anon10

One option - Could try using the Vectorworks viewer. For the Autocad users. This opens the VWX file, and they can generate their own pdf which can then be put into autoCAD. One the export dwg options in 2012 allows for separate files for each layer. These can then be loaded separately by Xref command into autocad. Are there any reference files/linked files in the Vectorworks file you are using to create the DWG?

I have been having the same import dwg and shp files issues with 2012. Tried it on a PC (32 bit, 4GB RAM, etc) running Win 7. Did import 3D contours initially, but turned them back to 2D. Tried various processes (in Designer 2012). Got so many application hang/screen freeze messages. Only way to proceed was to scan a drawing of the contours with the z values marked, trace/3D loci them (wow really time consuming) to create a 3D contour model. Shame because the contours were 3D in the supplied dwg. Tried DWG import and SHP import on a MAC. Seemed to import them. They appeared on the screen. Saved the file. Closed the file after a time period. Opened the file later - no dwg file. Any ideas? Maybe 2012 runs better on PC with XP? I would be interested to know if MAC users using 2012 area having the same import issues? Or is it just PC users? Using 32 bit systems or 64 bit?

The mesh is the wireframe 3D. I think you will need to create a surface over these. I have been informed this is done using Renderworks. Although when I have tried it myself (surface creation) over a 3D shape imported from autoCAD, I had to start over and create a new 3D shape using the VWX process. 2012 does have a facility to import sketchup files, i wonder if that does anything different?