Illustrator and AutoCAD dwg files

[Allen Angle]

I absolutely love the fact that I can open a .dwg AutoCAD file in illustrator and dress them up and also use it for page layout with drawing files and images. But lately some of the .dwgs I try to open want open. I get the message “Can’t open the illustration”, anyone know what the problem may be?

And on that same note would you know another way to bring an AutoCAD file into PageMaker or InDesign and it still have a good resolution?

[Ian A. Wright]

Allen:

If you have a PostScript printer, the "best" format for placing into InDesign or PageMaker is using EPS files. This will also work with PDF workflow and non-PS printers. There is no "resolution" to EPS files. They print at the highest resolution your printing device is capable of.

Check the Place of older, already proven CAD files to see if those "new" ones or something generic. You don't say what exact version of Illustrator or AutoCAD you're running so I can't be more specific at this time.

[Allen Angle]

Sorry I should have mentioned that, its Illustrator 9 and AutoCAD 2002. But have done this with 9& 2002 before. One of the ACAD files I just opened in Ill. about 4 months ago and now can not. I will work with the EPS solution some on Monday also, thanks for the help.

[Allen Angle]

Any comments?

[Jonathan McClintic]

I might try reloading Ill 9.0 just to see if the ability to import .dwg's has gotten corrupt. Any time that a program used to do something that it no longer does, this can usually fix it.

Jonathan

[Kirk Hill]

This has nothing to do with your Acad import problems but I am curious what type
of work you do with Auto Cad? I need a program that will work with Illustrator that will read dwg or dxf files and do 3d to 2d hidden line views and I am told that Auto Cad will do this pretty well.

Thanks Kirk Hill

[Allen Angle]

Will try reloading Ill. 9 but don't think that is the problem. It still can open some dwg files. Thanks for the advice.

Kirk, I am an architect and use AutoCAD for working drawings and some design development. As far a 3D and 2D with dwg and dxf, form-Z is the best for modeling but a bit pricey. Another good one, especially for the price is SketchUp! It reads and exports dwg files and it even allows you to drag image files from the browser into the open file. Another one I am playing with but with little luck is Architectural Studio by AutoDesk also, may want to give it a test too. But not knowing much of what you are going to do other and dwg import SketchUp is the best bang for the buck.

[Troy Kutil]

I am workgin with our advertising department to import DWG files into Illustrator. The DWG files always come in at the wrong scale and they need the exact scale. How can this be prevented.

[Ian A. Wright]

Troy:

If you're doing a lot of importing of ACAD DXF files you should investigate AutoSet and CADGate because they have utilities specifically for that purpose. The Free Distribution program can be downloaded from their web site: <http://www.jwgraphics.com.au> With their CADPublisher software you can process CAD DXF files into PostScript, Acrobat PDF and Adobe Illustrator formats in monochrome, colour and colour separations. Talk with John Walker.

Check out <http://www.tailormade.com> .

CADMover, from Kandu Software <http://www.kandusoftware.com> can open IGES and CAD files and others, and save out to Illustrator, or others. It doesn't specifically support Win2K but it is pretty expensive for a translation utility ($500). There's a lite version available for $150, but all file formats are not supported.

VISIO Technical does an outstanding Autocad import and allows saving the file as adobe Illustrator AI files.

Or take a look at this product: <http://www.hotdoor.com/CADgate/> There's a working demo...

[Josh Blooming]

Does anyone go the other way?

Going from Illustrator into AutoCad?

I have a customer who's European division needs what I have done in AI to be exported into AutoCAD/DWG format so they can work with them.

The AI export is basically worthless.

Thanks.

[c.morley]

I've had this same problem from time to time (ill-9 and acad2002). I find if I go into the acad drawing and clean out everything I don't need, it usually comes in ok.

Also, going from Illustrator to acad works well. Bezier curves and ellipses are retained. You may loose some of the more elaborate things, though fills and such come through allright.

[Russell Higgins]

You can set up a pc3 in Autocad that plots eps files (note this is a plotter, not eps export)--this way you'll have your lineweights since the dummy plotter will use your ctb (or stb) file. I find this works very well although text is not text, just outlines and you need to make sure that any solid hatches are sent to back before plotting.

[Kelly Chitwood]

I am having the same problem, I have a customer who needs an AI file converted to .dxf or .dwg, and he keeps asking me to "explode" the art.

He claims that all he sees is 3 lines. There is not any text in this document.

Any advice would be helpful... Thanks

[Russell Higgins]

I haven't had any problems with 10's export dwg feature, but I'm using R2000. Which version of dwg/dxf are you saving it as? Saving it as an R14 or maybe even an R12 might alleviate the problem. Do you have a copy of AutoCad to "test" the file before you hand it off?? Maybe your client has some layers turned off or maybe they just don't know much about AutoCad…explode is an AutoCad command which you need to use after you open the file in AutoCad if you want to edit the converted ai file.