliments of the day Forum. I found a very easy way to import 3D .dwg file from AutoCAD into Archicad.
Here we will be using Sketchup pro 8 for this to work. After exporting the 3D .dwg file from AutoCAD, import the file into Sketchup pro 8 or latest. Save the file as a .skp file. Note: no matter the version of SketchUp you are using, always save the .skp file in version 8 format as Archicad can only accept version 8.
When done open ArchiCad (ArchiCad 19 in my own case), from ArchiCad simply go and open the file as a Sketchup file. Make sure you change the "file of type" section to SketchUp file (.skp).
Thank you for your time.