Convert surveyor's DWG into AC 8.1

[KeesW]

I have an architect/planner who still uses Archicad 8.1. He has been given a DWG from a surveyor and wants to be able to use it in 8.1. Can this be done and what conversion steps are necessary?

[DGSketcher]

Assuming the installation is standard then the following guidance comes from the 8.1 manual...

Opening DXF/DWG Files
You can open DXF and DWG format files in ArchiCAD or PlotMaker as Drawings or Layouts. Choose File/Open and then select the file you need in the directory dialog box. The Translator Management dialog box appears. Here you can choose the Translator to use for converting the file.
You can also open a DXF/DWG file as a Library Part by choosing the File/GDL Objects/Open Object command. This will open the Library Part master window where you can configure the new object obtained from the entire file. If you choose File/GDL Objects/Import from DXF/DWG, the blocks of the translated file will be converted and placed in a new library folder.

Hope that helps, but they are running 14 year old software!

[Erwin Edel]

DWG trueview (free application from Autodesk) would be able to convert the DWG back to version 2010 or some such, as I would imagine 8.1 won't be able to open the more recent versions.

[Barry Kelly]

Erwin wrote:
DWG trueview (free application from Autodesk) would be able to convert the DWG back to version 2010 or some such, as I would imagine 8.1 won't be able to open the more recent versions.

That is a good point.
Version 8.1 must have been back around 2003 or so it won't be able to open any new DXF/DWG file formats.
Will probably need to be converted back to AutoCAD R14 format.

Barry.

[Erwin Edel]

You are right, 2010 is not nearly old enough

I hadn't had coffee yet

[DGSketcher]

ACLT 2017 and I assume full blown Autobad will save back to R14/LT97/LT98 assuming someone has a copy to back date the DWG file. There is a chance some things may go missing or not appear correctly so ideally get a hardcopy of the original drawing for comparison.

The manual is dated 2003.

[Erwin Edel]

DWG TrueView can convert DWG to older version and is a free application from Autodesk.

I actually use it to verify (ussually wrong) claims of 'unreadable' DWG files I still have to send to 3rd parties and in the past have used it to convert down when ArchiCAD was a bit behind the most current DWG format or when working in older versions of ArchiCAD on long running projects.