DescriptionThis translator reads a DXF file generated by AutoCAD or by other mechanical drafting programs and converts it to an Allegro intermediate plot file. The plot file can then be imported into Allegro. This is a simple but effective way to load in board outlines, component placements or other layout related information without manually drawing it. |
dxf2all in_file out_file [units U] [-scale X] [-fontdir S]
[-nonode]
where
infile The DXF input file name
outfile The Allegro plt file name
-units U Unit of DXF file, inch, mil, cm, mm, um.
If not specified defaults to IN.
-scale X Scale output by X. Defaults=1
-fontdir S S specifies theshx files directory
-text explode Explodes strings of text into strokes
-text ignore Ignores strings of text in the DXF file
-nodim Suppress dimensions (those where AutoCAD has
created them using the *d block name).
-nohatch Suppress hatching (those where AutoCAD has used
the *h block for hatch lines).
-outline Polylines with width are transalted to an outline,
-acres X Arc resolution for translating arcs to lines.
Default value is 9 degrees but you can specify
rande from 2 degrees to 15 degrees.
-nonode Nodes are not translated.
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Detailed NotesBlocks - AutoCAD blocks are named groups of entities that can be reused. No such equivalent exists in ipf so the translator simply explodes the block. Blocks can contain other blocks; this is called nesting. dxf2all keeps exploding the nested blocks until only entities are left. A block can be inserted with scaling, rotation or mirroring.Units - An AutoCAD DXF file is essentially dimensionless. A line 10 units long could represent mils, inches, microns etc...This is why you should always specify the units of the DXF file when running the translation. Precision - AutoCAD stores all data values using double precision floating point numbers and users can specify the number of places that the DXF file will contain. The default is 6 places so a drawing in inches will have data to 0.000001 inch. However, the ipf format is in mils with data resolution to 0.001 inch. For critical applications such as importing microwave circuit layouts this may not be sufficient; one may wish to use a scale factor of 10 in order to obtain better precision. 3D Data - AutoCAD can create 3D data - dxf2all ignores all Z axis data and only translates X,Y coordinates. dxf2all does not support any of the new 3D entities in ACAD R13 that are based on ACIS. Text Styles, Fonts and Mapping - AutoCAD Text and ipf text are handled completely differenty and we have come up with a clever scheme to map them as closely as possible.
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This sequence will open the artwork screen.
The plot image will appear at the cursor. The Allegro operator needs to pick a location on the screen to place the plot on. Before placing the plot on the screen you can click middle mouse button to show options:
Most plots loaded are flat which means all the information is on one layer. Since the black pen is normally pen number 1 on the carousel, create a PEN1 subclass or rename an existing subclass to PEN1, and then load the plot into it.
One limitation is that elements in Allegro can be changed from one subclass to another, but they can't change class. For example, many DXF files convey information about the board outline. Allegro has a standard subclass "BOARD OUTLINE" but it is in class "BOARD GEOMETRY", and as mentioned elements in class "MANUFACTURING" can not be move to class "BOARD GEOMETRY".
One way to overcome the problem is to import GERBER data into Allegro, since GERBER files can be loaded into any subclass of any class. The problem then is that all text elements are broken to line elements and are not editable. However if this method is more useful in your environment then you should examine Artwork's DXF to GERBER translator.
Program version and date compiled: dxf2all V 1.00 May 13, 1996
name of the input file: p_56_05.dxf
command line: p_56_05.dxf ref.ipf -units IN -scale 1
run date and time: May 19, 1996 04:30:26
Info about the DXF file
Text Table (first 16 entries)
Number font height width
of String factor
Insertions
56 txt.shx .050 1
32 txt.shx .040 1
1 romans.shx .060 0.8
DXF Layer Table
Layer Name Color Number
solder 7
component 2
padmaster 3
Block Table
DR18
RND50
SQ50
SW75
RE60X50
Warnings and Errors
No warnings or errors reported
Singe User Node Locked License $995.00 Floating Network License Option $300.00 Media (4mm DAT, 1/4 QIC, or 8 mm)* $ 50.00 Printed Manual* $ 50.00
Your release should include: dxf2all program executable allplmsg.txt program message file txt.shx default SHX font file bench.ipf benchmark ipf file bench.dxf benchmark DXF file dxf2all.doc manual in ASCII format dxf2all.ps manual in Postscript Format (printing) dxf2all.manual.html manual in HTML format for Mosaic/Netscape INSTALL Unix Installation script NETMSG1 Text file for network licensing install NETMSG2 Text file for network licenseing install INSTALL_NETMGR Installation branch script for network licensing Activate Install executable for activating locked execs PROLOGUE Install text readme file hostinfo utility that returns hostid and hostname lserv Floating License daemon lsmon utility to test lserv show_vl script that show where and if lserv is running install.unix.txt Unix installation documentation in ascii
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