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AutoCAD Files
RealWorks can open drawings in DXF (Drawing eXchange Format) or DWG
(DraWinG) file format. The DXF file format is an ASCII file format which
describes CAD data defined by AutoDesk. This file format facilitates the
exchange of CAD data between two different programs. The DWG file format is
the binary file format from AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.
To Open a DXF (or DWG) Format File:
1. On the Home tab, click the Import icon. A list drops down.
2. Select the Open icon. The Open dialog appears.
3. Select AutoCAD Files (*.dxf; *.dwg) from the File of Type field.
4. Navigate to the drive/folder where the DXF (or DWG) format file is located.
5. Click on the DXF (or DWG) format file's name to select it.
6. Click OK. The DXF File Import (or DXF File Import) dialog opens.
7. Click on the DXF Unit of Length (or DXF Unit of Length) pull down arrow.
8. Specify a unit of measurement to apply from the drop down list.
9. Choose between Merge Each 3D Face of the Same Layer into a Mesh
and Merge Each 3D Point of the Same Layer into a Cloud.
10. Or check both options.
11. Click OK. The DXF File Import (or DXF File Import) dialog closes.
Caution: A warning message appears if the DWG (or DXF) format file to open
(or import) contains entities with no equivalent in RealWorks. These entities will
not be opened (or imported) in RealWorks.
Note: If there is no project open, you can only open a DWG (DXF) format file.
The Add to Project option in the Open dialog is dimmed.
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A set of model groups is created and put under a project rooted under the
Models Tree. Each model group contains all 3D faces (or 3D points) of the
same layer - each opened as a mesh of two triangles (see A1) (or as a 3D
point object (see B1 and B2)).
A1 - A mesh has been created for each 3D face A2 - A mesh has been created for all 3D faces
of the same layer
B1 - The Project Cloud is empty of points B2 - Each 3D point is opened as an object of
3D point
There are two options in the DXF File Import (or DWG File Import) dialog. The
first when checked allows merging of all 3D Faces of the same layer into a
mesh (see A2) and the second all 3D Points into a Cloud (see B3 and B4)).
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B3 - The Project Cloud contains points B4 - All 3D points of the same layer are opened
and merged as a unique point cloud
Note: For all 3D Points of the same layer, a station is created and rooted under
the Scans Tree.
IXF Files
A file of IXF format (Optech’s laser scanning systems - ILRIS - data format)
with ixf extension can be opened (or imported) in RealWorks. If no project is
open, the Add to Project option in the Open dialog is grayed out and you are
restricted to opening. If there is an opened project, the Add to Project option is
enabled and default checked. Each file will be opened (or imported) as
station(s) put in the Scans Tree and as points put in the current Project Cloud
in the Models Tree.
