The graphical r epresentation of a level dimension depends on what shape you chose, but it’s made up of some lines, circles, solid fills and a text. This is all packed into a BLOCK named LEVDIM_<index>.
LABEL
The graphical r epresentation of a label is made up of two lines or a spline determined by thr ee points, an arr owhead and either a text or a symbol. This is all packed into a BLOCK named LABEL_<index>.
If the label is attached to a wall, column, slab, r oof, mesh or fill, its INSERT is put into the block of that element. If the label is
ArchiCAD 6.5 DXF/DWG Conversion Guide
the containing wall (see above). The INSERT of an independent label on the label of an OBJECT is put into the ENTITY section. In all cases it is followed by its ArchiCAD-specific extended data.
FILL
It is an ar ea enclosed by an outline and maybe with some holes inside. It is filled with a patter n. In Ar chiCAD, there ar e four ways to provide this pattern.
- Solid
The area should be completely filled. In AutoCAD R12 and R13 only triangular or quadrangular shapes can be filled with solid color, since there ar e only vector hatches. The result is that the solid fills will be triangulated. AutoCAD R14
intr oduced the solid hatch, so there ar e no conversion problems.
- Empty
This fill type is handled in the same way as the solid fills, but using the specified background color.
- Vector
R12 and R13 drawing files do not contain the definition of the referenced hatch patter ns when you save the drawing in AutoCAD. The contour of the fill is exported as a POLYLINE and the generated hatch lines ar e placed in a simple BLOCK. The R14 drawing file for mat intr oduced the HATCH entity that owns the hatch definition also. When exporting R14 drawings, ArchiCAD fills will be converted into HATCH entities.
- Symbol
This sort of fill pattern cannot be converted into HATCH entities, since it is mor e complex than a simple vector fill. It is exported into HATCH BLOCKs, even in R14 mode. Only solid fills within the pattern will become HATCH entities in R14 mode.
TEXT
Text blocks preserve the justification and anchor point. The alignment point is based on the anchor point setting. If ther e is no #FONTCONV for its font, a style with a TrueType font is generated (except in R12 for mat wher e TrueType is not available). The STANDARD text style is used by default when a TEXT entity is exported. (See the description of the configuration file’s
“#STYLECONV” and “#CHARCONV” options also.) In order to load multi-line texts as ONE Ar chiCAD text, they ar e stored in BLOCKs (since the Add-On r eceives them line by line).
Special considerations
- If an element has a label, its block definition will contain the insert for the block of the label. Non-associated labels are inserted in the entities section.
block ceil_45 ...
insert label_23 endblk
The exception is Library Parts (windows, doors, etc.), which must not store the label in the block. Therefore, the INSERT to the label follows the INSERT of the library part.
- If an element contains fill lines, they ar e grouped into a separate block and inserted as part of the block definition of the given element.
block wall_45 ...
insert *ACX_24 endblk
- If a window/door has dimensions, they ar e grouped into a separate block and inserted after the INSERT of the given opening.
block WALL_3 ...
INSERT WINDOW_12 endblk
Custom window/door dimensions are parts of the block definition of the library part.
- If a wall contains windows/doors, they ar e inserted as a part of the block definition of the wall.
block wall_13 ...
insert P_simple_door endblk
- Dimensions ar e not converted into AutoCAD dimensions, just into blocks and inserts.
ArchiCAD 6.5 DXF/DWG Conversion Guide
The ENTITY section
LINE
If there ar e no arr owheads attached to it, it is r epresented by a
simple LINEentity followed by the ArchiCAD-specific extended
data. If ther e is at least one arr owhead, the line and the arr owhead(s) ar e put into a BLOCK. The ArchiCAD-specific extended data is attached to the INSER T in the ENTITY section.
CIRCLE
It is r epresented by a CIRCLEentity followed by the ArchiCAD
specific extended data. Since it can’t have arr owheads, it always goes into the ENTITY section.
ELLIPSE
It is r epresented by an ELLIPSE entity followed by the ArchiCAD specific extended data. Since it can’t have arr owheads, it always goes into the ENTITY section.
ARC
If there ar en’t arr owheads attached to it, it is r epresented by a simple ARC entity followed by the ArchiCAD-specific extended data. If ther e is at least one arr owhead, the arc is put into a BLOCK along with the arr owhead(s). The ArchiCAD-specific extended data is attached to the INSER T in the ENTITY section (AutoCAD makes a distinction between full cir cles and ellipses but not between circular and elliptic ar cs).
Note: R12 drawings do not support ellipses and elliptic ar cs;
therefore, they are decomposed into POLYLINEsfor that
version.
SPLINE
Since the spline drawing algorithm in Ar chiCAD differs from AutoCAD’s, we export its linear approximation as an AutoCAD POLYLINE. If the output is an AutoCAD R14 DXF, this is r eplaced by an LWPOLYLINE entity. If there ar e no arr owheads attached to it, it is put into the ENTITY section. The ArchiCAD specific
extended data is attached to the SEQEND (or the LWPOLYLINE). If there is at least one arr owhead, the POLYLINE representation is put into a BLOCK along with the arr owhead(s). The ArchiCAD- specific extended data is attached to the INSERT in the ENTITY section.
HOTSPOT
Although it appears as a small cr oss on the floor plan, it is
represented by a POINT entity in the ENTITY section followed by the ArchiCAD-specific extended data.
Reference to library elements
Symbols placed on the project ar e inserted with the right rotation and scaling parameters. The INSER T entities ar e followed by their ArchiCAD-specific extended data blocks.
Reference to complex elements
Complex elements of the project ar e inserted. No transformation is required. The INSERT entities ar e followed by their ArchiCAD- specific extended data blocks. In the case of slabs, roofs, meshes and fills with outline, these extended data blocks don’t contain all the geometry . To save space, polygon outlines and holes can be retrieved from the native AutoCAD data instead.