LO DWG-export to ACAD, need help please
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Hello everyone,
I've been using LayOut for several projects recently making PDF presentations and it worked great for me.
Now I am digging into plan and elevation drawings and have to produce dwg files that will be further processed by an architect in AutoCad. Somehow I am running into quite some issues. Unfortunately my experience with AutoCad and other Cad programs tends to zero and I only have DraftSight on my machine atm.
Maybe you guys could give me hints on how to proceed or link me to a thread that had these issues dicussed already, as I could not find much about it so far (still reading through older posts). To keep it short I'll try to put it into five simple questions:-
Is there a way to have all LO pages exported into one dwg file, not every page into a single one?
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Why does the drawing show up in Acad only on the layout pages and not on the model page?
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In Acad the dimensions seem not to be connected to the model, could this be because I was shortening the extension lines for a cleaner look?
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Some colors for fillings turn out differently, how can I solve that?
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A text box in which i've used a line-break the line-height in Acad turns out to be at least ten times higher, what went wrong with that?
(for all models I've used vector rendering mode)
Another issue I have is with creating different line weights for plan drawings in one model. I was not getting it right with using sections in SU so I quicky made a 2D plan in SU from the 3D model (this also eased up working with fillings). Then I copied the section surfaces to the clipboard and pasted them into the respective page in LayOut placing it over the plan model. Using a different line weight for the Style this looked just perfect. I am not very surprized that with this technique the geometry in Acad is behaving strangely. Would it be better to do the coloring and maybe even the outlining of the sections in LayOut? Any ideas on that?
thanks in advance
Alexander -
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Seems like your doubling the work. I stopped using ACAD over a year ago, so I won't be too much help. You can export either model space or paper space, it is one of the selections in the export option. If you messed with the extension lines of the dimensions, yes you may have disconnected it from the snap point. This would be reflected in ACAD. It is exporting individual pages because you have paper space selected.
Further processed in ACAD always means to me, simplified to simple line drawings......kind of like going back in time. Sorry I couldn't be more help.
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Hi:
@unknownuser said:
- Is there a way to have all LO pages exported into one dwg file, not every page into a single one?
I believe not. Every page becomes an independent dwg.
@unknownuser said:
- Why does the drawing show up in Acad only on the layout pages and not on the model page?
There's an option in layout to either export contents to layout or model space. I prefer to export everything to model space.
@unknownuser said:
- In Acad the dimensions seem not to be connected to the model, could this be because I was shortening the extension lines for a cleaner look?
I don't believe dimensions are exported as autocad dimensions, just as linework and text.
@unknownuser said:
- Some colors for fillings turn out differently, how can I solve that?
Haven't had that problem. Color fills are translated to hatches with truecolor color in autocad (you need to check the appropiate option in the export dialog to get fills to autocad though.
@unknownuser said:
Another issue I have is with creating different line weights for plan drawings in one model. I was not getting it right with using sections in SU so I quicky made a 2D plan in SU from the 3D model (this also eased up working with fillings). Then I copied the section surfaces to the clipboard and pasted them into the respective page in LayOut placing it over the plan model. Using a different line weight for the Style this looked just perfect. I am not very surprized that with this technique the geometry in Acad is behaving strangely. Would it be better to do the coloring and maybe even the outlining of the sections in LayOut? Any ideas on that?
How about setting a scene so it only shows the section face. Set that view in layout, set it to render in vector. Copy that viewport to the clipboard. Select the view and explode it in layout. You will get the same result. Then, you can paste the original view and send it to the back of the exploded vector view if you want.
I either set my model to hybrid, or as sonder does, get the section cut (using the section cut face plugin) in addition to the base model. One thing i've resorted to is to use different shades of gray to color linework in sketchup that i don't want to show as heavy in the printout. It works.
I believe if you approach layout expecting editable dwg's, you will never use it's full potential. Translating between different software almost always is difficult if you expect the resulting info to equivalent to natively created content. In that sense, using layout to create dwg information, while doable, is probably not the most practical way to use it. Using LO to create said sections and plans is probably better.
Santiago
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Thanks a lot guys, I see now that I have not fully understood LayOut yet.
Santiago, thank you for giving so much effort to answer all the details, much appreciated!
I'll work through every step, I bet now I can do much better
cheers
A. -
MY WORK-FLOW from Layout to AutoCAD
Once Schematic Design is done and the client agrees to move into Design Development I export my elevations and roof plan from skecthup
IN LAYOUT:
I create a custom size paper in layout big enough to fit all my Elevations and roof plan in one sheet at 1/8" = 1'-0".(It doesn't matter the size of the paper actually, if your drawings are outside the paper space they still get exported just fine).Make all the views Vectors.
I export them as DWG with Output Space set to "Model Space" Scale: "Custom = 96"
(If your views are at another scale, you will need to figure out what would your custom scale be.... example 1/4" scale = 48, 1/16" scale =192.... you get the idea).IN AUTOCAD:
As soon as I open the drawing, I can't see anything! (that is because my default background color in autoCAD is black). I also don't care about Layout's layer system, because I'm planing to redo them in AutoCAD anyway and add all the required details. All I want is the basic shape to get started.
So, I make a line on layer 0 and use the command "MATCHPROP" (also known as "MA") select the line that I just made and then select the whole drawing! All of the sudden all the black lines become white and I can see them
Unfortunately (and I don't know why) There are many repeated lines on top of each other. Maybe they were in different layers and now they all are in layer 0... I don't know and I don't really care. To take care of this issue, I select everything and use my favorite command in AutoCAD: "overkill".
