When AutoCAD prompts you, respond with the name of the drawing interchange file to be loaded. Once you've selected the desired objects, AutoCAD again prompts you for the numeric precision:Įnter decimal places of accuracy (0 to 16)/Binary : DXFIN Command - Loading a DXF FileĪ drawing interchange file can be converted into an AutoCAD drawing by means of the DXFIN command: Only the objects you select are included in the output file - symbol tables (including Block Definitions) will not be included. If you respond with "entities" (or just "e"), DXFOUT asks you to select the objects you want written to the DXF file. The Binary option is described later in this chapter. Next, DXFOUT asks what precision you want for floating-point numbers and permits output of a partial DXF file containing only selected objects.Įnter decimal places of accuracy (0 to 16)/Entities/Binary : If you specify the file using a file dialogue box, and a file with the same name already exists, AutoCAD tells you allowing you to OK or cancel the deletion. If a file with the same name already exists, the existing file is deleted. If you specify an explicit filename, you do not need to include a file type. The default name for the output file is the same as that of the current drawing, but with a file type of. When AutoCAD prompts you, respond with a filename or press 5 to accept the You can generate a drawing interchange file from an existing drawing by means of the DXFOUT command: This feature is described in detail later in this chapter.
AutoCAD can also produce or read a binary form of the full DXF file. They can easily be translated to the formats of other CAD systems or submitted to other programs for specialized analysis. This section describes the AutoCAD DXF (drawing interchange file) format and the commands provided to read and write these files. The information comprising an AutoCAD drawing can be written out in IGESįormat, and IGES files can be read and converted to the AutoCAD internal format. All implementations of AutoCAD accept this format and are able to convert it to and from their internal drawing file representation.ĪutoCAD also supports the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) fileįormat.
To assist in interchanging drawings between AutoCAD and other programs, a Drawing Interchange file format (DXF) has been defined. Since the AutoCAD drawing database (.dwg file) is written in a compact format that changes significantly as new features are added to AutoCAD, we do not document its format and do not recommend that you attempt to write programs to read it directly. You can compute stresses and displacements and send back information to display the deformed structure as an AutoCAD drawing. Another possible application is to use AutoCAD to describe structures and then send the descriptions to a more powerful computer for finite-element structural analysis.
In some applications, however, other programs must examine drawings created by AutoCAD or generate drawings to be viewed, modified, or plotted with AutoCAD.įor example, if you've made an architectural drawing with AutoCAD, using inserted parts to represent windows, doors, and so on, you can process the drawing file and produce a bill of materials of all items used in the drawing, or even make energy-use calculations based on the area and the number and type of windows used. |ĪutoCAD can be used by itself as a complete drawing editor. AutoCAD Release 12 DXF Format AutoCAD Release 12 DXF Format