Importing file contents as symbol definitions
For the following file types, you can use the specific Import [file type] command to directly import the contents of an individual file as a symbol definition in the Resource Manager; for more information, see Resource Manager and Concept: Vectorworks symbols.
DXF
DWG
3ds
IGES
OBJ
SAT
STEP
STL
Rhino 3DM
Parasolid X_T
SketchUp
Importing symbols as a batch
Command |
Path |
Import Symbol (Batch) |
File > Import Resource Manager > Action |
The Import Symbol (Batch) command imports multiple files or folders containing files into the Resource Manager. The contents of the imported files are saved as symbol definitions.
To import one or more files or folders as symbol definitions:
Select the command.
The Import Symbol (Batch) dialog box opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Select one or more files |
Imports certain files within a folder. Click Choose Files and choose one or more files to import. The number of files selected is displayed. |
Select a folder |
Imports all files from a specified folder. Click Choose Folder and choose the source folder. The folder name and location are displayed. |
Import from subfolders |
Imports files from all subfolders of the the selected folder |
Create symbol folders for subfolders |
Creates a symbol folder in the Resource Manager for every subfolder of the selected folder |
Assign to Class |
Select the class for the imported symbols, or create a new class |
Insertion Point |
Select the insertion point for the imported symbols |
Options |
Opens the Import Symbol (Batch) Options dialog box to specify import options for some file formats |
Click Options to specify import information for some file types based on their format.
The Import Symbol (Batch) Options dialog box opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
File format pane |
Click a file format to specify import options for that file type |
Import materials (3DS/OBJ/SketchUp) |
Imports material and texture information from the files as Renderworks textures, and/or creates Renderworks textures for all materials from the files |
Import mesh objects (3DS only) |
Imports object geometry from each 3ds file as a mesh object or as groups of 3D polygons |
Import the geometry from the file as (SketchUp only) |
Imports object geometry from each SketchUp file as a mesh object or as groups of 3D polygons |
Click OK to return to the Import Symbol (Batch) dialog box.
Click Import.
The progress of the import is displayed for each imported file during import. The final results of the import process are displayed in the Import Symbol (Batch) Results dialog box.
Click Details to open the results log file. The log text file, named ImportAsSymbolLog, is placed in the Vectorworks user folder. The report provides a summary of the import, including a list of which files succeeded, and which failed.