CAMTASTIC_Cmd-FileSaveDXFFileSaveDXF_AD

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to export the selected layers of the current document in .dxf format, for use with AutoCAD.

Access

This command can be accessed from the CAMtastic Editor by:

• Choosing the File » Export » DXF command from the main menus.
• Clicking the  button, on the Import/Export Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

After launching the command, the Export DXF/DWG dialog will appear. The top section of the dialog allows you to specify which layers of the current document you wish to export information for. The Output Control section of the dialog allows you to specify whether lines will be exported as zero width outlines, or filled lines (with, or without end caps). You can also filter out any unwanted Dcodes and convert text to polylines (Plines).

After setting up the export options as required, click the Save button - the Write AutoCAD DXF dialog appears. Use this dialog to define where the exported file is to be stored. By default, the data file that is generated will take the name cam.dxf. The file can be renamed by clicking within the name field. The associated file extension can also be changed to another if required, by again clicking directly within the name field or, alternatively, right-clicking on the entry and choosing File Extensions from the context menu. The new extension required can be typed into the subsequent Enter Value dialog that appears.

With name, extension, and storage location defined as required, click OK to generate the file.

Tips

1. By default, all detected layers in the current document are selected for export in the Export DXF/DWG dialog.
2. The use of end caps with filled lines is a military specification, and causes the exported image to appear in AutoCAD exactly as it appears in the CAM document.
3. DXF files created from Gerber information can become very large. Using the Zero Width line output option will reduce the size of the resulting file.
4. Multiple Dcodes can be filtered out of the exported DXF file. Use a comma and/or space between Dcodes, when specifying them in the Dcode Filter field, and don't include the D prefix. For example, entering 10, 19 will result in all objects using Dcodes D10 and D19 not being exported in the resulting DXF file.
5. If saving a file with the same name and in the same location as an existing file, the existing file will be overwritten without warning.