Configuration Datasets

DRAW Reference Manual

Plotting and Drawing Output : LIEXEC Command (configurable DXF format) : Configuration Datasets

It is possible to control the format of DXF and DWG output using configuration datasets. The configuration dataset controls how the database information is to be mapped into DXF format. It does the following:

•

Controls how DRAW graphics are to be grouped as AutoCAD Block and Group definitions.

•

Allows database attribute information to be exported from DRAW as AutoCAD Block attributes.

•

Enables database elements to be assigned to AutoCAD layers.

The export application can be executed using the LIEXEC command.

Note:

Mappings of annotation to AutoCAD layers is not controlled by the configuration, but is translated directly from E3D DRAW Visual Layers.

Configurable DXF Output

The following example command uses the configuration data set ’MyConfigData’ to control the export of DXF information:

LIEXEC /Draft_DXF_LI ’DXFOUTR24’ ConfigData ’MyConfigData’

This will create a DXF file with a name and format defined in the specified dataset for the current picture element (e.g. SHEE, SYLB, etc.). Before giving the above command, the configuration dataset must have been defined in DRAW by typing in the configuration data at the command line or by reading in a predefined macro file.

Three example macro files are provided:

default_dxf.mac

Defines the default configuration settings.

full_dxf.mac

Defines a sample set of configuration settings to produce fully -blocked, layered DXF files closely mapped to the DRAW Sheet exported.

Note:

Blocking commands for Design graphics in this file are only intended as an example, and may require modification to suit your own requirements.

Layers can be created with all the properties and exported. New switches can be added to create new layers for Model elements and set their properties. These can be exported with all applied properties to DXF and DWG format.

graphics_dxf.mac

Defines a configuration for graphics only DXF files, minimal in size, which can be imported into some systems, which do not support full AutoCAD DXF file format.

The configuration options may be overridden by LIEXEC command line options; in particular the Outputfilename switch would normally be overridden by an LIEXEC option. For example:

LIEXEC /Draft_DXF_LI 'DXFOUT24' CONFIGDATA
'MyConfigData' OutputFileName '%PDMSUSER%/new.dxf'

It is also possible to omit the CONFIGDATA, in which case the default values of all the switches will be assumed and no blocking will take place. However, in such a case a DXF header file must be specified; for example

LIEXEC /Draft_DXF_LI 'DXFOUT' HeaderFileName 'header.dxf'

Configurable DWG Output

The following example command uses the configuration data set 'MyConfigData' to control the export of DWG information. The format of the configuration data set is identical to that for DXF output.

LIEXEC /Draft_DWG_LI 'R15' ConfigData 'MyConfigData'


'R15' indicates the AutoCAD version number, and can be one of the following:
'R13'
'R14'
'R15'	for 2000, 2002
'R18'	for versions 2004, 2005, 2006
'R21'	for versions 2007, 2008, 2009 (R22 and R23 may also be used) for these versions
'R24'	for AutoCAD 2010
'DWGOUT'	for a "default" DWG version, currently 2006, but this may change for future releases

Configuration Datasets

A DRAW Configuration Dataset is made up of a series of switches and Blocking rules. The {configuration options} will contain the BLOCK and SWITCH syntax that control the content of the DXF file produced. Refer toSwitches and BLOCK Rules to Control DXF and DWG Export for a full list of the switches and their permissible and default values.


Example:
SWITCH GroupGLAB ON Group GLABS into AutoCAD groups SWITCH HeaderFileName 'header.dxf' Specify the DXF header file name

The switch names are case-independent, but are shown as mixed case here to aid legibility.

Blocks

Standard selection syntax is used to define Blocking Rules. These specify how design elements are to be organised into DXF Blocks. Attributes can be included in block definitions.


Example:
BLOCK ALL STRU, INCLUDE NAME BLOCK ALL BRAN WITH ( HBOR GE 100 OR TBOR GE 100 ) , INCLUDE NAME SPREF

Elements that can be blocked are:

SITE, ZONE, STRU, SUBS, FRMW, SBFR, EQUI, SUBE, PIPE, BRAN, HVAC, REST.

Other Commands

Other commands related to this facility are:


LILIST	Lists features of application(s) loaded by LILOAD/LIEXEC.
DLICON	Defines a named set of configuration options. For example: DLICON {configuration options} EXIT

The datasets currently defined within DRAW can be determined by:

DLICON LIST

The definition of a specific dataset can be determined by:

DLICON name DUMP

The value of a specific switch within a dataset can be determined by:

DLICON name CHECK SWITCH switchname

Whether or not there is a blocking rule applicable to a specified Design element can be determined by:

DLICON name CHECK BLOCK element_identifier

The user is able to define layer rules using MATCH / MATCHWILD expressions in config data:


Example:
LAYER ALL ZONE WITH ( MATCHWILD ( ATTRIB NAME, 'CIVI' ) ), \|03CONCRETE\|