Tag / importing

by mikechristenson

3DS Max Design: Importing and Linking Models.

Linking from Revit. Linked Revit models are connected to their source file and will reflect updates made to that source. To import an existing Revit model into a 3DS scene:

  1. Choose Application menu > Import > Link Revit. (The Application menu is in the far upper-left corner of the screen.)
  2. Navigate to the Revit file, select it, and click Open.
  3. In the Manage Links dialog box, click on the Presets tab. Select the appropriate Preset (e. g., combine by material or category).
  4. Click on the Attach tab.
  5. To set the initial view (optional), click Revit View.
  6. Click Attach this file.
  7. In the Daylight System Creation dialog box, click Yes if you wish to adjust the parameters for the Daylight System. Otherwise, click No. (You can return to this option later by choosing Create > Lights > Daylight System.)
  8. Close the Manage Links dialog box. (You can return to the Manage Links dialog box at any time by choosing Application Menu > References > Manage Links.)

Linking from AutoCAD.

  1. Choose Application menu > Import > Link AutoCAD. (The Application menu is in the far upper-left corner of the screen.)
  2. Navigate to the AutoCAD file, select it, and click Open.
  3. In the Manage Links dialog box, click on the Presets tab. Select the appropriate Preset (e. g., DWG File Saved from AutoCAD).
  4. Click on the Attach tab.
  5. If you wish to import only selected layers, click the Select Layers to include button and make selections.
  6. Click Attach this file.
  7. Close the Manage Links dialog box. (You can return to the Manage Links dialog box at any time by choosing Application Menu > References > Manage Links.)

Importing a Generic .dwg file.

Use this procedure when importing a .dwg file created by any application other than AutoCAD. (You can also use this procedure with AutoCAD-created .dwg files if you wish to exclude the possibility of linking your model.)

  1. Choose Application menu > Import > Import. (The Application menu is in the far upper-left corner of the screen.)
  2. Navigate to the .dwg file, select it, and click Open.
  3. In the AutoCAD DWG/DXF Import Options dialog box, make any necessary changes to import options, or allow them to remain unchanged (default settings).
  4. Click OK.

Importing from Rhino or Sketchup. 3DS Max cannot direclty import models in Rhino (.3dm) or Sketchup (.skp) formats. However, if you save your model as a .dwg file, it can be imported using the procedure described above.

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by mikechristenson

AutoCAD: Importing and Exporting

TO EXPORT A MODEL OR DRAWING FROM AUTOCAD:

AutoCAD offers a small number of writeable file formats. The most versatile and useful of these are the DWG and DXF formats. Use AutoCAD’s SAVEAS command to export your AutoCAD work in several versions of these formats. (Note, for example, that some software cannot read a 2010 DWG or a 2013 DWG file, so that you may need to SAVEAS a 2007 DWG file to ensure legibilty.)

AutoCAD’s WBLOCK (Write Block) command is useful if you want to export just part of a drawing or model to a new DWG file.

AutoCAD’s EXPORT command is minimally useful: it allows you to export your AutoCAD information in one of a few non-AutoCAD formats.

 

TO IMPORT A MODEL OR DRAWING TO AUTOCAD:

To get the best results for importing vector information to AutoCAD, the vector information should be previously saved in the DWG or DXF format. Most modeling and drawing software (Rhino, SketchUp, Revit, Illustrator) can write information in one or both of these formats. Use AutoCAD’s File > Open command to open files of either type (DWG or DXF).

AutoCAD also has an IMPORT command which is minimally useful in opening files of non-AutoCAD format.

Edit > Paste can be of use in specific situations when copying and pasting vector information from one document to another.

by mikechristenson

Rhino: Importing and Exporting

TO EXPORT A MODEL OR DRAWING FROM RHINO:

Choose File > Export Selected or File > Export With Origin to save information in AutoCAD, Illustrator, Sketchup, .stl, and many other file formats.

File > Export With Origin is useful if you want to keep models registered (i. e., correctly aligned) between two or more software applications.

 

TO IMPORT A MODEL OR DRAWING TO RHINO:

To import a model means to place it within an existing model. Choose File > Import to import an existing digital model or drawing (AutoCAD, Illustrator, SketchUp). Make sure to select the correct file type.

You can also use File > Open to open an existing digital model in Rhino. Make sure to select the correct file type.

NOTE: Rhino will not directly open or import a Revit model. To open or import Revit information to Rhino, use AutoCAD as an intermediary.