Color and Line Weights

Most DXF/DWG or DWF files do not use true line weights, although that is starting to change. Color is traditionally used to indicate line weights. There are some standards that specify mappings between colors and line weights, but those standards are often ignored. The Vectorworks program automatically chooses the standard mappings when exporting, if the document does not already have a hidden record left over from a previous export or import that specifies the mappings. When importing, the Vectorworks program does not choose the standard mappings, but rather defaults to a reasonable line weight for all colors, implicitly alerting the user that he or she should determine the true mappings that are desired.

If desired, specify mappings by selecting Map Colors to Line Weights. Select the desired color mapping during the import process; if necessary, communicate with the file originator to determine the correct line weights.

The colored lines can be changed to black (or white if the background is black). Select Set Colors to Black and White. Note that most DXF/DWG or DWF files are created with a black background, and the colors may not show up well on a white background.

Version 2000 and later uses .ctb files to store color mapping information, but it also supports line weights, so these options may or may not be needed.

●    If no .ctb file is detected during import, and true line weights are present, Map Colors to Line Weights is deselected automatically, and the line weights import exactly.

●    If no .ctb file is detected, and true line weights are not present, Map Colors to Line Weights is selected automatically. The Map Colors to Line Weights dialog box opens to allow manual mapping (by default, all colors are mapped to the same line weight, or to the last mapping used during the current session).

If a .ctb file is detected, Map Colors to Line Weights is selected automatically, and the Vectorworks program reads the file to determine how colors should map to line weights. A dialog box opens to allow manual mapping (values are pre-set by the mapping file; duplicate mappings are indicated by italics).

If you used a set of saved import options, the .ctb file overrides any color mappings in your saved settings. Remove the .ctb file from the DXF/DWG or DWF file folder to use the saved settings instead.

Dash Patterns

In some files, dash lengths may import at an inappropriate scale. Change the dash length scale by selecting Manually Scale All Dash Lengths by and entering a scale value. A suggested scale value is displayed. The scaling does not affect line thickness. The Vectorworks program converts any dash patterns that are extremely small to solid lines to avoid unacceptable slowdowns during file display and printing. To adjust which dash patterns convert to solid lines, select Import as Solid Line when Gap is Smaller than and enter the smallest line gap size you wish to maintain (in document units).

Classes/Layers

DXF/DWG and DWF layers correspond more closely to Vectorworks classes than they do to Vectorworks layers. Normally, import DXF/DWG and DWF layers as Vectorworks classes.

There is no equivalent to Vectorworks layers in a DXF/DWG or DWF file. When DXF/DWG or DWF layers are mapped to Vectorworks layers, a warning displays if some of the objects in symbols or groups would leave their original layers and take on the layer of the symbol or group. For simple files without blocks, or files with objects inside the block that are set to “by block” attributes, importing layers as Vectorworks layers should pose no problems.

To group imported DXF layers in Vectorworks class and layer lists for easy identification, select the option to add a prefix to the imported layers. Enter the custom prefix to use in the field to the right of the check box. Depending on whether you are importing layers as classes or as layers, the prefix and hyphen are added as appropriate to either the beginning of the layer or class name.

Rays and Xlines (or construction lines) are DXF/DWG or DWF objects that are similar to Vectorworks guides. A ray starts at a point and goes off to infinity, while a construction line is anchored at a point and goes off to infinity in both directions. Select Rays and XLines Use Guides Class to convert Rays and Construction Lines into lines in the Guides class, which are of finite length.