how to import autocad files? - D-Tools Forum

trutone · 07-11-2007, 07:30 PM

Hi, I'm a new user and I'm having trouble importing autocad files into Visio. One of our customers sent me a file which wouldn't open. I found a free program from Autodesk called DWG Convert and converted it to Autocad 2000 format, and the file still wouldn't open. Can someone give me a bit of advice? Which formats will Visio accept?

Thanks!!

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 07-11-2007, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by trutone

Hi, I'm a new user and I'm having trouble importing autocad files into Visio. One of our customers sent me a file which wouldn't open. I found a free program from Autodesk called DWG Convert and converted it to Autocad 2000 format, and the file still wouldn't open. Can someone give me a bit of advice? Which formats will Visio accept?

Thanks!!

Buy autocad LT so you can open autocad files on your own and save them as R12 or R14 versions. This will eliminate XREFS in the autocad file which visio cannot support and are in most every file you get from an architect.

You can ask the architect to save the version to R12 or R14 for you, but many, many, many times, there are lots of other things in the file like additional floors or elevations that you might want to cut out.

Constantly volleying the file back and forth will not only lose you your architect freind's cooperation, but you lose valuable time too.

trutone · 07-16-2007, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the advice! I'd love to get autocad; now to just convince management...

JordanC · 07-16-2007, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by trutone

Thanks for the advice! I'd love to get autocad; now to just convince management...

Step 1. Calculate your time per project you take to handle these files to interact with Visio. Multiply that by you hourly wage = cost per project.

Step 2. Find cost of software and figure out how many jobs it will take to pay for the software before you start to make profit from the purchase.

Management thinks by dollars. Best way to get something is by showing it takes money to make money. Also state, the time wasted with these files, you could be making money by working on other projects.

Good luck.