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oldguy

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Everything posted by oldguy

  1. RE: Proxy Objects From AutoCAD help: "A proxy object is a substitute for a custom object when the ObjectARX application that created the custom object is not available to AutoCAD or other host applications. Later, when the application is available to AutoCAD, the proxy object is replaced by the custom object. Proxy objects have significantly reduced capabilities compared to their corresponding custom objects. The extent to which proxy objects can be edited is determined by the parent ObjectARX application. For example, operations such as erasing and moving an object, or changing object properties may or may not be possible on a proxy object depending on the application that created it. When you open a drawing, you might see a Proxy Information dialog box. The dialog box tells you the total number of proxy objects in the drawing (both graphical and nongraphical) and the name of the missing application and provides additional information about the proxy object type and display state. You can use the dialog box to control the display of proxy objects" Common examples of Proxy Objects (for "Plain" AutoCAD useres) would be receiving a drawing done in one the Vertical AutoCAD products, such as Architiectural Desktop, and have objects in it created by custom programing (i.e. ObjectARX) specific to ADT. The object would normally have certain 'functionality', unique to ADT/ObjectARX application that created it. Regular AutoCAD users can install "Object Enablers" which will allow viewing and some LIMITED editing. Now, if the problem is indeed AutoCAD proxy objects (is the source drawing from an AutoCAd "vertical Desktop" product??) the originating source can do something (no being a user of such Vertical Application) that, effectivly explodes of reduces such objects (dumbs them doen in otherwords) to basic linework objects/entities Hope this might help OldGuy JimL
  2. A DXF file is genrally a ASCII Text file of the drawing (AutoCAD Hatch files are .pat file) These DXF files are most likley detail drawings of the Stone finish See http://www.culturedstone.com/ - for other clues (an associated links) - Part of Owens Corning Oldguy
  3. Too lazy to Googleit myself, but.... Microstation supports U3D generation natively. The rest of the world need to buy software for this purpose. I expect you will have to export as DWG then run it through the U3D generator See what you can find on Ralph Grabowski's bog: http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/blog/
  4. quote: Originally posted by Jim Smith: VersaCad!!! Holy 80's Old Guy; you are, an old guy! 1st Cad & second software I ever used. As for the problem, we have had some problems lately; but importing DWG&DXF. Ridding the AutoCad file of all hatches seems to have worked, to make the file available in VW. Yup. Started with VersaCAD 5.4 in 1988 on a screamin 386/20 with 4MB RAM - Hot Hot Hot. HAve you seen the latest update of VersaCAD Mac Edition - now runs as an OS X app. JimL
  5. A very perplexing CAD file. The Good News: Will open successfully in AutoCAD 2004. Will NOT open in AutoCAD 2000 (even if saved back to R14 format). Now here?s where it gets even odder Using a Translator supplied as part of VersaCAD 2003 (Yup! VersaCAD ? Any one remember this one?! ? Now available for OSX by the way) I translated from DXF to DWG. Translation went OK, by still wouldn?t open in AutoCAD per-2004. Translated from DXF to VersaCAD?s .2d format. Again, translation went OK. But, guess what. VersaCAD still could not open the converted drawing. Grrrr. What?s odd, I think, is that a third-party translator (based in part, on OpenDWG libraries) can translate OK but still leaves something odd, or corrupt in the file as AutoCAD 2000 , or VersaCAD 2003 for that matter, sees it. I was able to get it to open as far as 90% or so under A2K before crashing. OldGuy JimL Whoa! Late Breaking News! One Last Try. Low and behold - the is what "appears to the eye" to be a hatch, but AutoCAD sees it as a Block (or symbol). I exploded the Block to the individual entities that make it up. And there was only one - a Hatch! Exploded the Hatch to it's individual lines and Budda Boom Budda Bing - a Useble AutoCAD 2000 format drawing. Lessson: Things are not always what they first appear to be [ 02-28-2005, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: oldguy ]
  6. I too am optimistic about Vectorworks. I am, as some know, an AutoCAD user. I work with other AutoCAD users and need to edit AutoCAD documents ? almost a good (?) reason to stay with AutoCAD. But like many I have a ?rebellious? streak ? after all, many here are Mac users in an otherwise PC world. Over at Archtiosh.com (and other places, including AutoCAD?s discussion group) there has been talk/wishing for an AutoCAD to Mac port. Well, wait no longer ? er?. Well maybe just a tiny bit more. Vectorworks, particularly for the Mac community is quickly shaping up to become a full fledged AutoCAD drawing editor ? at least I my opinion. Like much to the DWG editing CAD software ? MicroStation, IntelliCAD for example - I presume that much of the viewport technology/interchange is due in part to OpenDWG libraries.. The only hurtle left is support of AutoCAD X-ref?s. When VW implements this, I believe there will no longer be a ?Cry? for AutoCAD for Mac ?It Will Be Here?! Not that this will make much difference to you die-hards ? But it will to those of us who mush work with AutoCAD shops and AutoCAD drawings. VW is great bang for the buck (at least for Canadian dollars) when compared to A-cad. Go VW Go! Any comments from VW on this?????????
