Author: |
|
Creation Date: |
2007-08-17 |
• ArchiCAD 11 |
|
Platform: |
• Mac OS X |
Audience: |
• average users |
Reference: |
• [tracking number] |
There are three ways to incorporate DWG/DXF files into ArchiCAD Projects. The first is to Merge the DWG/DXF file. The second is to Attach the DWG/DXF file as an XREF file. The third one (available in ArchiCAD 10 and later) is to place the DWG/DXF file as an External Drawing.
The following table shows the differences in the three methods:
|
Merge |
XREF |
Place as Drawing |
Attributes (Layers, Line types, Fill types)? |
Yes, created during Merge |
Yes, created during Attachment |
No attributes created |
Deletion of created Attributes |
Must be deleted individually |
When Detaching, all attributes can be deleted in one step. |
No attributes, no such problem. |
Can individual layers of the DWG/DXF file be turned ON/OFF? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Can file be placed in Model Views? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Can file be placed on Layouts? |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Can file have its own Pen Set? |
No |
No |
Yes |
Can its elements be snapped to? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Can file be resized? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Can its contents be incorporated into and saved with the project? |
Yes, immediately becomes part of the project |
Yes, use Bind command in XREF Management Dialog Box. |
Yes, use Explode command. |
Based on the above table, the solutions for the most common scenarios/requirements are:
1. Cleanness of attributes. When a DWG/DXF files is Merged/Attached, dozens of attributes may be created. If you wish to avoid that (e.g. lots of Layers in the Layer Settings Dialog), use the Place External Drawing method.
2. Cleaning up created attributes. The XREF method is preferable to the Merge method, because when you Detach an XREF file from the Project, ArchiCAD offers to delete all attributes coming from the XREF file in one step.
3. Ability to turn Layers ON/OFF individually. When using the Place External Drawing method, all DWG/DXF data are handled as a single unit and are placed on a single layer. Therefore you should use either the Merge or XREF methods, so you can turn off the layers (and thereby control the visibility of those elements) individually.
4. Placement on Layouts. XREF files may not be directly placed, so if you need to placed DWG/DXF files onto Layouts, you should use either the Merge or the Place External Drawing method. (You can place them in Model Views with any of the methods.)
5. Use Pen Set from DWG/DXF file. If you wish to make the Pen Set of the DWG/DXF file part of the Project, use the Place External Drawing method. Then you can save the Pen Set of the Drawing generated from the DWG/DXF file.
6. Making DWG/DXF data permanently part of the Project File. The Merge method is the one which immediately results in DWG/DXF data becoming part of the Project. (An External Drawing must be Exploded. As for XREF files, the Bind command is required to achieve the same result.)