Cannot import 3D DWG file from AutoCad 2012.

[Chazz]

I can see the 3D data in other apps (eDrawings, AutoCad WS, ProgeCAD Viewer DWG) and I can import the file as a 2D drawing but I cannot get the 3D data across.

Any insights?

Here's the file:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5wwAtvpmHgrc2tQQVpOZW90Z1U

[Erika Epstein]

Did you try saving it as a 3D dwg?
Or merging the file?

[Chazz]

Definitely tried the Merge method and get a message saying "No Elements Were Created"

I'm not the author of the file so cannot "save it as a 3D dwg". But i know it is 3D because I can see it in dwg viewer apps.

[Erika Epstein]

Chazz,
Try bringing in the file as a library part.

[Erika Epstein]

I'm having trouble downloading the file from both firefox and safari.
Do you want to email it to me?

[Erika Epstein]

Chazz,
I did get it downloaded and opened it in 15. There are about a dozen polygon error messages that I clicked to ignore.

[Chazz]

Thanks for all your help Erika. This remains a mystery to me. I did a New and Rest, even installed a fresh version of AC15 without any add-ons to test. Nothing worked. I even asked the author of the file to provide a few different formats (DXF, DXF Block). Exasperating.

[Anonymous]

Hi Chazz,

I managed to open the file successfully using the 'File'> 'Libraries & Objects'> 'Open Object' method, and convert it to a library part with no errors.

The 'trick' was in the dwg translator. Under the 'Open Extras' section there is a checkbox labelled 'Convert to GDL Object'. With this ticked and the correct unit in 'Drawing Unit' selected (inches seemed to work for me) it created a library part.

Be aware that it has 186,000 polygons and does take some time to convert and save. It even crashed ArchiCAD once when converting, but I think the machine ran out of memory (32bit fail! )

Also note the resulting library part is nearly 39MB in size!

Hope that helps.