Altium Designer includes capabilities to import a DXF/DWG file to and export one from a schematic, schematic library, PCB or PCB library document.
Import
To import a DXF/DWG file to the active Altium Designer schematic or PCB document, select the File » Import » DXF/DWG command from the main menus of the corresponding editor. To import a DXF/DWG file to the active Altium Designer schematic or PCB library, select the File » Import » AutoCAD command from the main menus of the corresponding editor.
Export
An Altium Designer schematic or PCB document can be exported to the DXF/DWG file format. In an Outputjob file, click [Add New Export Output] and select an entry in the AutoCAD dwg/dxf PCB or AutoCAD dwg/dxf Schematic menu. The export outputs can then be generated directly from the file or as part of the Project Release process.
Alternatively, select the File » Export » DXF/DWG command from the main menus of Altium Designer's schematic or PCB editor.
To export an Altium Designer schematic or PCB library to the DXF/DWG file format, select the File » Export » AutoCAD command from the main menus of the corresponding library editor.
Whether exporting as part of an OutJob file, or directly from the File menu, you will be able to configure options for the export in the associated Export to AutoCAD dialog.
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When exporting from a Schematic (or schematic library), configuration is performed using the following dialog:
Set the version, format and units as required. For a schematic, to include the current template graphics in the exported AutoCAD file, ensure the Include Template option is enabled.
After clicking
OK, the
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Export Documents dialog will open from where you can set the scope of Schematic documents to be exported.
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When exporting from a PCB (or PCB library), configuration is performed using the following dialog:
Options and Controls of the Export to AutoCAD Dialog
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Options
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AutoCAD Version – use the drop-down to select the version of AutoCAD that applies to the exported file.
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Format – use the drop-down to select the format (DWG or DXF) of the exported AutoCAD file.
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Units – select either Imperial or Metric units for the export conversion's dimensional data.
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Holes
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Export pads and via holes – check this option to enable the export of Pad and Via hole data.
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Degrees - select the drop-down to choose the orientation of the pad and via holes in degrees.
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Components
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Export as blocks – components will be exported as single AutoCAD-compliant Blocks (grouped collections of primitive objects).
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Export as primitives – components will be exported as the primitive objects that form the component.
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Tracks and Arcs
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Export with rounded ends – check this option to create AutoCAD line/arc objects with round ends.
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Export with square ends – check this option to create AutoCAD line/arc objects with square ends.
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Primitives To Export With Zero Line Widths
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None – no primitives will be exported with zero line widths. The line/arc width data in the DXF/DWG file will match the corresponding line/arc width data in the source PCB layout.
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All – all primitives in the PCB layout will be exported with a zero line width.
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Selected – only the selected primitives in the PCB workspace will be exported with a zero line width.
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Pads And Vias
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Export with hatches – pads and vias will be exported as AutoCAD hatch objects.
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Export with polylines – pads and vias will be exported as AutoCAD polyline objects.
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Layers
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All On – access this drop-down to determine what layers to include. For instance, if you'd like to only include Signal Layers, select $SignalLayer from the drop-down. The included layers will be checked in the Include column.
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Name - displays the name of the available layer. A list of layers may be minimized by clicking on the parent layer name.
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Type - displays the layer type of each layer. Layers with the same types are usually listed alongside each other.
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Include - check the box corresponding to the selected layer to include it within the export process.
A DXF format file can also be imported to or exported from a
Draftsman document using the
File » Import from DXF and
File » Export to Dxf commands from the main menus.
Supported Versions of AutoCAD
Import/export of designs in DXF/DWG format is supported in the following versions of AutoCAD:
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AutoCAD 2018 (DWG 2018 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD 2013 (DWG 2013 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD 2010 (DWG 2010 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD 2007 (DWG 2007 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD 2004 (DWG 2004 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD 2000 (DWG 2000 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD R14 (DWG R14 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD R13 (DWG R13 file format was introduced in this release).
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AutoCAD R12 (DWG R11/R12 file format was introduced in this release).
Supported Object Types
The following DWG/DXF object types are supported when importing a design into, or exporting a design from, Altium Designer:
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Arc
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Circle
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Dimension
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Ellipse
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Elliptical Arc
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Hatch
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Insert
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Leader
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Line
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Multileader
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Multiline
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Multitext
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Point
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Polyline
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Rectangle
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Region
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Solid
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Spline
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Text
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Trace
An example demonstrating the enhanced versatility of the AutoCAD DWG/DXF Importer for Altium Designer's PCB Editor. This particular fun drawing, originally drawn in AutoCAD 2013 and saved in DWG 2013 file format, consists of spline, polyline and arc objects (entities).
Another example, this time a DWG 2013 format file imported into Altium Designer's Schematic Editor.
Altium Designer Documentation
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Advanced Design Environment Topics in Altium Designer
Interfacing to Other Design Tools from Altium Designer