Import DWG into SAP2000

NOTE: While written for SAP2000, this article also applies to CSiBridge.


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


  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

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


    Figure 2 - Select the DXF Import feature

    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:


Figure 6 - DWG file as SAP2000 model

See Also