  7. First, the PS... Currently I am "employed" so i use what my employer wants. Perhaps, after retierment (soon ) when I branch out on my own, i will. But way wait untill, VW moves to support AutoCAD x-ref (They have the viewports, ArchiCAD does the X-ref thing - it is doable - AND I may even then jump ship to Mac as well As for your other comments... I work in a Paper Mill Engineering Dept - we share our drawing with all our "Customers" - Production, Maintenance Depts - Non-AutoCAD members of the Eng. Dept etc. DWF has proven useful for this and the tools that, as I said, were available at the time, were free. Having already established a DWF base, there seem no go reason for us to change since PDF 6 (or is it 7) - the CAD-centric version became available. Oh, we are PC based for what it sheds on the subject. Like Ford vs Chev - "Which is the best" - the discussion could go on forever
  8. Just a thought here from an AutoCAD/PC user prespecetive. Unlike the Mac, PDF creation is not native. Therefore, if I want to 'share' my dwgs with non-AutoCAD users (and, sadly non-Mac users) I would need to purchase a 3rd party PDF creation software (from inexpensive to expensive). But why, when DWF creation is built-in native to recent editions of AutoCAD. So, at least for me, it is/was more expediency rather the the pros and cons of with format was better. Also, when we first embarked on making our drawings "publicly" available to out client base, PDF did not, at that time, support features such as layers. Please do not get we wrong, I am not promoting one over the other, just expressing one point as to why "someone" ight be uding the DWF format over another. Now, as far as reading DWF files, there is (or was?) a untility that would import DWF into an AutoCAD session for manipulation/revision. Mind you, is was pretty dumb downed - Text, for instance, was not text, by merely line strokes that "looked like" text. Saved me a couple of time though, when "someone" managed to loose the dwg original -it bet starting from scratch! JimL
  9. Would be glad to try importing (AutoCAD 2004) E-mail, if you like, to longleyje@bowater.com JimL
  10. OK, I will be brazen enough to jump in here... I am actually an... er.... ah.... AutoCAD user (pleae don't hit me ) I am using a demo of VW11 aand am very impressed with VW's import of a selected sample of out Acad files - espically the way Viewports are handled. "Plain" AutoCAD imports shou;d present little to no difficulty. IF, on the otherhand, the originating AutoCAD drawings contains "xref's" and eeven more so the they are 'clipped xref's' -you will have problems getting VW to look like what the AutoCAd users has (in terms of finished layout/plotted output). As for the other direction, VW to Acad, well... sorry, can not save/export from the demo version. This, though, maybe important, especially if the AutoCAD file has to round trip from "them" to "You" and backagain I assume VW is using technology from the OpenDWG alliance. When you looka t what other are doing (e.g MicroStation), VW may/could be on the version of make a "true AutoCAD Compatible" CAd system for the Mac - No need (Ooops, generalization) for an Acad to MAc port as some wish for. $0.02 worth (Canadian) JimL
  11. quote: Originally posted by Marietta: Hi. We tried using the software Old Guy suggested, but it seems to work only on full autocad, not autocadLt. Is there any other program that could open these files, particularly on a Mac? Dgruber, This file is only useful to obtain the line weight assignments the autcoad operator was using. We would still need something in Vectorworks that would save these settings that we can reuse at a later date and to use them for exporting. Mind you I only have a demo copy of VW11, and so, can not experiment to confirm..... Several IF's IF AutoCAD Layers import as VW classes, then, I assume (Dangerous I know) VW Classes export as AutoCAD Layers IF all VW enties are created with colour by Class Style (Class with "Use at Creation" Check marked) these should export to AutoCAD, me-thinks, as, in effect AutoCAD Colour-by-layer. IF, that being said, you can tell the AutoCAD user, for example, Red = 0.35mm linewidth, Green = 0.5mmm etc etc, The AutoCAD use could then create a "CTB" file "VectorWorks Consultant 1" and apply this to any and all drawings from you. Is it worth the effort? Depends on how often you are exchanging drawings with this one firm One other point, tableprint8 of tableprint7 is an external program and I suspect it should read the ctb file regradless of LT or not. LT is "crippled" compared with full AutoCAd as regrads LIPS programming etc - maybe a "missing" AutoCAD DLL or something could make a difference - Dunnno JimL
  12. AutoCAD's ctb file is a binary file, but.... There is a utility that will read the ctb and save as a CSV file that can be used in Excel or Cut 'n paseted into a Script I suppose. The AutoCAD user would need to download and run. Here is a link to Tableprint. The Zip file contains a GUI front end, but mode important two different version in one convient package of AutoDESK's Tableprint program (one for 2000 based Dwg, the other for 2004.... er... something) http://members.lycos.nl/goplot/ The newer version tableprint8 is also vailable from: http://www3.autodesk.com/adsk/files/2372184_Plot_Tool.zip
  13. I am not a Mac user, and only have VW11 Demo version - so I can't print anyway.... But here's a "stupid" suggestion: Can you reinstall/Install the "original" printer -the one you "use to have" before - configuring the "way it was" (No matter that you may not have the physical printer itsekd any longer) Now, when you go to print, might it be possible, then to "select a different" print, and set the page up. Give that a try, and humor an old fellow. OrgPlus would store certain printer info with the file. Then, if you installed a new printer, different name, same I/P address (or was it other way around??) Orgplus would crash.
