Converting auto cad dwg to chief architect

[designercats]

Hi

I found the info to convert a cad dwg  to chief but am unsure what layers to keep.

Can I convert them all? Or do I need to select only doors windows and walls?

 

[BryceEngstrom]

It depends on what, exactly, you are trying to accomplish.  DWG files do not "convert to Chief".  Chief is a 3d modeling program, not just a 2d CAD line editor.  You are just importing a DWG files, which is all just electronic lines which come in as the same in Chief.  On the off chance you are trying to import a 3d DWG file, that will just come in as on object (symbol).

 

If you are trying to convert a floor plan into a Chief 3d model, importing just the doors, windows, and walls can help by importing that floor plan, locking those layers, and then tracing over them with actual Chief 3d parametric walls, windows and doors.

 

Or, you can just doctor up the 2d CAD lines you have imported by using Chief's 2d CAD tools.

 

Anyway, that's all I can tell you without more specific information about what you are trying to do.

[Doug_N]

Just for the record, AutoCad is not a 2d program.  It generates a 3d database.  You can do a 3D version of a house in AutoCad.

[BryceEngstrom]

Yes, I understand that, just couldn't tell from your post whether you meant 2d or 3d, and I did mention the 3d DWG.  Even in 3d, the conversion into Chief completely loses all its parametric qualities.  You just have "dumb" 3d object.

[RL-inc]

The cad to walks tool has been used with mixed reviews.

Try a search.

[DavidJPotter]

The use of any tool in any software is based on the study of what it does, under what end user choices with an eye on what, exact outcome you wish. Read the section about this tool in your Reference Manual, then practice using it in test instances until you see the connection between your studied material and its successful application under your control. That is how you go from incompetence to competence.

 

DJP