I am trying to determine the minimum requirements for a DXF file that can be opened by Microstation.
I have some very simple DXF samples from the internet that I can view in freeware viewers. When I try to open with Microstation it says Unable to open design file. If I save a Microstation DGN with a single line in it to DXF format, I get a DXF file with 32,000 lines. Does anyone have a very simple DXF that Microstation will open I could use as a starting point or some advice on what Microstation requires in a DXF?
TIA,
Tim
Hi Tim,
tshoemaker said:I am trying to determine the minimum requirements for a DXF file that can be opened by Microstation.
Because MicroStation uses RealDWG library, developed by Autodesk itself, I think MicroStation has not any special / minimum requirement, other than defined by DXF format itself.
tshoemaker said:I have some very simple DXF samples from the internet that I can view in freeware viewers.
Can you share some as example (or to provide a link)? Maybe the problem is in DXF format version? You did not specify MicroStation version you use (please respect the best practices) and also what DXF version you tried.
tshoemaker said:If I save a Microstation DGN with a single line in it to DXF format, I get a DXF file with 32,000 lines.
If there are 32k lines, I do not believe it's "single line only". DXF, when all standard parts are written, is quite extensive, but it's still about 1000 lines at max.
tshoemaker said:or some advice on what Microstation requires in a DXF?
Check DXF format specification what definitions (sections) are expected in standard DXF file.
With regards,
Jan
Bentley Accredited Developer: iTwin Platform - AssociateLabyrinth Technology | dev.notes() | cad.point
I discovered that the samples that would not open were not including a color group code within a line entity. I added that and it now works. I am posting the contents of my minimum DXF in case it helps anyone else:
0SECTION 2HEADER 9$ACADVER 1AC1009 0ENDSEC 0SECTION 2TABLES 0ENDSEC 0SECTION 2BLOCKS 0ENDSEC 0SECTION 2ENTITIES 0LINE 80 628 10-0.5000 20-0.5000 300.000 110.5000 210.5000 310.000 0ENDSEC 0EOF
Hi tshoemaker,
I agree with Jan and ask, Can you provide both your MicroStation Version and DXF Version ($ACADVER)?
Both version details can be critical towards understanding your ability to open a DXF (text) file.
If you are able to share a sample .DXF others on the community may also help verify if there is a problem opening it.
HTH,Bob