  14. quote: Originally posted by Haich: There is still plenty of room for improvement with 11.5 or 12 though! VW Really NEEDS user coordinate systems and the ability to rotate the 2d plan view. Also VW could use some improvements in workgroup referencing- i.e. rotating references, inserting references at different origins. -haich As you can see below, I am currently an AutoCAD user but have been evaluating VW 11 (Demo) along side a current project of AutoCAD drawing As-builts and am very impressed with VW and their implementation of Viewports. All that's need is support for AutoCAD References and VW would be a close substitue for A-Cad - particularly for Mac users. Seems to be the next logical step (Not unlike Bentley/MicroStation now supporting dwg-format complete with opening and closing in dwg) If VW were to move-one-more step this way this may kill the AutoCAD for OS X movement For what it is worth, from an AutoCAD on Windows user - Go! Vw11 JimL PS Grrr.. No spell checker
  15. oldguy

    .plt

    if I might stick my foot in my mouth.... PLT files are not an AutoCAD thing. In thw windows world, most any thing you print can be redirected to a "plot file" by checking the "print to file" check box in the standard Print Dialog box. This simply creates a file of the instructionsnthat would otherwise have been sent to the plotter. Now, I don't know about the Mac World , but if I need to comply with such a request from a print shop I would: Inquire as to what printer they had. Download and install such printer, as if I had one connected - telling (in the case of windows) that it is connected a port "File:" Or "Lie" to it tell it it is on LPT1 or whatever. Then, from whatever software, simply print to it. In the case of the "File:" port it will default to asking for a file name. If the printer has an HP device, th output file will be an ASCII text file of HPGL plotter commands. Send this to your printer. OldGuy
  16. Excuse me if I am out in left field, after all, I am currently only a lowly A-CAD user ;( If ?you? were to send me a drawing for me to add ?My work? AND I Xref?d ?Your? drawing into ?My work?, I probably would not necessarily send ?your? drawing back to you, as you must all ready have it ( and your both, both as your original VW drawing AND as the exported dwg file you sent me in the first place) I could either Bind the Xref OR send you 2 drawings ? the ?My Work? drawing and the xref. My question is: Can you not open/import the dwg sent to you and ?overlay? against your original. After all, this is what sort-of happens in AutoCAD. The Xref is in the background and I ?overlay? ?My? work on top of the xref. Granted, you may have to scale the import and/or re position it due to difference in the way the two programs work. Surely, the drawing sent to you must have at least one dimension that references it to a wall/column line or whatever in your originating VW drawing???? Dumb question?? Ok Sorry L Jiml
  17. I am in a sort-of opposite situation - considering a move from AutoCAD to Vectorworks and very concerned because the software investment would be a personal one The way I see it, there a two assets (or liabilities as the case maybe) to be considered. One is a ?Basic Skill Set? I believe that this Basic CAD-Skill is easily transferred from Brand A software to Brand B. Such things as, for example, extending a line rather tha drawing another little short segment. The Where and How a particular Cad software might bury such a command/function may be daunting. But, at least if you know what sort of function you are looking for persistence (and a good help file/manual) will reveal it. It the Second Asset that scare me personally ? one I would call My CAD paradigm. One?s paradigms (defined as a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind) might be the hardest to overcome. Example: In the AutoCAD world we use ?Levels? whereas in Vectorworks ?levels? aren?t ?levels?, they?re Classes and VW levels are er? ah? something else. ?See what I mean. If you are a) willing and b) able to adopt a new framework in thinking, then the transition is possible. I personally believe there is no ?Good-CAD? and no ?Bad-CAD? ( e.g. AutoCAD vs Vectorworks) ? just ?Different-CAD?. Like the age old Ford vs Chev kind of argument. Which one did you cut your teeth on, learn first etc. This goes along way to shaping your CAD-paradigms and hence, which is ?Best-CAD?. So, evaluate your ?Assests? and see where your strength and weakness are. T=Thios may help in determining where to go JimL My $0.02?s worth (And, being Canadian, makes it worth a lot ?little? more lately
  18. DWF is not the greatest format to be converting from. In a pinch, it will do. But most of the "CAD Inteligence" of the "drawing" is gone. Text, for example, is no longer text - it is composed of individual line strokes. Text would have to be re-entered to be editable. AutoCAD blocks are no longer blocks - just the "lines and circles" that made them up.
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