This page contains an overview of DWG import and export capabilities of SAP2000.
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SAP2000 DWG Export
SAP2000 support export of DWG objects as described in the table below:
| SAP2000 Object | DWG Entity |
|---|---|---|
1 | Point | AcadPoint |
2 | Line | AcadLine |
3 | NLink (2 or 3 Points) | AcadLine |
4 | NLink (1 Point) | AcadPoint |
5 | Area | Acad3DFace |
6 | Solid | AcadPolyFaceMesh |
Note: If you try to export DWG file without AutoCAD installation then you get a warning message. It is normal. In SAP2000, we use ActiveX late binding and try to create AutoCAD objects. If we are not able to create them then its mean AutoCAD is not installed. But this is only done for AutoCAD DWG import/export, import from DXF and export to DXF does not require AutoCAD to be installed.
SAP2000 DWG Import
SAP2000 support import of DWG objects as described in the table below:
| DWG Entity | SAP2000 Objects |
|---|---|---|
1 | AcadPoint | Point |
2 | AcadLine | Line/NLink |
3 | Acad3DFace | Area |
4 | AcadDb3DSolid | Solid |
Note: Dwg Solid objects is different in import and export. AcadDb3DSolid easy to build in dwg file (good for import). AcadPolyMesh is good to know the coordinates (good for export).
Sample DWG files for Import
SAP2000 supports following AutoCAD2007 entities for solid import:
- Box
- Wedge
- Pyramid (or frustum)
- Extrusion of 3DFace - possible for all "3DFace" entities making a legal shell (four nodes)
Following three files have been used for the testing of above mentioned entities
- RoundSolids.dwg
- RoundSolids2.dwg
- SolidImporttest.dwg
Model "RoundSolids.dwg"
AutoCAD "3DFace" entities were converted to Solid by using command "Extrude". After performing ‘Rotate3D’ operation all solid entities were imported into SAP2000.
Model "RoundSolids2.dwg"
AutoCAD "3DFace" entities were converted to Solid by using command "Extrude".
Model "SolidImporttest.dwg"
Import of AutoCAD "3dSolid" entities (box, wedge and pyramid) in to SAP2000.
Attachments
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NOTE: While written for SAP2000, this article also applies to CSiBridge. |
Drawing (DWG) files may be imported from AutoCAD 2012 into SAP2000 using the procedure which follows:
Create and save a DWG model within AutoCAD. The example model we will use for this demonstration is shown in Figure 1:
Figure 1 - DWG model for import into SAP2000
DWG entities should be coordinated with SAP2000 objects such that they import as follows:
DWG entity
SAP2000 object
Color
1
Point
Cyan
2
Line
Yellow
3
Point
Link (one-point)
Cyan
4
Line
Link (two-point)
Green
5
3D Face
Red
6
N/A
N/A
Show if group editors NOTE: SAP2000 solid objects export to AutoCAD 2012 DWG as Polyface Mesh, and DXF as Polygon Mesh, but then 3D AutoCAD DWG entities (Polyface Mesh, Polygon Mesh, and 3D Solid) do not import into SAP2000 as solid objects.
Within SAP2000, select File > Import > AutoCAD .dxf File, as shown in Figure 2:
Figure 2 - Select the DXF Import feature
Info NOTE: AutoCAD must be installed on the desktop to import and export between SAP2000 and DWG. This is because DWG files are in binary format, which must be read and written using the functions available through the AutoCAD API.
Select DWG Files (*.DWG) from the scroll-down menu, then locate and double-click the DWG file for import into SAP2000, as shown in Figure 3:
Figure 3 - Select DWG file for import
Select the Global Up Direction and the Units, then select OK, as shown in Figure 4:
Figure 4 - Import specifications
Assign each type of SAP2000 object to a DWG layer (Figure 5). Each layer which occurs in the DWG file is listed in the scroll-down menu.
Figure 5 - Layer specifications
Select OK, then the DWG file will import as a SAP2000 model, as shown in Figure 6: 
Figure 6 - DWG file as SAP2000 model
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NOTE: DWG entities may not be imported into SAP2000 as solid objects. This feature was last available to SAP2000 V11.0.4. Related Emails:
Related Incidents:
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See Also
- Import DXF into SAP2000 article
- Export SAP2000 to DWG article