03-d: Export AutoPIPE model to AutoCAD (DXF)


Comments, Questions, and Answers with exporting AutoPIPE DXF file to AutoCAD

Item #1:

We just received a piping model from a customer. We want to insert into the AutoPIPE file into our AutoCAD Civil 3D model.

However, the model is Bentley Proxy Entity. I cannot explode or do anything with it. Please advise on how to solve this problem.

Answer:

Suggest the following procedure:

a. Open the model in AutoPIPE V8i and View the entire model on screen

Note:  Only the pipe or beam points displayed within the current plot view port are saved to the DXF file. And the following rules apply if components lie within the current view port :

- Any one of the pipe end points of an element.
- Any one of the beam nodes on a beam element.
- Base point of supports, Xtra data and anchors.

b. Select File> Export>  AutoCAD (DXF) command, save the file to a folder location. 

c. Start AutoCAD, select DXFIn, select the file saved in the previous step to be opened in the program. 

d. The model is now imported into the program with full controls over layers and piping elements.

In AutoPIPE, the user has control over the model symbols and names of the layers. For complete details please see the following AutoPIPE help section: 

Help > Contents> Search Tab> enter "Generating a DXF file" (include the quotes), press List Topics button, double click on the selected topic from the list provided to see more information.

Be sure to click on the "AutoCAD / DXF related topics" near the bottom of the page to see additional information about the drawing symbols, layers, and drawing

Item #2:

On "DXF Export Layer Name Setting" dialog(Tools/Tools/Settings/DXF Export Layers command), attributes(PTATT, RUNATT, ...) for components are displayed. What information is output for each attribute? Can users change it? If so, please let me know how to set it.

Answer:

The dialogs in reference are as follows (default settings):

The user can change these values as needed. Use basic DOS naming convention; ASCI characters, and 8 characters long.

Please see the table below for details of the layers and symbols used:

Item #3:

General questions:

Question #1: What information is output for each attribute?

Answer:

Any information associated with a particular component is written to the layer name mentioned in the "Attribute" column

Example: A node point in an AutoPIPE model is represented as a Point symbol in an exported DXF drawing file. The Point symbol is placed on the PTATT layer. Any other information about a point, (ex. Point name, etc..) will be placed on the same layer. 

Note, not all components will have text information. The following layer may have text information:

Question2: Can users change it? If so, please let me know how to set it.

Answer:

Yes, edit these layers names per requirements but changes to the color, style, or weight of the layer must be done from inside of OPIM.

 

See Also

Bentley AutoPIPE