Data Exchange Format (DXF) files may be imported from AutoCAD 2012 into SAP2000 using the procedure which follows:

1. Create and save a DXF model within AutoCAD. The example model we will use for this demonstration is shown in Figure 1:
   
   
   

   Figure 1 - DXF model for import into SAP2000

   
   
   
   

2. DXF entities should be coordinated with SAP2000 objects such that they import as follows:
   
   
   

   
   
   
   

3. Within SAP2000, select File > Import > AutoCAD .dxf File, as shown in Figure 2:
   
   
   

   Figure 2 - Select the DXF Import feature

   
   
   
   

   
   
   

4. Verify that DXF Files (*.DXF) is selected from the scroll-down menu, then locate and double-click the DXF file for import into SAP2000, as shown in Figure 3:
   
   
   

   Figure 3 - Select DXF file for import

   
   
   
   

5. Select the Global Up Direction and the Units, then select OK, as shown in Figure 4:
   
   
   

   Figure 4 - Import specifications

   
   
   
   

6. Assign each type of SAP2000 object to a DXF layer (Figure 5). Each layer which occurs in the DXF file is listed in the scroll-down menu.
   
   
   

   Figure 5 - Layer specifications

   
   
   
   

7. Select OK, then the DXF file will import as a SAP2000 model, as shown in Figure 6:
   
   
   

   Figure 6 - DXF file as SAP2000 model

   
   
   

See Also