After that, the model is pretty much ready for one of my drafters/designers to take over. I write in Defpoints notes of things to watch-out and a warning that my exported elevation is for reference purpose only to verify everything
If for some reason the client goes crazy and wants to change things and see them on sketchup... then it's going to cost them extra
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I have a copy of the free viewer Autodesk DWG Trueview 2010 on my system so I can have a quick check of the DWG files before sending or to respond to queries. Sorry I don't have a link.
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Error404 , the multiple lines usually has to do with how SU creates a wall as an example. It is not two lines, it is 8 (top, bottom & sides). If it has base, windows and trim, the number of lines grow. This process of going between both programs really doubles your workload, and as you mention, creates a disconnect in the process for both you and your client.
I did the same process in the past and it was very frustrating, especially with changes. Diving into LO really helped, once I figured out a great workflow. I haven't looked back. Two months ago, I finished record drawings on my last ACAD project. I don't think I will need to open that program again.
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@unknownuser said:
Error404 , the multiple lines usually has to do with how SU creates a wall as an example. It is not two lines, it is 8 (top, bottom & sides). If it has base, windows and trim, the number of lines grow. This process of going between both programs really doubles your workload, and as you mention, creates a disconnect in the process for both you and your client.
I did the same process in the past and it was very frustrating, especially with changes. Diving into LO really helped, once I figured out a great workflow. I haven't looked back. Two months ago, I finished record drawings on my last ACAD project. I don't think I will need to open that program again.
I can live with my workflow
(but I know it's not for everyone)Our Schematic Design phase is long and is meant to nail down the design (This is where Sketchup becomes and excellent toole). We use Design Development as in between step to Construction Documents (put the design in hard lines / CAD). Changing the Design in CDs is cumbersome not matter what software you are using... So we make sure the client is 100% satisfied before we move forward.
I would be very interested in seeing a complete Architectural CD set from your work flow.
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@errror404 said:
MY WORK-FLOW from Layout to AutoCAD
IN AUTOCAD:
As soon as I open the drawing, I can't see anything! (that is because my default background color in autoCAD is black). I also don't care about Layout's layer system, because I'm planing to redo them in AutoCAD anyway and add all the required details. All I want is the basic shape to get started.
So, I make a line on layer 0 and use the command "MATCHPROP" (also known as "MA") select the line that I just made and then select the whole drawing! All of the sudden all the black lines become white and I can see them
Unfortunately (and I don't know why) There are many repeated lines on top of each other. Maybe they were in different layers and now they all are in layer 0... I don't know and I don't really care. To take care of this issue, I select everything and use my favorite command in AutoCAD: "overkill".
Almost perfect ( 90 %
The only problem that i have is with letters, i have to edit them one by one to change the colors, they don't accept any of the other ways " by layer", etc.Any ideas to solve it ?? ( it would be 100 % )
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@errror404 said:
MY WORK-FLOW from Layout to AutoCAD
Once Schematic Design is done and the client agrees to move into Design Development I export my elevations and roof plan from skecthup
IN LAYOUT:
I create a custom size paper in layout big enough to fit all my Elevations and roof plan in one sheet at 1/8" = 1'-0".(It doesn't matter the size of the paper actually, if your drawings are outside the paper space they still get exported just fine).Make all the views Vectors.
I export them as DWG with Output Space set to "[b]Model Space[/b]" Scale: "[b]Custom = 96[/b]"
(If your views are at another scale, you will need to figure out what would your custom scale be.... example 1/4" scale = 48, 1/16" scale =192.... you get the idea).IN AUTOCAD:
As soon as I open the drawing, I can't see anything! (that is because my default background color in autoCAD is black). I also don't care about Layout's layer system, because I'm planing to redo them in AutoCAD anyway and add all the required details. All I want is the basic shape to get started.
So, I make a line on layer 0 and use the command "MATCHPROP" (also known as "MA") select the line that I just made and then select the whole drawing! All of the sudden all the black lines become white and I can see them :bounce:
Unfortunately (and I don't know why) There are many repeated lines on top of each other. Maybe they were in different layers and now they all are in layer 0... I don't know and I don't really care. To take care of this issue, I select everything and use my favorite command in AutoCAD: "overkill".
After that, the model is pretty much ready for one of my drafters/designers to take over. I write in Defpoints notes of things to watch-out and a warning that my exported elevation is for reference purpose only to verify [u]everything[/u]
If for some reason the client goes crazy and wants to change things and see them on sketchup... then it's going to cost them extra
Errror404: believe I've reviewed all of your recent advice/responses to exporting Layout files to Acad and have a few questions for clarification -- if you don't mind:
We're using the most current versions of Sk_up & Layout and attempting to export a couple of 'paperspace' Layout files in DWG format to the engineer who complains that our files 'are empty' & too small at 30kb.
Based on forum feedback -- am wondering if we've been exporting raster images vs. vector images -- thus the problem...? If this is the case, can we go back and make this change without re-creating an entire file...? (I haven't come across anything in Layout that allows me to save to raster vs vector -- so assume that's gotta be handled in Sk_up)...?
I also understand that certain (Acad) settings need to be in place on his end -- in terms of paper vs model space -- but we instructed 'paperspace' with no results on that end.
Also read where there can be an issue with Acad's black background... Anything we might advise him if that's still an issue with exporting Layout files...?
Thanks for any/all assist with this issue. Really enjoy Sk_up -- but gotta be able to communicate with Consultants.
C Fraulino
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