Visio 2003/2007 Compatibility with AutoCAD 2006 - 2009 - D-Tools Forum

Head Tool · 05-14-2007, 11:17 PM

Visio 2003/2007 Compatibility with AutoCAD 2006/2007/2008/2009

Software used: Visio 2007 and AutoCAD 2007

I took a dwg floor plan and opened in AutoCAD 2007. I cleaned up the drawing using the procedures outlined in the Round Tripping AutoCAD (DWG) files in Visio 2003 white paper. I then saved the drawing in the following formats.

1. AutoCAD 2007 DWG
2. AutoCAD 2004 DWG
3. AutoCAD 2000 DWG
4. AutoCAD R14 DWG

Next I tried to insert the files into Visio 2007 using the procedures outlined in the white paper. All file formats mentioned above resulted in the following error message except The R14 DWG. This was surprising because in the past Visio was compatible with AutoCAD 2000 and below file format. At this point it was not clear if this was a Visio issue or did AutoCAD change their legacy file formats in the AutoCAD 2007 release and introduce some sort of incompatibility with other, non Autodesk products.

Software used: Visio 2003 and AutoCAD 2007

Next I tried the same files created in AutoCAD 2007 from above and tried to open in Visio 2003. This would tell me if Visio or AutoCAD had changed their import or export process.

Result: Both the R14 and 2000 DWG files inserted correctly in Visio 2003. This was surprising because I thought that the AutoCAD file format change was causing the problem.

Software used: Visio 2003/2007 and AutoCAD 2006

Next I took the same files from above and used AutoCAD 2006 to do the save as to the various formats see if there was a difference between files saved in AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD 2006.

As expected the CAD 07 file did not open and AutoCAD 2006 does not support the R14 DWG file format as a Save as option, yet AutoCAD 2007 does.??? I was only able to save the 04 and 2K in AutoCAD 2006.
The final test was to see if the DWG2000 file format as saved by AutoCAD 2006 would work in Visio 2007. It inserted without a problem

Conclusion

1: Visio 2007 is NOT compatible with files opened and saved in AutoCAD 2007 in the DWG 2000 file format.
2: Visio 2007 IS compatible with files opened and saved in AutoCAD 2007 in the WWG R14 file format
3: Visio 2003 IS compatible with files opened and saves in AutoCAD 2007 in the DWG 2000 file format.
4: Visio 2007 IS compatible with files opened and saved in AutoCAD 2006 in the DWG 2000 file format.

It looks like both Microsoft Visio and Autodesk AutoCAD slightly changed their import and export file formats.

Recommendations:

1. If using AutoCAD 2006 to modify DWG files for insertion into Visio 2003 or Visio 2007 then save the files in the AutoCAD 2000 DWG file format.
2. If using AutoCAD 2007 to modify DWG files for insertion into Visio 2003 then save the files in the AutoCAD DWG 2000 file format
3. If using AutoCAD 2007 to modify DWG files for insertion into Visio 2007 then save the files in the AutoCAD DWG R14 format.

05-15-2007, 02:24 PM

Wow... that is an incredible amount of testing and research on your part. Thank you for taking the time to let us know. I am sure your support folks will appreciate it too so they don't have to deal with so many people calling about files not working. Cheers!

dtechy1 · 12-01-2007, 05:30 PM

Is Auto CAD lite 2004 compatible with SI5, Visio 2007 on Vista? I believe Auto lite has a campatibility download available for Vista. I have a copy and don't want to install it if it isn't.
Great research by the way!

Thank you,

SenoS · 12-05-2007, 04:26 AM

No versions of "Lite" AutoCAD will work with SI 5. The full version of AutoCAD 2006 and 2007 are compatible at current time. Release 5.1 for SI will the full version of AutoCAD 2008 to the compatibility list.

dtechy1 · 12-07-2007, 01:44 AM

Thank you for your response!

Can you or someone tell me why the full version can only be used? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around why? Admittedly, I am not a CAD user and can not justify why I need to spend that kind of money. If I am reasearching correctly, dtools only uses a fraction on what that program can do. What is in it that dtools needs?

Thank you,

Victorc · 12-07-2007, 02:13 AM

Hey friend,

The answer is simple; AutoCAD LT does not support programming automation.

dtechy1 · 12-07-2007, 05:20 AM

Well..that explains that!

Thanks Vic

08-19-2008, 06:03 PM

I have tryed all of the above and my CAD file still doesn't work. I have a 2008 file and i have tryed to open that with 2007 the converted to R14 or 2000 but i get the same error every time. Can anybody help.
Thank you

fryeguy · 08-19-2008, 06:33 PM

Some helpful steps for preparing a DWG file for Visio.

1. Create a backup of the original DWG file.
2. Open the file in AutoCAD 2007.
3. Zoom, Extents
4. Type AUDIT at the command line and follow prompts.
5. Save.
6. Prepare the file in whatever way you normally do such as freezing/thawing layers, adjusting colors, fonts, etc. so the file looks like you want it to. (I will be posting a video for how I do this in the next week or so).
7. This is a little tricky if you aren't experienced:

a. open layer manager, sort layers by freeze/thaw state (assuming no layers are turned off).
b. set the current layer to ZERO.
c. group select all FROZEN layers and THAW.
d. Then before changing selection set, right click and select INVERT SELECTION. Now FREEZE Current selection.
e. in either step C or D you will get a message about freezing the current layer. Disregard this mesage.
f. Close the layer manager.
g. Press Ctrl + 1 to open the properties palette.
h. click on the Quick Select tool (at the top right).
i. In the quick select dialog:
Apply to: Entire Drawing
Object type: Multiple
Properties: Layer
Operator: <> Not Equal
Value: 0 (zero)
How to aply: Include in new selection set
Then click OK.

j. The last several steps set you up so all unneeded drawing information is now gathered in a selection set. Now erase the selection.
k. Now enter PU (or PURGE) on the command line to clean up any extraneous data in your file. Uncheck "Confirm each item to be purged" and check "Purge nested items". Then click Purge All until nothing is left to purge.
l. Next, on the layers toolbar click Layer Previous. This should return your drawing to your preferred state.
m. Save.
n. File, Save As: Change type to AutoCAD R12/LT2 DXF (*.dxf)
o. Close file and select NO when prompted.

This file type will cause bloat in the file size but almost never causes problems with Visio. You can always perform the steps up to the Save As and use another file type. If it works great, if not perform step N.

fryeguy · 08-19-2008, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by dtechy1

Is Auto CAD lite 2004 compatible with SI5, Visio 2007 on Vista? I believe Auto lite has a campatibility download available for Vista. I have a copy and don't want to install it if it isn't.
Great research by the way!

Thank you,

Maybe I'm wrong but I think Daryl (dtechy1) is asking if he can use AutoCAD LT to prepare files for import into Visio.
If this is the case, the answer is clearly YES.
You just can't use AutoCAD LT to create drawings in SI5...