Draft DXF
Description
Draft DXF is a software module used by the Std Open,
Std Import and
Std Export commands to handle the DXF file format.
Qcad drawing exported to DXF, which is subsequently opened in FreeCAD
Importing
The importer has two modes, settable under Edit -> Preferences -> Import/Export -> DXF: One is built-in, C++-based and fast, the other is legacy, coded in Python, slower, and requires the installation of an add-on, but can sometimes handle some entities better and can create more refined FreeCAD objects. Both support all DXF versions starting from R12.
3D objects inside a DXF file are stored under a binary ACIS/SAT blob, which at the moment cannot be read by FreeCAD. Simpler entities like 3DFACEs, though, are supported.
The following DXF objects can be imported:
- lines
- polylines (and lwpolylines)
- circles
- arcs
- splines
- ellipses
- layers
- texts and mtexts
- dimensions
- blocks (only geometry. texts, dimensions and attributes inside blocks will be skipped)
- points
- leaders
- paper space objects
Exporting
Files are exported in the R14 DXF format which can be handled by many applications.
The following FreeCAD objects can be exported:
- all of FreeCAD's 2D geometry such as Draft objects or sketches
- 3D objects are exported as a flattened 2D view
- Compound objects are exported as blocks
- texts
- colors are mapped from objects RGB colors to autocad color index (ACI). Black will always be "by layer"
- layers are mapped from group names. When groups are nested, the deepest group gives the layer name.
- dimensions, which are exported with "Standard" dimstyle.
Installing
For licensing reasons, the required DXF import/export libraries needed by the legacy version of the importer are not part of the FreeCAD source code. For more information see: FreeCAD and DXF Import.
Preferences
For more information see: Import Export Preferences.
Scripting
See also: Draft API and FreeCAD Scripting Basics.
You can export elements to DXF by using the following function:
importDXF.export(objectslist, filename, nospline=False, lwPoly=False)
Example:
import Draft, importDXF
Polygon1 = Draft.makePolygon(3, radius=500)
Polygon2 = Draft.makePolygon(5, radius=1500)
objects = [Polygon1, Polygon2]
importDXF.export(objects, "/home/user/Pictures/myfile.dxf")
- Basics: Coordinates, Constraining, Snapping (Near, Extension, Parallel, Grid, Endpoint, Midpoint, Perpendicular, Angle, Center, Ortho, Intersection, Special, Dimensions, Working plane)
- Drawing: Line, Wire, Circle, Arc, Ellipse, Polygon, Rectangle, Text, Dimension, BSpline, Point, ShapeString, Facebinder, Bezier Curve, Label
- Modifying: Move, Rotate, Offset, Trimex, Upgrade, Downgrade, Scale, Edit, Wire to BSpline, Add point, Delete point, Shape 2D View, Draft to Sketch, Array, Path Array, Point Array, Clone, Drawing, Mirror, Stretch
- Utilities: Set working plane, Finish line, Close line, Undo line, Toggle construction mode, Toggle continue mode, Apply style, Toggle display mode, Add to group, Select group contents, Toggle snap, Toggle grid, Show snap bar, Heal, Flip Dimension, VisGroup, Slope, AutoGroup, Set Working Plane Proxy, Add to Construction group
- Additional: Preferences, Import-Export Preferences (DXF/DWG, SVG, OCA, DAT); Draft API

- Installation: Windows, Linux, Mac; Getting started
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