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Help Center (http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com) > Tips and Tricks (http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/) > Importing DXF/DWG files into ArchiCAD

Importing DXF/DWG files into ArchiCAD

by GRAPHISOFT and Katalin Gtz updated: 12.28.2012

The DXF/DWG Add-On is installed together with the ArchiCAD package and is smoothly integrated in the
ArchiCAD user interface. It allows you to:
Open AutoCAD drawings as ArchiCAD Project or ArchiCAD Library Parts
File Open
It is worth to use it if you would like to work on a DWG file as a new project in ArchiCAD.
Merge AutoCAD drawings with your ArchiCAD Project file
File > File Special > Merge
You can merge DWG files into the currently open ArchiCAD Project with all the existing DWG Layers. You
can decide which content (Model Space or Paper Space) of the DWG file should be merged.
See also: Merge DXF-DWG
(http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac15_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=07_Interoperability.10.62.html)
in ArchiCAD Help
TIP: Use Smart Merge (round-trip conversion) if you are merging the DXF or DWG file back into the same
ArchiCAD file from which you saved it, because it can be exchanged the additional information with
minimal loss and interference.
See also: Smart Merge
(http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac15_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=07_Interoperability.10.62.html#1007892)
in ArchiCAD Help
Add AutoCAD drawings as external references (XREFs)
From the Floor Plan, Detail or Worksheet window, use File > External Content > Attach XREF.
XREFs are similar to Hotlinked Modules, except that they are DXF or DWG files and not ArchiCAD files.
It is worth to use it if you would like to import the DWG as one, non editable block into your ArchiCAD
project that can be reloaded when the DWG file has been modified. You can detach it after import and to
delete all Attributes of the DWG in one step.
See also: XREFs (http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/?p=25753)and About XREFs
(http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac15_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=07_Interoperability.10.63.html)
in ArchiCAD Help
Place as Drawing to Layouts or Model Views
File > External Content > Place External Drawing
It is worth to use this method if you would like to use the DWG as a reference file (like Trace), do not want
to modify its content in ArchiCAD and would like to avoid to import unused Attributes. The Snap points of
the DWG can be detected and the parameters can be picked up in the Drawing. You can customize and
resize the placed DWG as a general Drawing. (http://www.archicadwiki.com/DrawingScale)
TIP: If you want to edit the DWG as Drawing element, choose Edit > Reshape > Explode into Current View and then
rework the linework and text as desired. This approach has the side benefit that all the components end up on the
same layer as the Drawing element, rather than adding multiple layers to your project layer list.

Opening a DWG file as Library Part

File > Libraries and Objects > Open Object
This command will open the GDL Object Editor Window
(http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac16_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=Appendix_Settings.12.075.html).
Here you can browse for any DWG files, then save it as a new object by clicking on File Save as
command. With this method you can open 3D DWG files.
Read more: How to import 3D DWG files (http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/?p=25573)
Import Blocks from DXF/DWG
File > Libraries and Objects > Import Blocks from DXF/DWG
The Import Blocks feature converts ArchiCAD Library Parts from AutoCAD blocks. The newly created Library
Parts are stored in the Embedded Library of the project and can be placed as any other Object.
See also: Opening DWG/DXF Files
(http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac15_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm#href=07_Interoperability.10.60.html)
in ArchiCAD Help

Note: Sometimes the location of imported DWG may differ from its original AutoCAD position, if the DWG (http://www.archicadwiki.com/DWG) file was saved with
UCS (User Coordinate System) actived.
In AutoCAD UCS (User Cordinate System) or WCS (World Cordinate System) can be set as origin. ArchiCAD always uses the imported DWGs original WCS and places
your project in the calculated distance from ArchiCADs project origin.
If you have set UCS in AutoCAD, changing the DWG (http://www.archicadwiki.com/DWG) file origin back to world coords (WCS) solves the problem.

As an other solution the ArchiCAD model can be moved to Project Origin with the following way: Relocate Projects Placed Far From Origin
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/?p=25472)

Which one is the best choice to import my DWG file?

Open

Merge

XREF

Drawing

Object

Can Attributes
(Lines, Fills) be
imported?

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Can the imported

Attributes be
edited?

Yes, all can be edited

separately

Yes, all can be edited

separately

Yes, after Detach

Can the imported

Attributes be
incorporated?

Yes, while Open they

become the part of the
project

Yes, while Merge they Yes, after Yes, use

become the part of the Bind
Explode
project
command

No

Can Layers be
imported?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Can the imported

Layers be turned
On/Off?

Yes

No

Yes,
Yes
without
detaching

No

Can the DWG be

placed into Model
View?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Can the DWG be

placed into Layout
View?

Yes, the content of Paper

Space(s) can be append to
Layout Book

Yes, can append Paper No

Space(s) to Layout
Book

Yes

No

Do Translator
Settings apply to
import?

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Can the file have its Yes

own Pen Set?

No

No

No

No

Can 3D data be
imported?

