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Export

Export to DXF and DWG (AutoCAD) is possible only in VideoCAD Professional

Common scale (unit/m, unit/ft.)

Common scale of exporting drawing. The scale can be set in AutoCAD unit per meter (or foot) on the VideoCAD layout.

When the background in AutoCAD DXF or DWG format is used and Add to DXF/DWG background checkbox is checked, then the Common scale is determined by the background file and can't be changed.

Resolution (m. or ft.)

Resolution is the accuracy of export. Objects having sizes smaller than the set resolution could be exported with errors. In most cases the resolution of 0.005m (0.5 cm) is optimal. For big size drawings (kilometers) the export with such resolution can lead to errors. In this case, it is needed to increase resolution and repeat export.

The Resolution influences on all constructions only during Simplified export. When the Simplified export is not checked, the precision doesn't depend on the Resolution and always maximal.

Sizes (unit)

As the export is usually executed with resolution, different form the screen resolution, it is necessary to adjust the size of nonscalable objects. In case of nonscalable objects become too small or too big in the exporting file.

Sizes (unit)

Camera icon, Illuminator icon (unit)

In the boxes you can specify sizes of camera and illuminator nonscalable icons in AutoCAD units.

See also: Scale.

Sizes (unit)

Nonscalable fonts, Hatch and dash lines

In the boxes you can specify scale factors for Nonscalable fonts (unit/point), Hatch and dash lines. The factor for Hatch and dash lines also applied for arrows.

Sizes (unit)

Line weight unit/pixel

In the box the scale factor of line weights is specified in units of line weight in AutoCAD divided by pixel of line weight on the screen.

This option is not used when the Simplified export is checked.

Insert rastrer images

Insert in the obtained vector file the raster inserts (raster background, projections of 3D models). If you are exporting to DXF or DWG format, then add links to external raster files and copy the raster files themselves to a separate sub-directory named <export file name> _img in the directory of export.

This option is not used when the Simplified export is checked.

Add to DXF/DWG background

If  background in DXF or DWG format is used and this checkbox is checked, the exported file will be a copy of the background with cameras and constructions added on separate layers.

If  background in DXF or DWG format is used and this checkbox is not checked, then a new file with cameras and constructions will be created. This file will include a link (XREF) to the background file in DWG format. The background in DWG format will be saved in the subdirectory <export file name> _img in the directory of export.

This option works only when the background in AutoCAD DXF or DWG format is used and when exporting to AutoCAD DXF or DWG format.

This option doesn't work when the Simplified export is checked.

If the Add to DXF/DWG background checkbox is checked, then the Common scale is determined by the background file and can't be changed.

Simplified export

Simplified export gives the worst result and it is left only as a legacy tool.

All cameras and constructions splits into separate lines, parts of cameras are not combined into blocks, the structure of the background is broken. Filling of the view areas is not saved, it can be saved as hatching. When the shadows is enabled, view areas with shadows are not saved.

Simplified export is possible to DXF format only. Resolution is limited by the value in the Resolution combo box.

While simplified export layers of VideoCAD is not saved, but export file will be multi-layers. In obtained  *.dxf file there will be the following layers:

Raster objects (projections of 3D models) are saved in the form of rectangles.

During the simplified export the following options don't work:

View areas on special layers

If the checkbox is checked, then in the obtained AutoCAD file, in addition to each VideoCAD layer, VC_ <layer name> a special layer VC_ <layer name> view areas is created. On the special layer fillings of camera view area projections are drawn. After opening the file in AutoCAD, it’s convenient to adjust transparency of the fills through the transparency of the special layers. If the checkbox is not checked, then special layers are not created, and the view area projections are drawn on the same layers VC_ <layer name> as cameras.

High resolution on top

If the checkbox is checked, then in the obtained AutoCAD file regions with high pixel density will be drawn over regions with low pixel density. In addition, each camera will consist of several blocks. If the checkbox is not checked, then each camera will consist of one block, but regions with high pixel density can be obscured by regions of other cameras with low pixel density.

See also for the Screen: High resolution on top.

Vector PDF

On the panel you can adjust options for export to vector PDF:

To change page orientation, invert Width and Height.

On the Line weight tab you can enable exporting weights of lines, adjust the scale of the line weight and specify weight for zero-weight lines.

Parameters on the left side of the DXF,DWG,PLT,CGM,SWF,vPDF sub-tab also  have an influence on vector PDF.

Scale factor

Unlike DXF,DWG,PLT,CGM,SWF,vPDF, the scale is not related to drawing size (in meter or foot), it is related to screen size only.

Common scale

Common scale of exporting drawing relatively layout size on the screen.

Camera icon, Illuminator icon, Nonscaleable fonts and hatches.

In the boxes you can specify scale factors of nonscalable Camera icon, Illuminator icon, Nonscaleable fonts.

See also: Scale.

Raster PDF

On the panel there are tools for export to raster PDF.

To change page orientation, invert Width and Height.

Parameters on the left side of the BMP,WMF,EMF,GIF,TIF,PNG,JPG,PDF sub-tab also  have an influence on raster PDF.

An alternative way to export to *.pdf is to print to a virtual printer, which produces printing result as a PDF file. In this method, the weight and color of lines, fonts will match the values ​​specified for printing.

CSV format separator

In the box you can specify the separator char used in exporting Table of cameras and Table of camera models to  *.csv file.

Export to COLLADA works only in VideoCAD Professional.

On the tab, you can configure the parameters for exporting selected cameras, constructions and 3D models to a 3D file in COLLADA format.

Unit

In the box, you can select the unit of size in the COLLADA file.

Double sided surfaces

If checked, then all surfaces are exported two-sided. This may be needed to correctly display the COLLADA file in programs that require double-sided surfaces, such as SketchUP. The file with double-sided surfaces is larger and takes longer to process. The camera coverage remains one-sided. If you see artifacts after importing the exported file, try changing this option.

Export coverage of camera view areas

On the panel, you can configure export of coverage by camera view areas on surrounding objects. The coverage can significantly increase file size and processing time.

Export coverage

You can disable export of the camera coverage, enable export of coverage for the active camera only, or export the coverage of all cameras.

Coverage resolution

Select coverage resolution. The minimum resolution is recommended. The higher the resolution, the larger file size and processing time.

Include Background

Include the background in the export result.

Include Grid

Include the grid in the export result.

See also: Export selection to 3D file COLLADA