AutoCAD Drawing Interchange

Use

You can import and view AutoCAD Drawing Interchange (.dxf) files. You can also save files to this format.

This format enables the interchange of drawings between AutoCAD and other programs. They can be in either ASCII or binary format, both of which contain a complete description of the AutoCAD drawing. DXF files contain a number of entities such as curves, lines, solids, and polygons. The entities are read from within the file and are then created as objects.

Supported for Import

  • Layouts imported as model views:

    • At least one layout (Model) is imported

    • Empty paper-space layouts are ignored

  • Named views, if any present in the file, imported as model views

  • Block hierarchy imported as nodes

  • Block attributes imported as node metadata

  • Drawing attributes imported as scene metadata

  • Layers, can be seen in the Layers panel:

    • Frozen layers are ignored

  • Cameras

  • 2D and 3D entities and geometry:

    • Geometry representation of entities read as meshes or 3D polylines

    • Solids imported as meshes

    • Dimensions and leaders, imported as 3D polylines

    • Text imported either as native text primitives or geometry. If text is imported as geometry, type (mesh or 3D polyline) depends on the type of the font being used.

  • Colors and materials:

    • Entities can use indexed or true color.

    • Entities can have materials with values such as specular, reflection, and opacity.

    • Materials can be either attached to entities or attached to layers. For example, if a material called WOOD is attached to entity A, entity A has the WOOD material. Or, if the WOOD material is attached to Layer 1, all the entities under Layer 1 have that WOOD material.

Supported for Export

  • Each object saved as a separate block.

  • Materials converted to layers.

  • Diffuse material color used as layer color number.

  • The default “INSERT” used to represent hierarchical information in scene.

  • Meshes and 2D vector data (text, dimensions).

  • Cameras.

  • Parts information.

  • Assembly hierarchy information.

Features

This format contains both import and export options. You can use them to customize the way in which your file is opened and saved.

Import Interface

Field

Functional Description

General

Defines the common settings

  • Import Layouts: Defines the layouts to import

    • All: Imports all layouts (both model- and paper-space), and makes the last used one active

    • Active Only: Imports only the last used layout.

    • Model Only: Imports only the model-space layout (Model).

    • Paper Only: Imports only the paper-space layouts.

  • Import Layers: Defines the layers to import

    • All: Imports all layers

    • Visible Only: Imports only the visible layers in each layout.

  • Import Metadata: Defines the attributes to import

    • None: No attribute is imported

    • All: All attributes are imported

  • Import Text as: Determines the way in which text is imported

    • Automatic: Imports text automatically, using defaults

    • Character Primitives: Imports text as native text primitives

    • Geometry: Imports text either as polyline or polygon mesh, depending on the type of the font. This option increases import time and memory usage.

  • Import Line Patterns as: Determines the way in which noncontinuous lines are imported

    • Line Material: Attempts to load lines with simple styles; for example, dashed, as polylines with the style attributes stored in their associated material. Lines with complex styles are imported as geometry.

    • Geometry: Imports all lines as polylines without storing style attributes. This setting includes lines with simple styles in addition to the more complex styles.

  • Allow Font Substitution: If enabled, missing SHX fonts are substituted with matching TrueType fonts. Font substitution reduces overall CGM file size, but in some cases, substitution may not be an exact match.

  • Collapse Objects: Groups similar objects together based on their type and associated layer

  • Normalize Scene: Scales small objects to reduce the display of geometric artifacts and minimize floating point errors. Normalizing is helpful when a model is tiny or huge, or when the polygon reduction process is slow.

Model Layout

Determines the way in which objects are imported and displayed in a model-space layout

  • Geometry Import Preference: Determines the way in which the geometry of solid or surface mesh objects is displayed in model-space layouts. Note that this option does not affect the way in which wireframe geometry is displayed.

    • As Saved: Uses the original display style

    • Prefer Outlines: Displays objects with their outline only

    • Prefer Solids: Displays objects as solids or surfaces

    • Prefer Solids with Outlines: Displays objects as solids or surfaces with their outlines highlighted

  • Initial Zoom: Sets how the model is initially displayed after import

    • As Saved: Uses original camera position and zoom factor

    • To Model Extents: Positions the model to the middle of the viewport and zooms the current model to its extents in the viewport so that it fully fills it

  • Background Color Preference: Uses a different color palette for displaying entities with indexed colors, depending on whether the background is dark or light.

    • Prefer Dark: Displays the model with a dark (black) background and light foreground colors

    • Prefer Light: Displays the model with a light (white) background and dark foreground colors

    • Use Custom: Displays the model with a user-defined background color. The color of foreground entities depends on the shade of the background color

  • Custom Background Color: Sets a user-defined background color. This option only functions if the option Use Custom is effective

Paper Layouts

Determines the way in which objects are imported and displayed in paper-space layouts

  • Geometry Import Preference: Determines the way in which the geometry of solid or surface mesh objects is displayed in paper-space layouts. Note that this option does not affect the way in which wireframe geometry is displayed.

    • As Saved: Uses the original display style

    • Prefer Outlines: Displays objects with their outline only

    • Prefer Solids: Displays objects as solids or surfaces

    • Prefer Solids with Outlines: Displays objects as solids or surfaces with their outlines highlighted

Geometry Transformation
Transforms (rotate, position, and scale) the scene along the X, Y, and Z axes:

  • Rotation: Sets the degrees of rotation around each axis from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. The rotation values can be entered with up to 6 decimal places.

  • Scale: Scales the object along the X, Y, and Z axes

  • Position: Sets the position of the scene along the X, Y, and Z axes

Export Interface

Field

Functional Description

Output Format

Establishes the format in which to export the file. You have the option of .dxf or .dxf binary formats.

Output Version

Establishes the version of AutoCAD in which to export the file