SAP2000 models may be exported to
AutoCAD
2012 as
Drawing
(DWG) files using the procedure which follows:
- Save the SAP2000 SDB file within the C:\Program Files\Computers and Structures\SAP2000 folder. This is where models must be saved for SAP2000 to perform operations.
The example model we will use for this demonstration contains at least one joint, one-joint link, two-joint link, frame, shell, and solid object, as shown in Figure 1:
Unknown macro: {center-text}Figure 1 - SAP2000 model for export
- Select File > Export > AutoCAD .dxf File, as shown in Figure 2:
Unknown macro: {center-text}Figure 2 - Select the DXF Export feature
- Select AutoCAD .DWG Files (*.DWG) from the 'Save as type' scroll-down menu, then save the model as a DWG file outside of the C:\Program Files\Computers and Structures\SAP2000 folder (Figure 3).
Unknown macro: {center-text}Figure 3 - Save SAP2000 model in DWG format
- The model will then be saved and available as a DWG file, located in the previously specified folder, as shown in Figure 4:
Unknown macro: {center-text}Figure 4 - DWG file
- Open the DWG file within AutoCAD, as shown in Figure 5:
Unknown macro: {center-text}Figure 5 - Open the DWG file within AutoCAD
- The SAP2000 model then opens within AutoCAD (Figure 6), and export to DWG format is complete.
NOTE: The model will initially open with an enlarged Top view in 2D. Select a corner of the ViewCube and then use the View > Orbit feature to adjust the 3D view and review the imported model.
Unknown macro: {center-text}Figure 6 - SAP2000 model as DWG within AutoCAD
Each type of SAP2000 object automatically transfers into a DWG layer, listed as follows:
SAP2000 object
DWG entity
Color
1
SpecialJoint
Cyan
2
Frame
Yellow
3
Link (one-point)
SpecialJoint
Cyan
4
Link (two-point)
NLLink
Green
5
3D Face
Red
6
Polyface Mesh
Magenta
See Also
- Import DWG to SAP2000 article
- Export SAP2000 to DXF article