Import DWG/DXF Files
This section explains how to import an AutoCAD .dwg file and put the AutoCAD layers on back (ground) so furniture can be placed without accidentally selecting or editing an AutoCAD layer.
- Click File, Import/Export/Styles.
- In this dialog, select AutoCAD drawings.
- Click the Load from Any Folder button.
- Select the file to import and click Open.
- In the DXF/DWG Load Options dialog make sure the following are selected:
From Layers = All Layers. This will insure that everything in the drawing is imported. If Active Layers is selected, only the layers that are turned on in the original AutoCAD drawing will be imported into Giza.
To Layers = Original Layers. This will keep the elements in the drawing on the original layers they were meant to be on. If Work Layer is selected, then all of the objects from the ACAD drawing will be placed on the Work Layer. If Locked ACAD layer is selected, all ACAD layers will appear but they will be locked and unable to be changed.
Convert From Units = Inch.
Check each box for Polylines to lines and faces, Points to nodes, and Dimension Blocks to opcodes
Maintain the value of 1.5 as the Text Width factor
Blocks to = Symbols. If there are Giza symbols in the AutoCAD drawing, choose Symbols to load the symbols.
If you are importing a Cap drawing select Covert CAP Blocks to Furniture Symbols.
- Click Load. Furniture can now be placed in the drawing as usual when the import completes.
- During the import process, a status screen will appear, indicating verifications that are being made during the import process. You can Save the Log and then click on OK. Refer to the table following this table for all of the possible the Status results.
None Found (green circle) = Nothing was detected in the source file relating to the verification
Detected (red circle) = There is an issue that could not be corrected.
Resolved (yellow circle) = One or more issues were detected and resolved by converting the element(s) that caused the issue(s) to a Standard Giza equivalent.
| Import process question | Meaning |
| Does the drawing contain corruption? | Detected- The file cannot be imported because it is corrupted in some way. You can contact the file provider and let them know that the file is corrupted. Many applications such as AutoCAD have functions that can attempt to repair corrupted files. |
| Are XREFs detected? | Detected - The import detected an External Reference (XREF) attached to this file. The import process filtered the XREF; it is not part of the results in Giza. The XREF may not be necessary to use the file. You should contact the provider of the file and ask them if any XREF(s) attached to the file is required for your use of the file. |
| Are frozen layers detected? | Detected -The import detected that one or more layers are frozen in the file being imported. Layers frozen in AutoCAD are not visible and modification is restricted. These frozen layers are set to Off within the results in Giza. |
| Are locked layers detected? | Detected - Locked layers are set to Back in Giza which means the import process detected that one or more layers are locked in the file being imported. Layers locked in AutoCAD are visible, but modification is restricted. These locked layers. |
| Are unsupported objects found? | Detected - Unsupported objects are filtered during the import and are excluded from the results within Giza. The import detected one or more objects that are not supported by Giza. These objects were filtered and they are not part of the results in Giza. These unsupported objects are often AEC objects which come from AutoCAD's Architecture (also known as Architectural Desktop). You should contact the provider of the file and ask them what might be unusual with the file. Most unsupported objects are proprietary to a specific application; the source CAD application can usually simplify the items to basic geometry. |
| Are any items not set ByLayer? | Detected - Non ByLayer items have been left as is. One or more of these items have been detected. Their properties have been preserved within the Giza results. An example of a non bylayer item would be a line that is on layer A, where layer A is yellow, but the line's color has been set to blue. The line in this case is non bylayer. Therefore, the result in Giza would be a blue line, not a yellow one. |
| Are there unsupported linetypes? | Detected - Lines on Unsupported Linetypes have been converted to the standard Giza line type. The import process has detected that one or more lines were created using a linetype that is not supported by Giza. Items that are drawn with these types of line lay also be present. Lines and items with unsupported linetypes have been converted to use the standard Giza linetype within the results in Giza. |
| Are there non-supported text styles? | Detected - Text made using unsupported text styles has been converted to use the standard Giza text style. The import process has detected that text was made using a text style not supported by Giza. This text has been converted to use the standard Giza text style within the results in Giza. |
| Are there non-supported dimension styles? |
Detected - Dimensions made using an unsupported dimension style have been converted to use the standard Giza dimension style. The import process has detected dimensions that were made using a style not supported by Giza. The import process filtered these dimensions and excluded them from the results in Giza. |
Re-scale DWG/DXF Files
Some DWG/DXF files import at an incorrect scale. Use these steps to rescale properly:
-
Turn all layers from Back to On.
-
Measure a door or window for which you know the correct size.
-
Use the following formula to determine the correct scale: Correct Size (CS) / Measured Size (MS) = Scale Factor
For example, a door should be 3’ but measures 6’ 6” on screen. Convert to inches and divide 36 by 78 to get a scale factor of 0.4615. Or type 36/78 in the X field. -
Select the entire drawing (by either windowing the entire drawing, or by clicking Edit/Select/All).
-
On a highlighted line, right-click and choose Utilities/Scale.
-
In the Scale Selected Items dialog, enter 0.4615 in the X field.
-
Select Use X-Scale for all scales.
-
Click Apply.
-
Measure the same door again to ensure the scale is now correct.
Export to AutoCAD
Any drawing created in Giza (or imported as .dwg/.dxf) can be exported as AutoCAD .dwg/.dxf:
-
Click File, Import/Export/Styles.
-
Select AutoCAD Drawings.
-
Click the Save to Any Folder button.
-
Type a file name and click Save.
-
In the DWG Save Options dialog, the following options should be set:
Layers - All
Elements - All -
Click Save.