Giza: Creating a Custom Special from an External DWG File

Creating a Custom Special in Giza from an AutoCAD DWG

It is possible to create a special in Giza using external graphics contained in an AutoCAD .dwg file. The special is capable of containing both a 2D and 3D graphic and can even be displayed in Visual Impression or included in your Worksheet takeoff.

The DWG File containing the graphic special must be formatted in a very specific way to be compatible with Giza's special tool. This is an advanced topic and may only be possible for a Giza user who also has access to AutoCAD and the knowledge to modify the .dwg file to meet the below requirements. This article is meant to be a general overview and can be shared with a 3rd party if they are preparing the .dwg files for your use.

DWG File Requirements

• The graphic to be imported into Giza must be contained in an AutoCAD .dwg file.
  
  
• The .dwg file must contain both a 2D symbol of the item, as well as a compatible 3D graphic of the item, stacked on top of each other with 0,0 representing the insertion point of the graphic.
  
  
• If 3D capability not required, then it is fine to only have a 2D object contained in the .dwg file.
  
  
• Compatible 3D object types are 3D faces or polyface mesh only. AutoCAD solids are not supported and will not import.
  
  
• Compatible 2D object types are lines, circles, arcs, points, and/or polylines.
  
  
• Ellipses and splines are not supported and must be removed or converted into a compatible object type. If these are in the .dwg file, you will run into errors. 
  
  
• No blocks. Explode any blocks into their individual elements.
  
  
• Only one special per .dwg file. Anything else in the file not pertaining to the special object should be removed.

Example

The below image shows an example of a properly formatted AutoCAD graphic that could be imported into Giza as a special part. This file is available for download by clicking the link below. This file could be provided to your CAD person as an example of how to create or format the specials, or you can follow along in the next section in turning this object into a special you can place into your Giza drawing.

Download

Creating the Special in Giza

Once we have a valid .dwg file of the special object, we can now create the special in Giza.
 

1. Click the Special Symbol Creation icon in the toolbar to launch the special symbols editor.
   
   
   
   
2. From the File menu select Import...
   
   
3. Using the Import File dialog, select and open the .dwg file that contains the special.
   
   
4. Click Import in the Import Options dialog window.
   
   
5. The item should load and display the 2D and 3D symbol of the object.
   
   
6. From the File menu select Save Symbol...
   
   
7. Fill out the Symbol Identification Name, Part Number, and Description fields of the Save Symbol Dialog. Optionally, you can assign a cost value of the object in the Cost field. It is recommended to leave the MFGR field UL as this designates the item as a "user library" special. Leave Autotype and Layer blank. Click Save to complete saving the symbol.
   
   
   
   
8. Click the Return to Giza icon in the toolbar to return to Giza.
   
   
   
   
9. Click OK to exit Giza Specials and return to standard Giza.
   
   
10. Click Yes in the following dialog.
    
    

Placing the Special

To access the special you just created, you need to select it from the User Library. Browse and set your current catalog to the User Library and press OK.



Any specials you have created can be placed just like you would any other part. Select the special and place it into your Giza drawing.
If the special was created properly, it will behave just like any standard furniture object and be visible both in 2D and 3D. The item will even transfer to Visual Impression and appear on your BOM.