DWG format
Mr P Hadfield
>Folks,
>
>Rather than reinventing the wheel, I have talked to our facilities people,
>and they have a map of the building layout produced in AutoCad. The only format
>of the drawing I can get a hold of is the .DWG file.
>
>I would like to decode this file into simple line segments, etc. then display
>these either using DisplayPostScript or more than likely, simple Xlib calls.
>
>My problem is that I don't have the format of the DWG file, and cannot seem
>to locate a reference here on-site.
>
>Is the DWG format kept secret ?? If so, then I won't waste my time hunting
>through libraries/bookstores. If not, then could some kind soul either give
>me a pointer to an appropriate manual, or simply give me the format.
>
Hi Keith
The AutoCAD drawing format is not well documented, the manufacturers reserve the
right to change it at will! However there is a solution. You need to get someone
to import the drawing into autocad and save it as a dxf file. This (DXF) is an ASCII
text file, the format of which is well documented and available on the net. Try
http://xarch.tu-graz.ac.at/autocad or http://www.mms.net (which is whare I got it
from, I think) or mail me and I'll send you a copy.
As for converting the file, if you cant find anyone local to convert it, and
providing its not version 13, I could probably convert it for you - but be warned
it can take forever to ftp large files accross the atlantic!
BTW I've got some C source for converting DXF files into a few other formats - if
thats of any use to you.
Hope this helps
Peter
Ian A. White
to cad.autocad about "DWG format":
-----------------------------
>Folks,
>I was wondering if someone could help me out.
>
>I am trying to set up a building directory for one of our development
>facilities, basically display a map of the building, click on an office
>and show who occupies it, enter a username and the office is highlighted,
>etc.
>
>Rather than reinventing the wheel, I have talked to our facilities people,
>and they have a map of the building layout produced in AutoCad. The only
>format
>of the drawing I can get a hold of is the .DWG file.
>
>I would like to decode this file into simple line segments, etc. then
display
>these either using DisplayPostScript or more than likely, simple Xlib calls.
>
>My problem is that I don't have the format of the DWG file, and cannot seem
>to locate a reference here on-site.
>
>Is the DWG format kept secret ?? If so, then I won't waste my time hunting
>through libraries/bookstores. If not, then could some kind soul either give
>me a pointer to an appropriate manual, or simply give me the format.
>
>
>Keith Vincent
>CAATS - Software Development Support
>Hughes Aircraft of Canada
>kvin...@ccgate.hac.com
The DWG file format is an Autodesk proprietary format, and as such the
format is not disclosed. It has been up to individuals and organisations
to reverse-engineer the file format. Now you may be able to buy something
which gives you what the author believes the format is. The problem with
this is that it can well change with the next release of AutoCAD. Actually
the period covering R11 and R12 has been one of the longest where the DWG
file format remained constant.
Regards,
Ian_A...@eol.ieaust.org.au
Ian A. White, CPEng.
WAI Engineering,
Sydney - Australia.
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