DWG Export

[Devin Johnston]

We use custom objects for things like windows and doors and when we export these objects as DWG's even though they are made with 2 materials for the glass and mullion frames it is exported as a single object. Does anyone know how I could export this object so that when I bring it into Max I can select the window glass and the mullions separately?

[Ricardo Eloy]

Well, there's been a while since I left Graphisoft, but wasn't there an option like "export by material"? I remember something like that back in ArchiCAD 6...

[Derek Entesano]

Does it do the same when you save it out through the 3d window as a .3ds file?

[JonRashid]

If not you can detach elements in Max and make them into seperate objects that way

[ipxstudios]

If you use the "file link manager' in Max it will bring in all your Cad layers separately.

[AFK_Matrix]

Yeah if you use the File link manager and setup a profile that imports by layers by material then it will split it all up. I also create a profile when I bring in Site plans so I don't have to change all the layers in AutoCAD, the profile just makes it one object thus easier to handle.

 

NM sorry its late here and that was for Max sorry.

[JonRashid]

Good to see there are others working into the night

[Devin Johnston]

I have a Max profile set up but apparently it's not separating everything out correctly. When I export the file out as a 3DS everything is exported correctly so I'm not sure if my translator is the problem or if it's the profile in the file link manager. When I open the file in AutoCAD the window glass and mullions are all on one layer, so I'm thinking its the translator. I'd prefer not to detach the elements in Max because that could be a lot of extra work.

[Devin Johnston]

I've messed around with the profile in Max with no success, I changed everything and the window glass and mullions always came in as a single object. Would it be possible to explode the window custom object during the export process so that the mullions and glass were put on separate layers?

[Vince Paske]

Try assigning the glass and frame different colors in AutoCAD, for instance red and yellow, which are colors 1 and 2.

Then assign a multi-subobject material to the window object with cooresponding mats to the number.

I used to have to do that with ADT objects and it worked like a charm.

 

edit - I'm assuming you want to select the different elements so you can assign them different materials.

[Devin Johnston]

That works but it's basically the same thing as detaching elements. This really sucks!

[k99]

Hi guys,

 

Seems you guys are here about DWG. I just wondering if setup link manager profile would import the clean meshes?

 

Last time I tried a straight import, the meshes are badly import like several vertices at the same location, triangulated instead of polygon... whole mesh is so messy that its easier for me to build from scratch rather than cleaning it up. :S

 

 

Thanks.

[Devin Johnston]

I've tried everything I know of and the conclusion I've come to is the ArchiCAD DWG exporter is simply unable to export custom objects that have more than one material as independent objects. If any of you knows how to get around this problem please let me know.

[BrianKitts]

I've tried everything I know of and the conclusion I've come to is the ArchiCAD DWG exporter is simply unable to export custom objects that have more than one material as independent objects. If any of you knows how to get around this problem please let me know.

 

Devin.... I'm headed out to our SF office next week if you want to shoot me one of your custom windows that's giving your the trouble, I can throw it at our graphisoft guy and see what he says.