• Translator

Definition and usage of the DXF/DWG Translators

(This article is summarising the Translator section of the DXF-DWG Conversion Guide.)

Because of the difference between AutoCAD and ArchiCAD it is essential to use conversion rules for correct conversion of elements and parameters. These rules are stored in a so-called Translator file (extension XML). You can create any number of customized Translator to correspond to different types of data exchange, saving time by not setting these rules at every single file conversion.

Using a common Translator effective not only in TeamWork, but at Firms, where they have to save files for different exchange partners, and all of the coworkers need to access a common conversion rule. So it is recommended, that the CAD-Manager (or the person who takes this role in the firm) places the Translator onto a server.

In the Tools menu > DXF/DWG Translator Setup… you can edit and save these Translator files.

In the Taranslators field of this dialog you can list all DXF/DWG Translators that currently loaded. Under this field you can find Information on the selected Translator.

By clicking on a Translator you can see and edit its content in the fields below. By double-clicking on any feature of a Translator you can edit its identification fields: the name of the Translator, the Project and Partner name (reminding you of the context the translator has been created for). The Status field shows whether the file is missing or locked. You can sort this list by clicking on any of the above mentioned headers.

Translator settings - the conversion rules for data exchange between ArchiCAD and AutoCAD - fall into six main groups:

These are set in the Translator Dialog Box, in the Settings in Selected Translator panel.

Depending on how you access the Translator Setup dialog box, not all settings groups will be available: if you access the dialog box during an Open operation, Open Options will be listed, but not the Save Options, and vice-versa. If you open the dialog box from the Tools menu, all options groups are listed. The options displayed in the dialog box at right depend on the settings option you click from the hierarchical menu at left.

Moreover, the options themselves will vary depending on the type of elements being imported or exported. For example, if you are saving from an ArchiCAD floor plan, the save options related to PlotMaker Layouts will not appear in the Translator Setup dialog box.

Drawing Unit

As you export or import something in DXF or DWG, you must set the size, distance and scale conversion factor to ensure that ArchiCAD interprets the data correctly.

Open Options

The data fields here vary depending on the application (ArchiCAD or PlotMaker) and the performed function (Open, Merge or Open Object). But mainly the following fields can be found here:

• AutoCAD Blockconversion with special options, 3D data converting as libraryparts;
• Conversion into Modellspace or Paperspace;
• Translation of Dimension.

Save Options

First you must know what format to export into. The available options are:

• AutoCAD 2000 (default)
• AutoCAD 2004

The following fields should be consider here:

• Conversion of Pictures
• Template file usage

• Saving options for Elements, Layouts, FloorPlan

• Complex elements transformation;
• Conversion of Zones and Fills;
• Saving 3D Data by omitting Polygon Edges

Attributes

There are five groups dedicated to different attributes: Layers, Pens & Colors, Line Types, Fills, and Font-Style Conversion. Each group consists of a "Method" set and/or one or more conversion "Dictionary" sets.

• The "Method" set contains options to define the actual attribute.
• The "Dictionary" set contains a list of ArchiCAD attributes and their AutoCAD counterparts.

Dictionaries are listed in the Attributes tree as "conversion" dialogs (i.e. Layer-Layer Conversion). During Save, an ArchiCAD attribute found in the dictionary is renamed to its AutoCAD counterpart, and vice versa during Open. Attributes not found in the dictionary remain unchanged.

Layers
You can convert layers of DXF/DWG files into ArchiCAD/PlotMaker layers, to Pencolor Numbers or to Element types. In the first two cases you can use a conversion dictionary. Furthermore you can save all Layers or only the visible layers and choose custom layer for Fills, Windows and Doors. If you leave this field blank, Windows will go to their default layers (the layers of the Walls containing them). The same rules apply to Doors.

Pens and Colors
Pen Methods match ArchiCAD Pens to AutoCAD Colors. The following options are available: Keeping pen index numbers: This will convert ArchiCAD pen 1 to AutoCAD color 1, pen 2 to color 2 and so on regardless of the fact that they represent different colors. You can set the Searching for the Best Color Match or you can create a Pen-to-Color Conversion table.

Line types

• Set All Elements' Line Types to BYLAYER

This checkbox is available only during Save. It overrides the effect of the line type-line type conversion dictionary. When this check-box is checked, every saved entity will have line type BYLAYER. When the AutoCAD user changes the line type attached to a layer, everything on that layer will change its line type accordingly.

• Keep Existing Line Types on Open

If you check this checkbox, ArchiCAD will keep line types currently defined and also import line types defined in the imported DXF/DWF file. In this case, if the DXF/DWG file contains line types with the same name as line types existing in the currently open ArchiCAD Project, the line types of the DXF/DWF file will not be imported. If this checkbox is not checked, all line types from the DXF/DWG file will be imported, and none of the existing ArchiCAD line types will be kept.

• Line Type-Line Type Conversion

This conversion dictionary works exactly the same way as the layer-layer conversion except that it deals with line types. The only condition restricting its use is the option "Set all Elements' Line Types to BYLAYER.

Fills
Export all Fills as SOLID: This checkbox will convert all fill patterns to solid fills. Export Fill Backgrounds as Additional Solid Hatches: ArchiCAD fill patterns have a separate background fill; AutoCAD fills, in contrast, are all transparent between the pattern lines. If you want the exported file to look like the original ArchiCAD fill check this option. Note: The Export Fills as SOLID checkbox disables this option.

Font-Style Conversion
During Save, texts having the font specified on the ArchiCAD side of a dictionary item will be exported in the font specified on the AutoCAD side. If the slant parameter is 15 (15 degrees) or greater, the exported text will be in italics. Usually, an italic style has an oblique angle of 75 degrees. Unless a template file is selected, the style will use the AutoCAD counterpart of the ArchiCAD font. (A font conversion file specifies the best match, regardless of the platform ArchiCAD is running on).

During Open, a text having a font that is listed in the dictionary will be converted according to the dictionary specification. The slant parameter is handled the same way as during Save.

Miscellaneous

This group of settings contains options for Font conversion, nation characters and DXF binary data:
AutoCAD stores the Font Names differently than ArchiCAD does.
Font Conversion File: even when one-by-one font-to-style matching is possible, a conversion dictionary may be necessary for Font Name conversion. (On a PC, ArchiCAD supports all available fonts including those installed by AutoCAD).

Replace Missing Fonts with: if you get a DXF/DWG file containing a style/font specification that does not exist in any of your style/font and font/font dictionaries, you can define a default font here. Allow national characters in layer, line type, block names: If the recipient AutoCAD works in the same national environment as your ArchiCAD, you can check this checkbox. Note: be careful with this option when you send something to AutoCAD R12 or R13.

Write binary DXF: This compressed version of DXF takes up about half the space of the text DXF format. Note: if you really want the data to be compact, it is suggested that you write to DWG format.

Custom Functions

Custom Functions contains add-ons for both Open (Open Extras) and Save (Save Extras) operations. Several functions are loaded by default; you need only turn them on or off using the checkboxes.

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