Search

Question:

How can I export data from the layout editor so that Allplan creates a layout DWG and an additional reference DWG for each drawing file?



Answer:

As opposed to Allplan, AutoCAD only provides one model space. You cannot work with various drawing files as usual in Allplan. Using external references, however, you can load parts of different DWG files into one DWG file.
The "exporting complex data with external references" method is particularly useful for exporting data from Allplan's layout editor.
With this method, a master drawing (layout DWG) is created from the layout and additional reference drawings (reference DWGs) are created from all the drawing files placed in the layout. All these reference drawings are associated with the layout DWG and thus also visible there. These files only contain the AutoCAD model space.

Export:

Select the layout you want to export in Allplan's layout editor:

• Select File -> Export-> Export AutoCAD Data.... Select the relevant layout and click OK to confirm.
• A dialog box opens. In the Save inarea at the top, select the folder where you want to save the exported file and select the required file type.
• Click Options... and set the required options on the 'General Settings'tab. In Allplan 2009 and later, for example, you can select the exchange favorite 3 as the basis for the export and set the other options manually.
  Open the 'AutoCAD specific'tab. In the 'Part of file to be transferred'area, select the Design (model space)check box.
  If necessary, define additional settings in the options and confirm them by clicking OK.
• Then start the export by clicking Save.
• The "Export:..." dialog box opens for the layout. Click the Modifybutton if you want to change the configuration. While exporting the data, Allplan displays the "Export:..." dialog box for each drawing file used.
• Allplan creates one layout DWG and an additional reference DWG for each drawing file.
  

Result:

1. Files created:
Allplan creates a file for the layout (e.g., "plan_1.dwg") and an additional file as an XRef for each drawing file placed in the layout (e.g., "tb_1.dwg", "tb_2.dwg" and so on).
When you open the layout DWG (e.g., "plan_1.dwg") in AutoCAD, the reference DWGs (e.g., "tb_1.dwg", "tb_2.dwg" and so on) are displayed as external references.

2. Resolving elements:
Elements in drawing files are transferred as complex elements (e.g., hatching, patterns and dimension lines are retained).
Elements that are directly in the layout are transferred as complex elements or they are resolved, depending on the settings in the 'Explode elements'area.

3. Filtering elements:
The filters in the 'Transfer elements'area apply not only to the data that is directly in the layout but also to the data of the drawing files.

4. Construction lines:
Using the filter for construction lines in the 'Transfer elements'area, you can filter construction lines both in the layout and in the drawing file. In the 'Transfer elements'area, switch off the Construction linesor Not plottable elementoption (same effect).

5. Clipping boundaries:
A clipping boundary is an area that is cut, for example, by a layout window. Clipping boundaries are taken into account.

6. Allplan structure:
Allplan creates a separate DWG for the layout and for each drawing file and transfers the drawing file structure in this way. The layers of the drawing files become the layers of the DWG.

7. Paper space – model space:
With this method, the model space is transferred in each DWG.



Note:

If your planning partners do not want to work with several DWG files in AutoCAD, they can integrate the reference DWGs into the layout DWG and thus work with a single DWG file.
To make sure that the data is referenced correctly when the DWG file is opened, you need to save all the files in a common folder and transfer this folder.
If you have any further questions regarding data exchange, this topic is described in detail in the online Help. All you need to do is press the F1 key. Open the Index tab and selectInterfaces.