Import or Paste AutoCad Drawings

I'm relatively new to Xara.
I'm attempting to make single product sheets that contain text and drawings. The 2D drawings are created in AutoCad. I would like to import or paste drawings directly from AutoCad. Any ideas?
Currently I'm printing the AutoCad drawings to a pdf file and then paste the pdf into Xara. The only problem with this method is that the white background stays with the line drawings. I don't want the white space around the pdf to be visable in Xara because I'm pasting the drawings onto a colored background in Xara.

Sounds like you've found a usable work-around :)
Can't you simply delete the white background?
You may have to ungroup the drawing first, or check the layers gallery, often imported PDF's have a number of layers. You might be able to delete the layer that contains the white bg.

Hi Cmac,

There is several solutions to get Autocad and Xara speaking the same tongue.
Pdf printing in Autocad is fast, but arcs becomes segmented in the process, it all depends on the end quality you want.


Here's two ways:

1-Ai path export in Autocad then import in Xara.

2-Dxf Export with Autocad, open Dxf with "openOffice Draw", create PDF File (Draw will generate a smooth curve file), Import in Xara.

Hope this will help :)

coco

I think that whether or not you get the white background, may depend on a number of factors.

I use AutoCad 2000i with a standard black background (but since I don't use white backgrounds, I couldn't tell you how that works), and print to PDF's using PDF995 freeware. I don't get any background in the PDF's and so can easily use coloured backgrounds from Xara. I also don't notice any of the segmenting of arcs that coco seems to get. This may well depend on how good the PDF generator is. However I have noticed on some imports that the text gets segmented - may depend on the fonts used.

All that said, I am quite happy with the end results and it is a simple import with no intermediate steps.

Enclosed file is PDF imported directly into Xara with no intermediate steps - Xara background changed to orange - The white "mask" is a background mask used in AutoCad to separate parts of the original drawing for use in Plot Plans (Obviously confidential information has been removed). See if it meets your requirements.

I noticed you said "paste" to Xara. Try importing the PDF instead of pasting.

I can import pdf's into Xara and they come in without any white background. However, the pdf's (that are originally created in AutoCad) have shading and in some cases the shading bleeds out over the line drawings when imported into Xara. Given that this does not happen in every case, it may have something to do with the original AutoCad file.
As a work-around, I've been changing the white background (from pasted pdf's) to match the color of my Xara background. Interestingly, pasted pdf's don't bleed like imported ones.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

Actually, the easiest thing for me would have been to just copy (ctrl+C) from Autocad and paste directly in Xara as a vector image or metafile. By doing that, you can ungroup the drawing, edit, and or scale it however you need it. I've never had to export anything out of autocad and into xara.:)

What version of AutoCad are you using. Copy and paste has never worked for me from AutoCad to Xara?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ss-kalm

What version of AutoCad are you using. Copy and paste has never worked for me from AutoCad to Xara?

---

Profound Apologies ........ Nasgue!

Re-trying copy (Ctrl-C) in AutoCad and pasting into Xara as a Enhanced metafile actually works just fine. You're right - It's much easier than worrying about conversions.

But metafiles are a very loose interpretation of the original.

Agreed, But if you need an exact version of an AutoCad Drawing, why are you trying to use it in Xara? If it has to be exact then keep it in AutoCad

I believe the reason you import autocad stuff it in to Xara is to add some additional graphics like color or gradient that are difficult to obtain in Autocad.

If your intent is for printing, you need at least good resolution and smooth curves.

Regards,

Marc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by coco

I believe the reason you import autocad stuff it in to Xara is to add some additional graphics like color or gradient that are difficult to obtain in Autocad.

If your intent is for printing, you need at least good resolution and smooth curves.

Regards,

Marc

---

I see your point. I have only imported basic shapes and designs into Xara, for completion as a Xara drawing. I agree importing a full AutoCad drawing with door swings and fixtures etc. is actually FAR from acceptable. Anything that includes any sort of curve is very poor. For that I would print a pdf file from the AutoCad and import into Xara accordingly. It's still not perfect, but it will normally suffice.

Lets face it AutoCad is a vector application - a .dwg import into Xara would be nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ss-kalm

Lets face it AutoCad is a vector application - a .dwg import into Xara would be nice.

---

That surely would be a hot feature.

I found out that when you imports segmented arcs from PDF, you can select the object, select all points and do some smoothing with the slider, which generally turns out not so bad.

Regards,

Marc

While I too would like to import dxf files into Xara, I came across this method for Autocad users.

I don't use Autocad so I haven't been able to try this myself but this may be a possible solution if the .eps file Autocad creates are true arcs.

The .eps file I created gave me a warning in Xtreme but it came through albeit with all lines in black.

How to export a drawing to EPS format
Answer Use the _PSOUT command in Autocad and write your drawing to an .EPS format file (enacapsulated postscript).
Using Tools/Options in the EPS dialog you can set scale, preview type and other parameters.

Cheers

Dahzee

What about giving the layer with the cad file on it transparency of stained glass, that gets rid of the white. The colours do change a bit but it may be OK.

I need help with exporting to scale for graphic overlays.

Here is my method from the start: I design the precise geometry in CAD, e.g., the instrument panel where mounting holes, edges, and LED windows are located. This is when the outer size of a graphic component is decided. Then I plot to a PDF at 1:1 scale. In XX, I import the PDF for editing and place the outline in the guidelines layer. Then draw.

The next step is the kicker because I need to provide my graphic overlay supplier with a non-XX file format. The trouble is validating that the export data precisely matches the intended size and location, i.e., the graphics features are placed at the locations specified in CAD. I print the XX file and it gives me the results I expect. But, when I open exported files I create with XX; like PDF, EPS, JPG, etc... I get scaled versions of the original.

Help!

I don't want to pay the supplier an art charge.

SW

Could you attach a file so we can see what it is you are trying to achieve.

I daily import CAD created PDF's and have no problems with adding additional elements in Xtreme and then exporting them 100% of the original size.

Thanks

Dahzee