How To Convert Pdf To Dwg Using Autocad
Cre Wallace
I'm trying to convert autocad points (survey points) to COGO points while maintaining the layer each point is in and producing a raw description that is the same as the layer name (so that I can later produce point groups). Any idea how I would do this? It doesn't seem to be possible using the point tools.
>>convert autocad points (survey points)
What do you mean by that?
Each layer name is different from all of the others? Each raw description is also different or are some the same?
What are you ultimately trying to do ?
I realise that I can create a TIN surface straight from AutoCAD points but the problem is that the points are not just ground surface etc. they include building roofs, top of fence posts, many points that need to be excluded. The process of selection when adding points to a surface does not easily allow for the exclusion of such points. So I figure Point Groups are my best bet.
So I want to convert AutoCAD points to COGO points using the convert AutoCAD points tool. The points I receive are all in layers (NaturalSurface, Fence, Building, Roof, etc.) but the convert points tool only allows all points being converted to be put in one layer (either current layer or chosen layer), thus destroying the only differentiating information I have. Converting points layer by layer is an option I guess, but seems like a (tedious) work-around rather than a real fix.
What I'd like is to be able to convert all the the points I receive while maintaining their original layers, plus using the oringal layer name as the raw description for the new COGO points, so that I can easily create point groups after that.
I tried the data extraction option but when I go to import points from file there's no option to import .dxe and the process of setting up the exported .xlsx into .csv PENZD format seems laborious since the point numbers and labels need changing. I'll keep trying with this one but I was hoping for an easier way. It just seems like something Civil 3D should be able to do pretty easily. Maybe I'm wrong. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.
How about doing a saveas convert all points you want to use for your surface file, export the resulting points to a PNEZ file (since they wont have a description). Then import the resulting text file into the surface definition. You don't need the points in the drawing to create a surface. Then use your linework as proximity breaklines were needed.
Edit: As a further note you could just use the Points that are in the drawing to define the surface, no conversion at all assuming there at elevation, as they are an object that can also be selected in the surface definition.
Rick Jackson
Survey CAD Technician VI
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So just have the surveyor create a csv (txt) file, your done, import those to C3D with all the data they coded. This same data can be used to draw all the improvements, create breaklines for the surface, insert symbols etc....... (If C3D is setup to do these things) And it all can be sent to 1 or multiple layers.
Allen Jessup
CAD Manager - Designer
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This is possibly a poor example but I'm not at work today and it's all I have access to. Often there are buildings and roofs etc. (points usually measured reflectorless, i.e. half way up a wall or on a gutter) which need to be excluded. You see that the points are all in individual layers. What I'm thinking is convert these to COGO points with raw descriptions the same as current layer names, so that I can create point groups and then a DTM from the right groups, but I'm completely open to better ideas. Thanks.
Okay, that's what I'm after. I can see that you've added the points on three occaisions. How did you go about selecting them when adding to the surface definition? Did you isolate layers and manually select?
One key here the file you sent had a ton of layers that were OFF (including layer 0). Layer 0 is like the GOD layer, it can not and should not ever be off/frozen (or anything else). I did not change anything as far as your points in the drawing. You can added your linework to the surface also, using a right-click over the Breaklines.
There are ways to attack this with the data you have, I did and you can without changing your workflow. If that's your workflow and has been so be it. I'm not going to say do it this or that way, EVERYONE here uses this MONSTER in a different way to achieve one goal GET THE JOB DONE.
Okay, thanks. No condescension read, thanks for the advice. It's a small office and I've only been doing survey drafting for a year (pandemic-related career change) and have never used Civil 3D before (I just use AutoCAD atm), apart from a few tutorials. We're crazy, crazy busy right now and if I can get good at producing DTMs then I can take a bit more pressure off the surveyors. I'm wary of including unwanted points in the surface definition but I guess what you're saying is that breaklines will remove the influence of those points. I'll go right through the process and see what happens.
On a large job. You might want to DataExtract the X,Y,Z for the points you want to use in the Surface. Then attach the point file that was created to the Surface. No need to import as Cogo Points. Remember the file will be in an E,N,Z format.
A *.csv file from excel is exactly the same as a comma delineated *.txt file, on the extension is different, you can change that back and forth with no effect on the contents or use of them by excel or acad/c3d.
So I have inherited a very complex line drawing that was created in AutoCad using lines and textboxes, and we want to turn it into an actual electrical schematic so we can export cables schedules from it. Does anyone know a way of converting a line to a wire?
Honestly, AutoCAD is the most backwards program I have ever used. I don't understand why people still use it. I opened the drawing in Solidworks and was able to convert everything to an electrical schematic and change the lines to wires in less than a minute.
The Conversion Tools menu tab contains utilities to convert plain lines into wires, plain text rung numbers into intelligent rung numbers, and there is a utility that can assist with replacing standard AutoCAD blocks with AutoCAD Electrical "smart" symbols. I recommend attending a training class to learn the basics of AutoCAD Electrical, so you will better understand what the conversion utilities are doing and why. Covering the conversion tools is an option for my advanced training course, because it assumes that you have already learned the basics. If you want to learn more about the conversion utilities, the subject is covered in the built-in help (see attached screen capture).
AutoCAD Electrical offers much, especially if you seek to save time and produce drawings more accurately. It can also be configured to produce such reports as a BOM, wire list, wire labels, etc., automatically with just a few mouse clicks. It can add drawings to your design project and populate these drawings with the BOM and wire from/to data or output the same to a spreadsheet, CSV, XML, etc. There are many tools that simply serve to make the mundane tasks involved in managing wires and symbols easier. But again, training will pay for itself as you are able to get up to speed quickly, rather than picking it out as you go by asking questions on this forum.
I appreciate the advice. I would like to take training courses however this needs to be done by Monday and it should be a simple task - I just need to convert the lines to wires. I have been able to convert a single line to a wire now by first clicking on "Select Mode" from the "Other Tools" group under the "Schematic" tab, then selecting "Change/Convert Wire Type" from the "Edit Wires/Wire Number" group, then clicking on the row labelled "1" from, the "Change/Convert Wire Type" window that pops up, make sure the box "Convert Line(s) to Wire(s) checkbox is ticked, press "Ok", and then clicking on the wire once again and finally pressing enter.
The default WIRES layer is added by the software. It needs at least one layer to be designated as a conductor, though many of us create actual wire types and delete the WIRES layer with a right-click of the mouse over the layer name. Be sure to click the button labeled Color, next to the Line Type button. This allows you to assign the color red to a red wire, blue to a blue wire, etc. I use color number 252 for black wires, so they are visible against a black screen and don't get confused with white wires.
The AutoCAD side has a Join command but it is primarily used to join vertical or horizontal line segments that are not contiguous. If you click the Change/Convert Wire Type button on the Conversion Tools menu tab you will select the wire type and click OK. Next the command prompt at the bottom of the screen will prompt you to Select Objects. You can click one line segment at a time or click the left mouse button and move the mouse in a lower right to upper left fashion. Any line segment that is touch by this window will be selected for change, once you click the left mouse button once more.. After the second mouse click you press the Enter on your keyboard, or right-click the mouse.
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