Vectorworks to Autocad file set up

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Permalink Reply by Daniele Guevara on December 14, 2010 at 9:46am

The best way to not lose information is to organize your drawing either by classes OR layers: NOT BOTH.  Unfortunately Vectorworks can only successfully export 1 or the other into AutoCad layers.  

Also, be sure to convert your scale to 1:1 on your single design layer.  This makes for easier translations as the AutoCad model space is 1:1.  I normally work in scale because of text issues ie. if you work 1:1 your text ends up being 1000s of points.

I also highly suggest you get a legit copy of AutoCad so you can view your converted drawings. See the jpeg I've attached for you, these are my usual export settings. 

Attachments:

• Exporting to ACAD.jpg, 301 KB

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Permalink Reply by Derek Ashby on December 14, 2010 at 3:46pm

Hi Daniele,

 

Thank you very much for the great tips. I have been playing around with different set ups for exporting to Autocad and getting close. I will incorporate your tips and see how it all goes from there.

Enjoy the holidays

 

regards

 

Derek

 

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Permalink Reply by Lloyd NB on December 19, 2010 at 7:18am

Thanks, very helpful!

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Permalink Reply by B. Clint Alderman on December 26, 2010 at 10:13pm

Agree with suggestion. To view the "AutoCAD export", there's a cheaper option.
Try Bricscad Classic for $395.00 USD
https://www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/bricscad/index.jsp
I've used AutoCAD for years. Bricscad is a near clone and I've been very pleased with the feature set. It reads and writes DWG. You can also download an excellent PDF book: "Bricscad for AutoCAD Users"
https://www.bricsys.com/common/news.jsp?item=358
"Bricscad for AutoCAD Users ebook is the latest e-book from upFront.eZine Publishing. It describes the similarities and differences between the two CAD programs, and would be of interest to CAD users interested in transitioning to Bricscad. "

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Permalink Reply by Vincent Cuclair on December 26, 2010 at 11:42pm

Or Draftsight (which is free) and cross platform.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Frey on December 31, 2010 at 5:08pm

I use VW2009 and am not familiar with anything newer than AutoCAD2006 - but I believe this information is still relevant...

I agree it does simplify things to use one design layer. However, I do not bother to try and work in a 1:1 scale. Text, arrows and other annotations get too complicated in my opinion.  Vectorworks generally does a good job translating things to the 1:1 scale.

I also agree that viewing the file before sending it in is important - AutoCAD does offer a DWG viewer for free as well, though you can only view, plot and convert the files to different versions. It is useless for making any changes. 

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=6703438&siteID...

 

Importing a DWG can be the frustrating part in my experience, particularly things like arrow heads and other marks. I always manually set the import options, and make sure that the import design layer scale is set to the scale I work at.

 

The other item I did not see mentioned here is the potential trouble If the firm you are working with still uses a color based plot style table.

In the 90's the way to determine the plotted line weight in AutoCAD, was to specify a color to the layer (VW Class) which would then correspond to a line weight in the plot style table used to send the file to the plotter. Assigning a line weight directly to a layer (VW Class) became an option in AutoCAD 2000 if memory serves, but many autoCAD users are still using their color based tables. In fact I have had conversations with folks that did not realize there was a different way to set up their files.

AutoCAD specifies a number for each color in the AutoCAD color table. VW can be set up with a color table using colors with the same (or very close) RGB values.

When the file is exported  the VW color gets turned into an AutoCAD numbered color that is close to the same RGB value and vise versa. The problem is that the colors migrate across the color chart with each import / export.

Again - if they use a color based plot style table - this means the plotted line weights can change.

I worked for an architect who used a plot style table that was set up with 10 different line weights - color #1 was fine, #2 a step up, etc. #10 was the heaviest line, then #11 was back to the fine line, #12 the step up, etc. etc.  You can imagine the plotted line weight chaos as the colors migrated across the AutoCAD color tables. In the end, I was forced to use AutoCAD because the time involved to fix the file was not worth the trouble.

 

Hope this iinfo helps someone.

sean

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Permalink Reply by Arch. Ramón Pérez-Gatell on January 3, 2011 at 8:32am

I have not used ACAD but recently had some feedback from an ACAD user. You can export Sheet Layers but try exporting one Design Layer at a time, say, 1st Floor, Second Fl, etc.in separate documents. ACAD will not read VWs Class/Layer visibility setups. Export elevations as hidden line, nothing else works. Accompany the .dwg with a .pdf for reference. I have used SolidWorks eDrawings to see the .dwg output but the program lately is worthless; any forum suggestions are welcome. The more backward the recipient is in terms of version or ACAD knowledge the worst it is. Even Revit users have terrible problems with their ACAD conversions.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lawson on January 10, 2011 at 11:31am

I heard from a Vectorworks employee that the best way to convert either way was to set your drawing to a 1/4" scale, and then Vectorworks will figure everything out from there.

As others have mentioned, AutoCAD doesn't have "Layers" per se, but calls "Classes" Layers, AutoCAD ends up useing seperate files for "Layers." So you need to export each each of your VW Layers as seperate files, and your Classes will export into each file.

 

Don't make changes to your Class structure in the middle of exorting! Things might not line up properly if all the "Layers"/"Classes" are different.

 

My 2 cents! Hope it helps!

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Permalink Reply by Donald Ward on January 12, 2011 at 11:11pm

Although some new import and export options have been added with newer versions these video tech tips should help you better understand what is happening during the file translation.

 

Importing DXF/DWG Files: http://kbase.vectorworks.net/questions/442/Importing+DWG+Files

 

Exporting DXF/DWG Files: http://kbase.vectorworks.net/questions/451/Exporting+to+DXF%7B47%7DDWG

 

Also do a search in the VW Help on DWG these articles will also provide useful information. I hope this helps

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