PSS ID Number: 254990
Article Last Modified on 12/14/2000
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Visio Technical 5.0x
This article was previously published under Q254990
SUMMARY
Autodesk's AutoCAD paper space and model space concepts allow you to create and view objects of different scales on one sheet of paper. In Visio Technical, shapes on one drawing page must all be of the same scale.
If you try to convert an AutoCAD drawing that contains both paper space and model space objects with the AutoCAD file converter of Visio Technical, only part of the drawing is converted. However, with a little bit of preparation in both the AutoCAD drawing and in Visio, Visio will be able to convert the entire AutoCAD drawing, scaling the objects correctly. This document shows you how to prepare the AutoCAD drawing and Visio for a successful conversion.
MORE INFORMATION
Preparing an AutoCAD Drawing with Model Space and Paper Space Objects for Visio Technical Conversion
In AutoCAD:
- Open the AutoCAD drawing that contains both model space and paper space objects.
- Make paper space current.
- Type the following AutoCAD commands:
These commands extract all of the paper space objects into a new AutoCAD drawing file called PSDWG.DWG.WBLOCK
PSDWG
0,0
ALL
- Type MSPACE, and then press ENTER.
This activates the model space viewports from within the paper space environment. - For each object's viewport, select the viewport, and then type the following AutoCAD commands:
These commands extract all of the model space objects shown in the selected viewport into a new AutoCAD drawing file called VPIMGn, where n is the number of the viewport that you've selected (sequentially).
WBLOCK
VPIMGn
(getvar "EXTMIN")
ALL
- Type QUIT, press ENTER, and click No when prompted to save changes.
These steps create all of the AutoCAD drawing files that you need to generate the Visio composite drawing.
NOTE: If you are using AutoCAD R13, you must open each of the new files and save them in R12 format before you try to convert them in Visio Technical.
Converting the AutoCAD Drawing That Contains Model Space and Paper Space Objects to a Visio Technical Drawing
In Visio:
Before running the AutoCAD file converter, you must set up a foreground page and a series of background pages--one page for each file that you created in step 5 of the "Preparing an AutoCAD Drawing with Model Space and Paper Space Objects for Visio Technical Conversion" section earlier in this article.
For this example, the AutoCAD drawing consists of paper space containing a title block and one viewport named "Building." In Visio, this will require one foreground page and one background page. To convert this drawing:
- Open a new blank Visio drawing. On the Edit menu, click Drawing Page, and then click Size & Scale. Set the drawing page size to 36" wide by 24" tall, set the drawing scale to No Scale (1:1), and then click OK.
- On the Edit menu, click Drawing Page, and then click Properties. In the Name box, type the name TitleBlock.
- On the Insert menu, click Page, and set up a new background page. Name this page Building.
- In the Page Properties dialog box, click Size/Scale, and set the drawing page size to 36" wide by 24" high and the drawing scale to Architectural 1/8"=1'-0". Then click OK twice to return to the drawing page.
- On the Edit menu, click Go To, and go to the TitleBlock page.
- On the Edit menu, click Drawing Page, and then click Properties. In the Background section, set the background to the Building page that you created in steps 3 through 4, and then click OK.
- On the Tools menu, click Run Add-On, and run the Insert AutoCAD Drawing add-on. Insert the AutoCAD paper space into the TitleBlock page. This is the file called PSDWG.DWG that you created in Step 3 of the "Preparing an AutoCAD Drawing with Model Space and Paper Space Objects for Visio Technical Conversion" section earlier in this article.
- When the conversion is complete, on the Edit menu, click Go To, and go to the Building page.
- Run the Insert AutoCAD Drawing add-on again, and insert the AutoCAD model space drawing into the Building page. This is the file called VPIMGn you created in the "Preparing an AutoCAD Drawing with Model Space and Paper Space Objects for Visio Technical Conversion" section earlier in this article.
When the second conversion is finished, you will have a complete composite representation, which is the functional equivalent of a paper space/model space AutoCAD drawing.
NOTE: If the drawing that you want to convert includes additional model space objects, create a background page for each file that you created in step 5 from the "Preparing an AutoCAD Drawing with Model Space and Paper Space Objects for Visio Technical Conversion" section earlier in this article, and then open each file in its corresponding Visio background page.
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