DWG Import - Element Properties

This help page contains information about managing the layers, linetypes, font, and color definitions of elements in an imported DWG drawing.

Also read DWG Export - Vertex Linetypes.

Layers

You can use the layers of a DWG drawing as they are in the DWG drawing. You can change the layer scheme imported with the DWG file to the layer scheme defined in the system settings at any point. When you save a DWG drawing to a VXP drawing, the drawing may have two layer schemes: the layer scheme in the DWG drawing and possibly a Vertex layer scheme added alongside it. When you export the drawing back to DWG format, only the layer scheme that was active at the time of saving is transferred to the drawing.

Line Types

Vertex supports all line types of a DWG drawing. Converting two-dimensional line types requires that the AutoCad definition files *.shp or *.shx are included with the DWG file. If the file is missing, Vertex replaces the line with a continuous line. However, the file contains information about the line type, so when you export the VXP drawing back to a DWG file, the line will remember its property. The so called multilines of DWG drawings are not fully supported.

Font Definitions

Vertex supports Windows fonts that are also supported by DWG files. When you read a DWG drawing, Vertex inspects the font definitions included in the file, and adds the new found fonts to the style_dwg_vertex.txt file in the shared/setup folder. The definitions in the shared/setup/style_dwg_vertex.txt file will be included when you save the VXP drawing to a DWG file. You can use the line types and fonts imported with a DWG drawing in other Vertex drawings during the same Vertex session. You can find the line types and fonts in the Line gallery and Font menu on the Properties tab. The line types and fonts that you have used are saved in the Vertex drawing, and they will be available also after restarting the program, when you open the drawing in question.

Color Definitions

The color of elements in a DWG drawing can be determined by the ByLayer property, in which case an element on a certain layer gets a color defined for the layer. Elements retain this property when a DWG drawing is read in Vertex and exported back to a DWG file. Please note, that if you change the layer scheme imported with the DWG drawing to the default layer scheme of Vertex, the drawing colors may change. The ByBlock color setting of elements in a DWG drawing is also retained in file conversion. Furthermore, elements retain their ACI color or RGB color in a DWG drawing.