[Plugin] importDXFtext

[TIG]

Here's v4.9
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=importDXFtext
MTEXT with overly long strings originally with \P v \n addressed, also non-specified units no longer affects the words' wrapping.

[uwesketch]

Looks good, except that the line spacing for the text "Masse am Bau" is far to big.
For the "Nische ..." it is better.

In the dxf file, the Text "Nische ..." ha a line spacing defined in Code 44 being 0.9381651742200441
The Text "Masse am Bau...." has a line spacing defined with Code 44 being 0.6070814881175318

Do you catch this line spacing?

Assuming, the line spacing is not considered for the import:

It seems the line spacing in the imported text "Nische..." is 1 and in the DXF it is defined as 0.938. So that looks good.

But for the long text "Masse ..." the imported line spacing is much more than 1.
In below picture, the green text is the text from the DXF with line spacing 0.6.
The yellow text I created in SketchUp with the "3DText" tool (line spacing 1, I assume).
The red text is the imported text.
The letter height of the green text is 125mm, the yellow text is 116mm, the red text 118mm.
The numbers in the picture are the distances between two lines
green: 256mm ( ~391 * 0.6 )
yellow: 391mm
red 460mm (line spacing ~1.16 = 460 / 391)

As the letter height is not exactly the same for all texts, the measured line spacing values above do not perfectly match the formula. (256 should be 0.6 * 391)

My Question: Why is the line spacing of the imported text that big, meaning why is it not 1?
Would it be possible to apply the line spacing as defined in the DXF or do you simply generate the whole 3DText using the add_3d_text command and hence there is no way to indicate a line spacing?

[TIG]

The text's line spacing is set by the 3d-text, and is fixed.
Why it's different between the manually made version and this tool's seems very odd though.

I see no way of using the dxf's line-spacing setting to adjust the 3d-text in the tool...

So this might be as good as it gets...

[uwesketch]

Yes, seems like it is what it is and indeed strange. But that is fine with me.

Meanwhile I have looked at Dimensions and Leaders in DXF and SketchUp and found a straight forward way of implementing these as well in the import.

Will send you the notes with examples in the next days.

[TIG]

Thanks for your work on this...
I'll look at it as soon as I have some free time and come back to you...

[uwesketch]

Now I have finally the pieces for importing linear dimensionstogether.
If only the dimension lines without text shall be created in SketchUp it is pretty straight forward.
To also add the dimension text at he right position to the Sketchup dimension, a bit more is needed.
Pls find attached a text document with examples on the DXF codes needed.
The samples values are taken from our test file "dxf

In order to only create the dimension lines without adding text, the DXF Codes needed are:

• 0 DIMENSION
• 70 for the type of dimension
• 13, 23, 33-- defines the start point of reference line
• 14, 24, 34 -- defines the end point of reference line
• 10, 20, 30 for the point where the dimension line starts (above the end point of the ref line

To also create the dimension text at the right position and orientation:

• 11, 21, 31 -- text center position
• 1 -- dim user text
• 42 -- actual measured value , read only
  Codes 50 (angle of extension line to Y axis) and 71 (attachment point are not needed)

Structure of the attached text file "_DXF Dimensions to skp.txt":

• first there is some introduction and links to DXF dimensions

• 4 examples of dimensions from DXF with codes and values along with a ruby code snippet filling variables with the values

• extracted DXF codes with values from the test file with comments on the lines

  • Ruby code snippet to fill variables with the DXF values

• piece of ruby code creating a dimension based on the variables set beforehand

I would be very glad, if you could implement the Dimension import!

I also have finished analysing what is needed to import the LEADERs (as SketchUp text drawing element).
If we only would want the leader line to be imported without text, as this is already being imported, then the needed DXF Codes are:

• 0 LEADER
• 76 -- number of vertices in leader line
• 10, 20, 30 vertices of leader line. There are 2 or more vertices. Number indicated in Code 76

To also import the mtext into the SketchUp text object, we need in addition:

• 340 -- hard link to MTEXT or block or INSERT handle. Importing MTEXT is probably enough.
• 1 -- text from linked MTEXT entity

The structure of the attached file "_DXF Leaders to skp.txt" is same as for Dimensions.

---

Proposal how to import dimensions from DXF to SKP

---

Proposal how to import leaders from DXF to SKP

[uwesketch]

@tig said:

Thanks for your work on this...
I'll look at it as soon as I have some free time and come back to you...

Looking forward to it.
I added the DXF Codes for importing LEADER objects as well in above post, so that I do not loose this work.

[uwesketch]

@TIG,
in a few weeks I am getting again drawings I need to import into Sketchup.
Do you see a chance to get the import of dimensions and leaders (Text) implemented by then?
It would really make my life easier.
Whatever I can do to help, just let me know.

[TIG]

I've not had a chance to look at anything yet.
I suspect it'll be some weeks before I clear my existing workload sufficiently...

[uwesketch]

I doubt that Sketchup is ever doing a dimension import. You are my last hope
Do you see any chance to implement it soon?

[TIG]

I'm sorry but my other commitments will almost certainly mess with any significant work on this...

[abcdaniel]

Thanks a lot for this extension!
Problem/bug:
When I try to force it to interpret a minimal dxf as being in mm, it forces me to use inches:
"Do NOT choose a unit that is less than
that set in the DXF [inches]
It's best to accept the default offered."
There is no option to proceed anyway, like there is if you choose meters instead.
Can this be fixed?
My use case is spitting out severely minimal dxf:s using different programmatic approaches. I skip header info, but it is still valid dxf. But since there's no unit info in the files, that the extension defaults to inches is a bit sad for a non-inch-using-person.

[TIG]

Why strip out the unit's setting ?
Can't you leave it in ?
The 3d location of the text will be severely messed up too ??
If you can't keep that, then can you import at inches and scale the resultant objects using a factor to change from inches to mm [or whatever] - bearing in mind that the 3d location of the text objects could be well FUBAR !

[ezdmanx]

Came across a problem where this plugin would not work for a drawing. It would try import the text from a dxf file but no text would appear in the SU model.
The ruby console showed an error "VALIDITY CHECK = Txt - invalid group".
I narrowed it down to a few Text entities which had "%%C" symbols in their text content (the diameter symbol in AutoCAD).
I changed them from "150mm%%C" to "150mm" and the import worked. Just one text with the %% means nothing in the drawing imports.

Just said I would post it here in case anyone else has this issue.

[TIG]

Many special characters are trapped but a rogue %%C is not.

I'll add to an update soonest.

[TIG]

Here's v5.0
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=importDXFtext
It fixes the recently reported glitch with certain ACAD diameter symbols in some strings...