line object, how to?

[adamrendek]

Hi Everyone,

I'm sure this came up before...

If the top, side and front views are available as DWG files, what would be the best way to create an object that combines them and shows the equipment appropriately on the floor plan and interior elevations using only the line drawings...

The goal would be to build a simple library based on the linedrawings first (taking advantage of the existing drawings) and later extend the objects with 3D as needed...

Any advice would be appreciated...

[Dwight]

You'd map the drawings to a block with appropriate views corresponding to the faces.
The DWG file can be imported to be visible in the 3D views, but someone more expert than me would take you through the tedious steps.

[Anonymous]

Just opening the DWG via 'Open object...' will create a GDL object with 2D and 3D. I think that only lines, arcs and texts are translated to the 3D so You have to convert/explode the polylines and fills of the DWG before the operation.

This is a useful method when You want to show site plans etc. in 3D window -> the 3D lines also render nicely with the sketch renderer.

[adamrendek]

Thanks a lot, guys... I've been testing the DWG import and the manual script change (from 2D to 3D like line2 to lin_) without too much success...

The DWG opening as library part seems the quickest but it seems buggy and...

The arcs and circles seem to have to have a fill in the 3D script. Can I turn that off? Can I specify dashed linetypes in the 3D script?

Is there a way or is it possible to write an object that would read DWG files with the appropriate formatting (linetypes, text, colors...) and would map the drawing to a chosen face of a cube the would show the drawing in the elevation view (interior elevation)? That way the DWGs or AC line drawings could remain editable and the formatting would be appropriate. I am testign the raster mapping with PNG file and the PICTURE command, but it does not show up of course in the elevation view...

PDF files might be good to map on cube faces too, but how can I do that?

[adamrendek]

original image

[Ignacio Azpiazu]

For editing the 2D, Explode the object, delete/modify/add fills and lines as you please, then select everything again and save it as a new object.

I don't think it is possible to make a script that will display specific 2D elevations for each Section/Elevation (I don't see Global Variables that would allow you to detect the orientation of the S/E).

But the object looks pretty straightforward, at least in the drawing you posted. A low-tech basic-user-complexity normal-object-without-GDL should go pretty fast. (Google the PDF 'Introduction to Object Making'.)

If that is too complex it probably makes sense to just go quick and dirty, save the views as 2D objects and insert them independently in plans and elevations.

If you absolutely need to stick with the 'billboard approach' (as opposed to a true model that will look OK in diagonal views, perspectives, etc.) in a single movable object that will only work for those orthogonal views (and that only if the object is block-like, without openings or transparence, etc.), trace the DWG lines with slabs to produce three corporeal billboards, rotate them and save them again as a 3D object (making each of the faces the faces of your box). But that may take a lot of work and not really work, unless again the object is pretty much a decorated prism.