No

No

No

Yes

No

DXF-DWG Translation
How DWG (http://www.archicadwiki.com/DWG) data is imported by ArchiCAD depends on the settings used
in the DXF-DWG Translator (http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/?p=25746); this dialog box defines how
elements in ArchiCAD will be interpreted when importing DXF/DWG files.
Depending on how the Translator is opened, not all settings will be available. For example, if the dialog box
is opened during an Open, Merge operation or is attached as XREF, then the Open Options will be listed,
but not the Save Options, and vice-versa. If the dialog box is opened from the File>File Special menu then
all options are listed.
Further details about DXF-DWG Translator Import Settings (http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/?
p=25752)

Related content
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/xrefs/)
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/xrefs/)

(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dxf(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dxfdwgdwg-translation/)
translation/)
XREFs

(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactive-

training/archicad-collaboration-tutorial/archicadcollaboration-tutorial-part2-int(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/xrefs/)
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactivecollaboration/archicad-collaboration-tutorial-part-2-

DXF-DWG Import
Translator Settings
XREFs are External reference
files: DXF or DWG filetypes
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dxfwhich can be imported into
dwg-translation/)
ArchiCAD. It facilitates to

Part 2 INT - 8-3

(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactiveXREFs is to draw elements that
training/archicadare common to several kinds of
collaborationdrawings within a
read more
tutorial/archicad(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/xrefs/)collaboration-tutorialpart2-intcollaboration/archicadcollaboration-tutorialpart-2-int-8-3/)
collaborate with Sturctural
Engineers. A common use for

File/File Special/DXF-DWG
Translation Setup By clicking
on a Translator during import,
you can see and edit its content
in the fields below, which falls
into five main groups: DXF-DWG
Translator Settings Drawing
Unit Select the
read more
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dxfdwg-translation/)

training/archicadint-8-3/)
collaborationtutorial/archicadcollaborationtutorialpart2intcollaboration/archicadArchiCAD
collaborationtutorialpart-2- Tutorial
Collaboration
int-8-3/)

(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactive(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/how(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/howtraining/archicad-interactive-trainingto-match-dwg-colors-to-any-archicad-pentoguide/archicad-13-collaboration-itg-part2(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactivecolors/)
match(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/tipscollaboration/archicad-collaboration-training-guideArchiCAD Collaboration
training/archicad(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/tipsdwg9-2/)
tointeractiveto-import-dwg-files-as-trace-reference/)
colorsimport-Guide Part
Interactive Training
trainingto-anydwgguide/archicadarchicadfiles-as2. In this movie:
Collaborating
13pentracecollaborationcolors/)
reference/)
with
Structural
engineers - DWG
itgHow to Match DWG
part2ArchiCAD
External
References
(XRef)
How
collaboration/archicadTips to
Import
DWG
colors to any
collaborationArchiCAD teams can collaborate
trainingCollaboration
Files as Trace
guideArchiCAD Pen Colors
smoothly with Structural
Training9-2/)
Guide 9-2
Reference
Engineers
How to import a DWG
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/how(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactivefile using Xref How
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/tips-

to-match-dwg-colorsto-any-archicad-pencolors/)

AutoCAD offers two methods of

setting the color of drawing
elements: ByLayer or ByBlock.
In ArchiCAD you can use your
default or template pen colors,
if you match the AutoCAD and
ArchiCAD colors following this
workflow: Demo file: Ross Street
House
read more

training/archicadinteractive-trainingguide/archicad-13collaboration-itgpart2collaboration/archicadcollaborationtraining-guide-9-2/)

read more
to-import-dwg-files(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactiveas-trace-reference/)
training/archicad-collaboration-tutorial/archicadcollaboration-tutorial-part2-int-

Sometimes
we get reference
collaboration/archicad-collaboration-tutorial-part-2files such as site plans, drafting
int-8-3/)
aids, plans from co-workers in
DWG format that we should not
modify. To display two different
views concurrently in any
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/how(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/howto-superimpose-a-2d-floor-plan-onto-a-3dArchiCAD model or layout
tomodel/)
superimposewindow, we can use the Trace
a-2dfloorReference feature
plan- read more
onto-a3dread more
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/videos/interactivemodel/)
How
to superimpose
training/archicad-interactive-traininga 2D Floor
Plan onto

(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/tips-

How to superimpose
training/archicad-interactive-training- (http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/tipsa 2D Floor
Plan onto
guide/archicad-13-collaboration-itg-part2- to-import-dwg-files-as-trace-reference/)
to-match-dwg-colors-to-any-archicad-pena 3D Model
collaboration/archicad-collaboration-training-guidecolors/)
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/how9-2/)
to-superimpose-a-2d(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dwg(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dwglayerslayers-visibility-in-archicad/)
visibilityfloor-plan-onto-a-3dinarchicad/)
model/)
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/how-

DWG Layers' visibility

in ArchiCAD
This topic demonstrates a way
to place a 2D linear drawing into
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dwgthe 3D model at the exact
layers-visibility-invertical position of the Cut
archicad/)
Plane from which that 2D Floor

(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/sketch(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/sketchrenderingrendering-from-floor-plan/)
fromfloorplan/)

Plan View was generated. This

To control the visibility of
objects, usually there are more
Layers used in DWG projects.
Let's see how can the different

can help you to compare the

current 3D model with its 2D
representation

import options in ArchiCAD

manage the DWG layers: Open
File Open To define how
elements in ArchiCAD will be

read more
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/howto-superimpose-a-2d-floor-plan-onto-a-3d-

Sketch Rendering
from Floor Plan
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/sketchrendering-from-floorplan/)

model/)

The TechTip July 2002 winner,

BertNijs , from Belgium found a

read more

way to show Floor Plans in the

3D Window inspired Karl
Ottenstein to find a way to

(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/dwglayers-visibility-in-archicad/)

create a sketchy look of 2D

drawings of ArchiCAD (Floor
Plans, Section-Elevation
Windows etc.) The idea came
read more
(http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/sketchrendering-from-floor-plan/)

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