topic Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3 in Collaboration with other software

Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

tsturm — Thu, 06 Nov 2003 17:29:10 GMT

Dear Group

I am trying to import an AutoCAD 2000 DWG or DXF (I was made both) which contains objects which, according to the author, are made in AutoCAD using solids. I have tried numerous ways to import the information to get these objects. But nothing works. I get some of the information. Such as walls and lines as objects.

Can AC 8.003 import this type of information from AutoCAD?

What do I need to tell the author to do to his file for me to get the objects as library parts. Binary objects would be fine.

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

David Larrew — Thu, 06 Nov 2003 18:06:06 GMT

ArchiCAD, as well as many other 3D oriented applications, cannot read AutoCAD solids.

If you have access to Autodesk VIZ or MAX (3D Studio) you could try a double file translation, converting the solids into usable faces for import into AC. Or you will need to have the author break the solids down into faces and edges in order to import the 3D information.

No real easy/clean way of doing it. Sorry.

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Ben Odonnell — Thu, 06 Nov 2003 20:17:09 GMT

ArchiCAD, as well as many other 3D oriented applications, cannot read AutoCAD solids...

You can do it in ArchiCAD 8.1. It allows you to convert solids into meshes..

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

David Larrew — Thu, 06 Nov 2003 21:20:53 GMT

I must disagree. We are talking about AutoCAD "Solids" not ArchiCAD "Solid Element Operators". AFAIK - AutoCAD "Solids" are not transferable into ArchiCAD.

I quote from the ArchiCAD Help File:
"ACIS, REGION, 3D SOLID
The basic implementation of the DXF add-on does not support them."

I just double-checked by creating some basic Solids (Cube, Sphere, Cylinder) in AutoCAD and tried importing the DWG into ArchiCAD as an Object. "No 3D elements found."

If you have been able to import AutoCAD Solids into ArchiCAD please explain how.

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Thomas Holm — Thu, 06 Nov 2003 23:38:08 GMT

There's a workaround for importing solids described in the Archiguide:

http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/archiguide/importsolids.html

THomas

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

David Larrew — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 01:52:24 GMT

That was what I was referring to in my earlier post...

Thanks for the link, Thomas.

And as I mentioned earlier, the work-around is not very easy for most AutoCAD drones, I mean users .

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

tsturm — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 02:28:55 GMT

Thank you gentlemen.

As I thought, I would need AutoCAD to get the job done or have the jockey at the other end of the line make some changes.

The best I can see. I will have to scale the printed drawings and make my own version of the object.

Sure would like those AutoCAD people get something which does not mess the rest of us up.

Does modeling in solids in AutoCAD that much easier than in other ways?

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

David Larrew — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 03:12:28 GMT

If you've ever modelled in AutoCAD before the introduction of Solids you'd understand.

ArchiCAD STILL runs circles around the latest release of vanilla AutoCAD for architectural modelling.

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Ben Odonnell — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 07:44:45 GMT

David wrote:
I must disagree. We are talking about AutoCAD "Solids" not ArchiCAD "Solid Element Operators". AFAIK - AutoCAD "Solids" are not transferable into ArchiCAD.

I quote from the ArchiCAD Help File:
"ACIS, REGION, 3D SOLID
The basic implementation of the DXF add-on does not support them."

I just double-checked by creating some basic Solids (Cube, Sphere, Cylinder) in AutoCAD and tried importing the DWG into ArchiCAD as an Object. "No 3D elements found."

If you have been able to import AutoCAD Solids into ArchiCAD please explain how.

You are right I had it confused with Polyface mesh. Please disregard what I wrote ealier as it does not work!!

The tutorial that Thomas posted is to date the only work around

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Djordje — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 09:50:13 GMT

Ben wrote:
The tutorial that Thomas posted is to date the only work around

Not a work around. That is a method.

If you missed the announcement in Tips&Tricks - the ArchiGuide is revamped as of today, take a look!

http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/archiguide/

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Thomas Holm — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 10:24:17 GMT

Djordje,

something is wrong with the Archiguide (was last night, too).

If I for example click on the Problem Type 3D/imaging I get the exact same file list as if I click DWG/DXF. An extremely long and unhelpful result list. And some topics don't belong in either Problem Type, such as Scroll problems on the Mac with Logitech mice.

Other types exhibit a similar behaviour.

Maybe these problems should be sorted out before advertising the new Archiguide.

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Ben Odonnell — Fri, 07 Nov 2003 12:55:14 GMT

I really do hope they sort it soon. It is quiet frustrating searching for things in there at the moment..

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Djordje — Sat, 08 Nov 2003 12:28:49 GMT

Ben wrote:
I really do hope they sort it soon. It is quiet frustrating searching for things in there at the moment..

No such time for server problems as the weekend, right?

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

Ben Odonnell — Sat, 08 Nov 2003 20:52:16 GMT

Djordje wrote:
Ben wrote:
The tutorial that Thomas posted is to date the only work around
Not a work around. That is a method.

If you missed the announcement in Tips&Tricks - the ArchiGuide is revamped as of today, take a look!

http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/archiguide/

Method/work around.
Very fine line I belive. Until you can import them directly I belive it to be a work around. Why? Well if you can convert polymesh faces why not take it to the next level and make it possible to import solids?

Re: Importing Autocad Solids into AC 8.0r3

stefan — Mon, 10 Nov 2003 08:44:41 GMT

To interpret solids, you need a license for the ACIS-kernel, which might not be what Graphisoft want's to invest in, certainly when the kernel is not used in the Core of ArchiCAD. I think it is rather expensive to support it only for file transfer.

Maybe some other file-conversion utitility might be a good inbetween step.

I guess it will never be possible.

Solution? Have a license of AutoCAD for conversion purposes 😉 or one of the competing products that might cost less.