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*NOTE:* While written for [SAP2000|sap2000:home], this article also applies to [CSiBridge|csibridge:home].
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{new-tab-link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.dwg}Drawing{new-tab-link} (*DWG* (Drawing) files may be *imported* from {new-tab-link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocad}AutoCAD{new-tab-link} 2012 into *SAP2000* using the same procedure as that for DXF files. This procedure is described in the [Import DXF into SAP2000|sap2000:Import DXF into SAP2000] article.

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A few notes which concern this process are as follows:

procedure which follows:

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# Create and save a DWG model within AutoCAD. The example model we will use for this demonstration is shown in Figure 1:
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{center-text}Figure 1 - DWG model for import into SAP2000{center-text}
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# Coordinate DWG layer types such that they import as the [SAP2000|sap2000:home] objects which are listed as follows:
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|| || DWG entity || SAP2000 object || Color ||
| 1 | Point | [Joint|kb:Joint] | Cyan |
| 2 | Line | [Frame|kb:Frame] | Yellow |
| 3 | Point | [Link|kb:Link] (one-point) | Cyan |
| 4 | Line | Link (two-point) | Green |
| 5 | 3D Face | [Shell|kb:Shell] | Red |
| 6 | N/A | [Solid|kb:Solid] | N/A |
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# Within SAP2000, select File > Import > AutoCAD .dxf File, as shown in Figure 2:
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{center-text}Figure 2 - Select the DXF Import feature{center-text}
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*NOTE:* AutoCAD must be installed on the desktop to [import|kb:Import] orand [export|kb:Export] between SAP2000 and DWG. This is because DWG files are in binary format, andwhich must be read orand written using the AutoCAD functions available using {new-tab-link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActiveX}ActiveX{new-tab-link} technology and the AutoCAD API. DXF import and export, however, does not require AutoCAD installation because DXF is a text file of published and available format.

* The only difference between import from DWG and DXF, aside from file format, is the mapping between DWG entities and [SAP2000|sap2000:home] objects, which is described in the following table:

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|| || MAPPING content || ||
|| || DWG entity || SAP2000 object ||
| 1 | AcadPoint | [Joint|kb:Joint] |
| 2 | AcadLine | [Frame|kb:Frame] / [NLink|kb:Link] |
| 3 | Acad3DFace | [Shell|kb:Shell] |
| 4 | AcadDb3DSolid | [Solid|kb:Solid] |

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*NOTE:* DWG Solid objects differ between import and export. For import, AcadDb3DSolid is useful for DWG files. For export, AcadPolyMesh is useful for obtaining object coordinates.
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through the AutoCAD API.
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# Select DWG Files (*.DWG) from the scroll-down menu, then locate and double-click the DWG file for import into SAP2000 (Figure 3).
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{center-text}Figure 3 - Select DWG file for import{center-text}
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# Select the Global Up Direction and the Units, then select OK, as shown in Figure 4:
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{center-text}Figure 4 - Import specifications{center-text}
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# Assign each type of [SAP2000|sap2000:home] object to a DWG layer (Figure 5). Each layer which occurs in the DWG file is listed in the scroll-down menu.
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{center-text}Figure 5 - Layer specifications{center-text}
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# Select OK, then the DWG file will appear as a SAP2000 model, as shown in Figure 6:
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{center-text}Figure 6 - DWG file as SAP2000 model{center-text}

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*NOTE:* Import of DWG Solid import entities as SAP2000 solid objects was available to SAP2000 V11.0.4, but is now no longer available to V12 and V14.
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*Related Email:*
* {email:from=uh|to=ok|date=7/28/2010|subject=Import of autocad DWG solids not available in SAP2000 V12 and V14|comment=|id=3702965}

*Related Incident:*
* {incident:no=25464|comment=Show the hidden content below after Incident 25464 is resolved.}
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h1. See Also

* [Import DXF into SAP2000|sap2000:Import DXF into SAP2000] article

* [Export SAP2000 to DWG|sap2000:Export SAP2000 to DWG] article


h1. Sample DWG files for import

The images which follow present the geometric configuration of DWG models which may be [imported|kb:Import] into [SAP2000|sap2000:home]. For your reference, these DWG files are attached below. In these models, the Extrude command converted AutoCAD 3DFace entities into solid objects. Objects were successfully imported into SAP2000 after performing the Rotate3D operation on all solid entities.


h2. RoundSolids.dwg

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!Figure 01.png|align=center,width=800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx!

{center-text}Figure 1 - DWG solid entity{center-text}

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!Figure 02.png|align=center,width=800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx!

{center-text}Figure 2 - SAP2000 solid object{center-text}


h2. RoundSolids2.dwg

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!Figure 03.png|align=center,width=800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx!

{center-text}Figure 3 - DWG solid entity{center-text}

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!Figure 04.png|align=center,width=800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx800pxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpxpx!

{center-text}Figure 4 - SAP2000 solid object{center-text}


h1. Attachments

* [RoundSolids.dwg |Import DWG into SAP2000^RoundSolids.dwg]

* [RoundSolid2.dwg |Import DWG into SAP2000^RoundSolid2.dwg]


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For solid import, SAP2000 supports the AutoCAD2007 entities which follow:

* Box
* Wedge
* Pyramid (or frustum)
* Extrusion of 3DFace, which is possible for all 3DFace entities by creating legal shells with four nodes

The entities previously listed have been tested using the files which follow:

* RoundSolids.dwg
* RoundSolids2.dwg
* SolidImporttest.dwg

The Extrude command converted AutoCAD 3DFace entities into solid objects.

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h2. SolidImporttest.dwg model

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!Figure 05.png|hspace=30px,width=800px!

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!Figure 06.png|hspace=30px,width=800px!

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AutoCAD 3dSolid entities, including the box, wedge, and pyramid, are imported into SAP2000.

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!Figure 07.png|hspace=30px,width=800px!

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!Figure 08.png|hspace=30px,width=800px!

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!Figure 09.png|hspace=30px,width=800px!

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!Figure 10.png|hspace=30px,width=800px!

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!Figure 11.png|hspace=30px,width=800px!


h1. Attachments

* [SolidImporttest.dwg |Import DWG into SAP2000^SolidImporttest.dwg]

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