Search the Community

I’m a longtime reader and cad user, yet first time poster. I have dabbled with creating list routines in the past but it’s been many years. So, it makes more sense for me to search and inquire with those skilled in the arts of lisp creation and object manipulation. I know Lee Mac has done many fine routines with regard to this, but I can’t quite find what I seek. I routinely receive Illustrator drawings that I must export to ACAD. In Illustrator, objects typically have a Stroke and a Fill. When converted to dwg the resulting file has many objects all on “Layer 1” (some are hatch patterns, most are splines or polylines). Some have true color values (RGB) assigned to the objects, others might be indexed, and still some are set to “by layer”. Sometimes, the resulting objects are in a block in the dwg. I usually explode the block to get to the base elements before processing. I would like a routine that explodes the blocks (nested or otherwise), takes all of the objects based on their color values and moves them to a created layer appropriately named with the value, and color based on the value. Then the objects on the layer set back to “By layer”. Additionally, Hatches to be on layer signified with Hatch in the name, and linework­ on a layer with Linework in the name. (This is for filtering purposes so I can choose to see only hatches, or only linework) Example layer names: “Hatch – (1)”, “Linework – (1)”, “Hatch – (237 28 38)”, “Linework – (237 28 38)”, Further, Objects with color 0,0,0 are typically white in color and should be set to 255,255,255. Black objects 0,0,1 should be 0,0,0. Purge at the end to remove excess unneeded items. I believe a lisp routine that could do all this should be fairly straightforward to many of the lisp guru’s in here. I am also open to other suggested routines that anyone might know of to aid with processing Illustrator converted dwg’s to streamlined and efficient AutoCAD drawings. I have attached a DWG for reference exported from Illustrator. It also includes an attached Image for reference. Ultimately in the end, I isolate linework. Sometimes convert spline to polylines and then trim away overlapping lines to produce clean outlines and hatches without all the overlapping elements, etc. I cannot be the only person that has sought routines for processing dwg conversions from Illustrator in the timeliest manner. I often spend a great deal of time “cleaning up” these converted files. Thanks for any assistance. TigerHead.dwg

Hi, I am trying to convert a dwg to eps format for use with Adobe Illustrator. I've tried exporting as eps and using conversion software but the output is incomplete and of poor quality with both these options. Does anyone know how I can get a like for like output.? Thanks Al

Hey guys, I am working on a project where I am attempting to design a pendant. I wanted to do this in solidworks but I am not as experience with that and I'm having issues, so I went to what I know, AutoCAD. Unfortunately I am still having problems and I think it has to do with the import file from Adobe illustrator. What I have is a circle with different parts and block text that I would like to cut out. I saved the illustrator file to a dwg file and it imported with a hatch over all the solid areas. I deleted that to get the respective outlines, and extruded. Most loops extruded but some failed to do so for some reason. But I have an option to convert to a pline, but then I get a specify precision dialog which adds a bunch of points along what seems to be a straight line. Anyway, when I do manage to get things extruded, and go to perform the subtract command (or intersect which would be faster) I click the main shape, and then click the items I would like to remove, but it doesnt do anything. I have no idea what the problem is. Does anyone have experience with this? I did get one whole to subtract, but I really dont know the difference between that and the others that made it work. (P.S. If anyone has experience with solid works, I imagine this would be the same process. But I can get the outlines to appear, and extrude the outside shape, but I can't figure out how to get the inner holes to cut out.) Unashamed2.dwg

I'm doing some floor plans in autocad and need to export them to illustrator or photoshop, but whatever I do, however I plot in autocad, the image always looses quality...the lines get thicker, I can't even see the dashed and dotted lines. I've tried exporting to EPS, dwg, pdf, but I keep getting the same result. I'm new to autocad and I don't know if this information is useful but I'll write it anyway...I'm drawing a floor plan which is 35mX6,5m big. I will be printing a layout of all my floor plans, sections ect. in 1:100 scale on a panel which is 1,9mX98cm. Can anyone please give me some advice on how to do this properly? Thank you

I only have a tiny macbook right now, and I need a more powerful desktop to run programs like AutoCAD 2011 (3d), SketchUp, CS5, and eventually Revit, and 3ds Max. I am a student, and I don't have ton of money to spend, but I do want something that will run these programs smoothly. I was thinking about building a computer, but I'm not even sure where to begin. Any suggestions as to where to look? My dad keeps telling me to just go to Best Buy, LOL