Microsoft KB Archive/281750

= Visio2000: Steps for AutoCAD Users to Follow to Reduce Conversion Problems with DWG Files =

Article ID: 281750

Article Last Modified on 1/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Technical Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition

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This article was previously published under Q281750



SUMMARY
When you open an AutoCAD drawing in Microsoft Visio 2000 Technical or Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise, you have the option of converting the AutoCAD drawing to a Visio drawing. You should be able to convert some or all of the shapes in the drawing to Visio lines and shapes, or to Visio dimensions and text.

You may experience unexpected behavior with AutoCAD entities during the conversion to Visio shapes. Several issues can be factors in this behavior. The most commonly known issues are described in the &quot;More Information&quot; section of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
The following conditions can affect the conversion of the AutoCAD drawing in Visio. Suggestions and/or workarounds are provided to reduce the instances of unacceptable conversion behavior.
 * An AutoCAD drawing last view saved in Paper Space.

Visio 2000 cannot read Paper Space views. The last view saved for the AutoCAD drawing must be Model Space with ZOOM, all extents selected.
 * Unique font files created in AutoCAD or other third-party add-ons that are not shared between AutoCAD users and are not present in Visio.

Ensure that standard fonts are used if the drawing is to be shared with other AutoCAD users.
 * An AutoCAD add-on product, such as ARX, can create proxy objects in the AutoCAD drawing.

Avoid using third-party add-ons that may create proxy objects in the AutoCAD drawing. Proxy objects are not converted in Visio; however, the user should be able to view the proxy objects in the Visio drawing.

Any layer or layers that contain proxy objects are not converted by Visio, and the conversion process ends prematurely or stops responding. It is advisable to place a proxy object on its own layer and to not select that layer during the conversion process.
 * Hatch patterns contained within the AutoCAD drawing.

Delete hatch patterns as necessary from the AutoCAD drawing before you save the drawing in AutoCAD.
 * Extraneous entities within the AutoCAD drawing left over from deleting items without using the purge method.

Always use the Erase all and purge command in AutoCAD to remove items and thereby prevent the appearance of ghost entities on the drawing.
 * External references from another AutoCAD drawing contained within the AutoCAD drawing that you are trying to convert.

Any layer or layers that contains external references is not converted by Visio and the conversion process ends prematurely or stops responding. It is advisable to place an external reference on its own layer and to not select that layer during the conversion process.
 * An unsuccessful conversion may indicate that the drawing was created with a computer-aided design (CAD) program other than AutoCAD.

By saving the DWG file in the alternate format of DXF, you may eliminate some of the errors and allow a successful conversion.
 * The use of WCS (World Coordinate System) as the coordinate system to locate objects in the drawing.

The UCS (Universal Coordinate System) is the preferred coordinate system for Visio, and all objects in the AutoCAD drawing should use this system. Visio does not use the WCS.
 * Nested blocks or layers defined as block reference.

Nested blocks or block references may have other blocks nested within them. For instance, text is created and placed as a block and not as &quot;plain old multi-text.&quot; The block reference is not converted by Visio, and the conversion process ends prematurely or stops responding.
 * The AutoCAD drawing contains an XLine object.

Remove the XLine object from the AutoCAD drawing.

Additional query words: cad dwg dwf

Keywords: kbhowto kbinfo KB281750

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