Working in Harmony With DWG - Design Software Solutions ...vectorworks-training.co.uk/.../8421/Working_in_Harmony_With_DWG.pdf · © Design Software Solutions Ltd 2014 The Presenter

© Design Software Solutions Ltd 2014

Working in Harmony With DWG

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The Presenter

Tamsin Slatter

Technical Director, Design Software Solutions Ltd

Long term Vectorworks devotee

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Copyright Notices:© 2014 Design Software Solutions Ltd

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, faxing, e-mailing, posting online, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher. Published in the United Kingdom.

‣ Vectorworks® and Renderworks® are registered trademarks of Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc., in the United States and other countries.

‣ Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

‣ Macintosh® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., in the United States and other countries.

‣ Adobe, Acrobat, and Reader are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems in the United States and other countries.

‣ AutoCAD® is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc in the United States and other countries

The information in this course is distributed on an “as is” basis, without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author(s) nor Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc., shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book or by the computer software described in it.

For additional Vectorworks training information, please visit our websitewww.vectorworks-training.co.uk

Call:01635 580318

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http://www.vectorworks-training.co.uk






AgendaAfter attending this webinar, you will be to:

‣ Describe the !le structures of a Vectorworks !le compared with a DWG (AutoCAD®) !le

‣ Import AutoCAD !les successfully so that their drawn elements are the correct size

‣ Navigate the imported !le so that you can !nd the information you need

‣ Understand the purpose of Center After Import

‣ Create !les that are suitable for export to DWG

‣ Check your exported !le before sending it to your colleagues

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Common Problems Reported‣ I’ve been sent a !le, but when I try to open it, my

computer says it doesn’t have an application that can open DWG !les. I’m not sure where to start

‣ The imported !le is not on the page

‣ The scale is wrong. I’ve imported this at 1:100 but the site/building/venue is huge/tiny

‣ I’ve imported this !le and the text/arrows are huge/tiny

‣ I’ve imported the !le, but the layer says it is at 1:1 and I can’t change it. Also, when I click on the elements, the

‣ The architect/surveyor keeps talking about XRefs/Referencing/Binding. What does it mean?

‣ I export my !le, but when it gets exported, the Architect/Surveyor/Structural complain that they can’t make any sense of the !le

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File > Import, not File > Open

File > Import > Import DXF/DWG

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Vectorworks and AutoCADFile Structures

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Drawing Structure

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Drawing Structure

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Drawing Structure

Design Layers

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Drawing Structure

Design Layers

Classes

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Drawing Structure

Design Layers Model Space

Classes

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

Sheet Layers

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

Sheet Layers

Paper Space

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers

Viewports (to scale)

Sheet Layers

Paper Space

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Drawing Structure


Classes Layers



Sheet Layers

Paper Space

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The Import Process

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Let’s get this file translated!

DXF/DWG

Vectorworks

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I have a few questions to help me with this translation!

• Which units was the file drawn in? Was it millimeters, meters or something else?

• Are you expecting 3D geometry such as site levels?

• Once I’ve translated this drawing what scale would you like your design layer to be? Remember its best if all your design layers are at the same scale and you can always change this later!

• Do you need your drawing to align with other peoples drawings? If not I can centre the drawing on your page to make it easier for you to work.

• Do you know what scale you need the line weights to be? I can make a suggestion if you like!

• Let me turn their AutoCAD layers into Classes for you so you can control colours and line thicknesses.

• If I find any Points or Blocks I can convert them to Symbols for you. How would you like me to do it?

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Size is Everything! Get your UNITS right!

Vectorworks' Little Translator

Every CAD file creates objects at their real-world size.Each objects size is measured in a number of CAD Units

4000 what?

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Check a known size on your drawing.

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Did I get it right?


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Yes? Great!I’m glad I could

help!

Did I get it right?


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Yes? Great!I’m glad I could

help!

No oops!Don’t worry!

If the size is wrong, useModify > Scale Objects

and you can resize the drawing from there.If it’s something else then maybe we

should try translating it again!

Did I get it right?


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The Export Process

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I have more questions to help me with this translation!

• Which version of AutoCAD does the recipient need? Not all versions can be read by all applications.

• Your classes will be converted to AutoCAD layers.

• Note that all Design Layers will be lost into one single model space, with one single scale. So, scale on design layers IS irrelevant!

• If you have more than one design layer, would you prefer to have them exported as separate files?

• Do you want the sheet layers exported? If so, which ones?

• Usually, I will export the design layers (model space) as well, so I can support your viewports. Alternatively, I can just export the Sheet Layers as a model space. Then the recipient will not get your entire model.

• What would you like to happen to all of your fills? I can discard them, or separate them into different DWG layers, to make it easier for the recipient.

• Do you want me to change the colours?

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Export to DWG

Critical to understand what you are sending

Understand what the export dialog is asking you

Get a viewer, and check the file before you send it.

Search for free DWG Viewer in the App Store for your computer or via Google.

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To summariseNow that you have completed the webinar, you will be able to:

‣ Describe the !le structures of a Vectorworks !le compared with a DWG (AutoCAD®) !le

‣ Import AutoCAD !les successfully so that their drawn elements are the correct size

‣ Navigate the imported !le so that you can !nd the information you need

‣ Understand the purpose of Center After Import

‣ Create !les that are suitable for export to DWG

‣ Check your exported !le before sending it to your colleagues

Time for you to put it into practice!

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Where can you learn more about Vectorworks?

Further TrainingOur current training schedule is always available at

‣ http://www.vectorworks-training.co.uk/learn-vectorworks

‣ Don’t forget, we can do online training, either live, or e-learning

More Webinars‣ http://www.vectorworks-training.co.uk/learn-

vectorworks/webinar-programme/

More Content and TrainingIf you’re a member of Vectorworks Service Select, there are plenty of videos to take you the extra mile with Vectorworks!

‣ http://serviceselect.vectorworks.net/

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http://www.vectorworks-training.co.uk/learn-vectorworks/webinar-programme/




http://serviceselect.vectorworks.net

http://serviceselect.vectorworks.net


Thanks for attending!

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Documents

Working in Harmony With DWG - Design Software Solutions ...vectorworks-training.co.uk/.../8421/Working_in_Harmony_With_DWG.pdf · © Design Software Solutions Ltd 2014 The Presenter