Illustrator CS3 Opens AutoCAD 2004 Files?

[Earl_...@adobeforums.com]

Hi,

In Illustrator CS2, I had to save AutoCAD .dwg files in AutoCAD 2000 format before opening them in Illustrator. Has Illustrator CS3 been updated to open AutoCAD 2004 .dwg files? I could not find the answer in the forum or knowledge base.

Thanks,

Earl

[Rick Moore]

Yes
http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/features/allfeatures/

Rick Moore, AIA
www.bgkarchitects.com

[Martin...@adobeforums.com]

It does but you loose the layer structure. It makes it all one layer and group. I'd love to find out how to prevent that because it translates linetypes by layer and dimensions come accross properly. If anyone knows how to change please post.

[Rick Moore]

I see others have mentioned this before, this is a very bad move by Adobe.
The only workaround I've found is to save the DWG in 2000 format, open in
CS2, save as AI and then open in CS3.

Rick Moore, AIA
www.bgkarchitects.com

[Rick Moore]

I have the CS3 trial but haven't had time to play with it much. I couldn't
figure out a way to get the AutoCAD layers to translate, either. The new
filter doesn't have the 'merge layers' option (which didn't do anything
before, the layers always came in separately). It does recognize the AutoCAD
objects as sub-layers but that doesn't seem to very useful. Isolate groups
is also something new, I'll have to play with that some. Right now, however,
we can't use CS3 for AutoCAD files w/o the layers

Rick Moore, AIA
www.bgkarchitects.com

[Wade_Zi...@adobeforums.com]

Would you like to let me try opening one of the files or finding a workaround.

No promises.

My e- mail is

wzphoto (at) verizon (dot) net

Did you try saving as a pdf and opening that in AICS3?

[lizar...@adobeforums.com]

Why adobe instead improving functionality of CS3 have produced a software with some limitation compared to CS2?

[LenH...@adobeforums.com]

Lizard,

Pasting the same content in 3 separate topics is tantamount to spamming...

[Clamm...@adobeforums.com]

That feature list linked above makes interesting reading, especially the bit:

"Import AutoCAD 2004, 2005, 2006, DWG, and DXF files with reliability, preserving original drawing shapes."

I've yet to get anything other than a "<file> is in an unknown format and cannot be opened" for AutoCAD DWG's saved any higher than release 2000 format. And don't get me started on the mess CS3 makes of text and colours...

However I *do* get the merge layers check box. Go figure.

So based on experience rather than an Adobe's claims I'd actually say "no".

[mwh...@adobeforums.com]

This is mentioned in multiple forums, and Rick Moore mentioned the best work around. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to keep an old version of a program installed to be able to use the feature that should be present on the newer one.