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Drawing (DWG) files may be imported from AutoCAD 2012 into SAP2000 using the procedure which follows:

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1. Create and save a DWG model within AutoCAD. The example model we will use for this demonstration is shown in Figure 1:
   
   
   

   Figure 1 - DWG model for import into SAP2000

   
   
   

2. DWG entities should be coordinated with SAP2000 objects such that they import as follows:
   
   

   	DWG entity	SAP2000 object	Color
   1	Point	Joint	Cyan
   2	Line	Frame	Yellow
   3	Point	Link (one-point)	Cyan
   4	Line	Link (two-point)	Green
   5	3D Face	Shell	Red
   6	N/A	Solid	N/A

   
   

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   NOTE: SAP2000 solid objects export to AutoCAD 2012 DWG as Polyface Mesh, and DXF as Polygon Mesh, but then 3D AutoCAD DWG entities (Polyface Mesh, Polygon Mesh, and 3D Solid) do not import into SAP2000 as solid objects.

   
   

3. Within SAP2000, select File > Import > AutoCAD .dxf File, as shown in Figure 2:
   
   
   

   Figure 2 - Select the DXF Import feature

   
   
   

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   NOTE: AutoCAD must be installed on the desktop to import and export between SAP2000 and DWG. This is because DWG files are in binary format, which must be read and written using the functions available through the AutoCAD API.

   
   

4. Select DWG Files (*.DWG) from the scroll-down menu, then locate and double-click the DWG file for import into SAP2000, as shown in Figure 3:
   
   
   

   Figure 3 - Select DWG file for import

   
   
   

5. Select the Global Up Direction and the Units, then select OK, as shown in Figure 4:
   
   
   

   Figure 4 - Import specifications

   
   
   

6. Assign each type of SAP2000 object to a DWG layer (Figure 5). Each layer which occurs in the DWG file is listed in the scroll-down menu.
   
   
   

   Figure 5 - Layer specifications

   
   
   

Select OK, then the DWG file will import as a SAP2000 model, as shown in Figure 6:


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Figure 6 - DWG file as SAP2000 model

See Also

• SAP2000-AutoCAD interoperability FAQ

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