Draft DXF: Difference between revisions

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{{GuiCommand
{{GuiCommand
|Name=Draft DXF
|Name=Draft DXF
|MenuLocation=-
|MenuLocation={{StdMenu|[[Std File Menu|File]]}} → Export → Autodesk DXF 2D (*.dxf)
|Workbenches=[[Draft Workbench|Draft]]
|Workbenches=[[Draft Workbench|Draft]]
|Shortcut={{KEY|Ctrl}}+{{KEY|E}}
|Shortcut=-
|SeeAlso=[[FreeCAD and DXF Import]], [[FreeCAD and DWG Import]]
|SeeAlso=[[FreeCAD and DXF Import]], [[FreeCAD and DWG Import]]
|Empty=1
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Draft DXF is a software module used by the [[File:Std_Open.svg|24px]] [[Std_Open|Std Open]], [[File:Std_Import.svg|24px]] [[Std_Import|Std Import]] and [[File:Std_Export.svg|24px]] [[Std_Export|Std Export]] commands to handle the DXF file format.
This function opens a [[DXF|DXF]] file, any version from 12 to 2007, to a new document.


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{{Caption|Qcad drawing exported to DXF, which is subsequently opened in FreeCAD}}
{{Caption|Qcad drawing exported to DXF, which is subsequently opened in FreeCAD}}


== Opening == <!--T:2-->
==Importing== <!--T:2-->

<!--T:27-->
The importer has two modes, settable under {{MenuCommand|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.

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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.


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The following DXF object types are currently supported:
The following DXF objects can be imported:
* lines
* lines
* polylines and lwpolylines
* polylines (and lwpolylines)
* circles
* circles
* arcs
* arcs
* splines
* layers (layers containing objects are converted to FreeCAD Groups)
* ellipses
* layers
* texts and mtexts
* texts and mtexts
* dimensions
* dimensions
* blocks (only geometry. texts, dims and attributes inside blocks will be skipped)
* blocks (only geometry. texts, dimensions and attributes inside blocks will be skipped)
* points
* points
* leaders
* leaders
* paper space objects
* ... List is incomplete.


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==Exporting== <!--T:4-->
Other DXF entities are currently not imported because there is no corresponding FreeCAD object. As new functionality gets implemented, it will be possible to import more entity types.


== Installing == <!--T:8-->
<!--T:28-->
Files are exported in the R14 DXF format which can be handled by many applications.


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The following FreeCAD objects can be exported:
{{Emphasis|Note:}} for licensing reasons, the [[DXF|DXF]] import/export libraries are not part of the FreeCAD source code anymore. For that reason, they must be installed by you, the user, after you install FreeCAD. There is a way to allow FreeCAD to do that automatically, or you can do it manually.
* all of FreeCAD's 2D geometry such as Draft objects or sketches

* 3D objects are exported as a flattened 2D view
=== Automatically === <!--T:10-->
* Compound objects are exported as blocks

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Starting from version 0.15, you only need to mark the {{MenuCommand|Edit → Preferences → Import/Export → DXF/DWG → "Allow FreeCAD to automatically download the DXF libraries"}} option to have FreeCAD take automatically care of downloading and installing these libraries. For older versions, you will need to do it manually.

=== Manually === <!--T:12-->

<!--T:13-->
Libraries must be downloaded from https://github.com/yorikvanhavre/Draft-dxf-importer
There is a very complete step-by-step [[Dxf_Importer_Install|tutorial]] that will explain you the necessary steps.

== Importing == <!--T:3-->
This works the same way as opening, but it will add the contents of the DXF file in the active document instead of creating a new document.

<!--T:7-->
Tutorial: [[Dxf_Importer_Install|Dxf Importer Install]]

== Exporting == <!--T:4-->
The exported DXF is compatible with Autocad version 12 and up, so it should open in about any application that supports dxf format.
Currently the following FreeCAD objects get exported:
* lines and wires (polylines)
* arcs and circles
* texts
* texts
* colors are mapped from objects RGB colors to autocad color index (ACI). Black will always be "by layer"
* 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.
* layers are mapped from group names. When groups are nested, the deepest group gives the layer name.
* dimensions, which are exported with "Standard" dimstyle
* dimensions, which are exported with "Standard" dimstyle.

==Installing== <!--T:8-->

<!--T:9-->
For licensing reasons, the required [[DXF|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|FreeCAD and DXF Import]].


==Preferences== <!--T:26-->
==Preferences== <!--T:26-->
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For more information see: [[Import_Export_Preferences|Import Export Preferences]].
For more information see: [[Import_Export_Preferences|Import Export Preferences]].


== Scripting == <!--T:19-->
==Scripting== <!--T:19-->
{{Emphasis|See also:}} [[Draft API]] and [[FreeCAD Scripting Basics]].
{{Emphasis|See also:}} [[Draft API]] and [[FreeCAD Scripting Basics]].


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Revision as of 10:52, 28 January 2021

Draft DXF

Menu location
-
Workbenches
Draft
Default shortcut
-
Introduced in version
-
See also
FreeCAD and DXF Import, FreeCAD and DWG Import

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")