Page Comparison

{info}
*NOTE:* While written for [SAP2000|sap2000:home], this article also applies to [CSiBridge|csibridge:home].
{info}

\\

{new-tab-link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dxf}Drawing Exchange Format{new-tab-link} (*DXF*) files may be *imported* from {new-tab-link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocad}AutoCAD{new-tab-link} 2012 into *SAP2000* using the procedure which follows:

\\

# Create and save a DXF model within AutoCAD. The example model we will use for this demonstration is shown in Figure 1:
\\
\\
\\  !Figure 1.png|align=center,border=1,width=1000px1000pxpx!\\
{center-text}Figure 1 - DXF model for import into SAP2000{center-text}
\\
\\
# DXF entities should be coordinated with [SAP2000|sap2000:home] objects such that they [import|kb:Import] as follows:
\\
\\
|| || DWG entity || SAP2000 object || Color ||
| 1 | Point | [Joint|kb:Joint] | Yellow |
| 2 | Line | [Frame|kb:Frame] | Yellow |
| 3 | Point | [Link|kb:Link] (one-point) | Green |
| 4 | Line | Link (two-point) | Green |
| 5 | 3D Face | [Shell|kb:Shell] | Red |
| 6 | Polygon Mesh | [Solid|kb:Solid] | White |
\\
\\
# Within SAP2000, select File > Import > AutoCAD .dxf File, as shown in Figure 2:
\\
\\
\\  !Figure 2.png|align=center,border=1,width=750px750pxpx!\\
{center-text}Figure 2 - Select the DXF Import feature{center-text}
\\
\\
{info}
*NOTE:* AutoCAD does not need to be installed on the desktop to [import|kb:Import] and [export|kb:Export] between SAP2000 and DXF. This is because DXF files are in text format, which is published and available to the public.
{info}
\\
# Verify that DXF Files (*.DXF) is selected from the scroll-down menu, then locate and double-click the DXF file for import into SAP2000, as shown in Figure 3:
\\
\\
\\  !Figure 3.png|align=center,border=1,width=750px750pxpx!\\
{center-text}Figure 3 - Select DXF file for import{center-text}
\\
\\
# Select the Global Up Direction and the Units, then select OK, as shown in Figure 4:
\\
\\
\\  !Figure 4.png|align=center,border=1,width=750px750pxpx!\\
{center-text}Figure 4 - Import specifications{center-text}
\\
\\
# Assign each type of [SAP2000|sap2000:home] object to a DXF layer (Figure 5). Each layer which occurs in the DXF file is listed in the scroll-down menu.
\\
\\
\\  !Figure 5.png|align=center,border=1,width=750px750pxpx!\\
{center-text}Figure 5 - Layer specifications{center-text}
\\
\\
# Select OK, then the DXF file will [import|kb:Import] as a SAP2000 model, as shown in Figure 6:
\\
\\
\\  !Figure 6.png|align=center,border=1,width=750px750pxpx!\\
{center-text}Figure 6 - DXF file as SAP2000 model{center-text}


h1. See Also

* The [Sample DXF files for import|sap2000:Sample DXF files for import] article provides-- sample shell and solid models in DXF format.

* [SAP2000-AutoCAD interoperability FAQ|sap2000:SAP2000-AutoCAD interoperability FAQ]

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

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

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