Hi Michael,

The latest version of 3dmCurves2DXF is now processing both MoI v2 and v3 beta generated files successfully - I can now open any exported dxf files in Alibre and Rhino.

Many thanks for the super-fast response. :)

Cheers,
Hamish

Hi Michael G.

I just tried the download with MoI beta v3 and opened the dxf file into ViaCAD 2D/3D v8 just fine.

Thanks,

Michael T.

You're welcome Hamish, and thanks Brian and Michael T for testing it too!

- Michael

Hi Michael ..

I tried to unzip and install the latest version but get the message that there is a system error ...
I don't have zlib1.dll

I would like to try this but don't know where to go from here.

Will MoI 3 have the ability to export dxf files in the next beta?

cheers,
eric

Hi eric,

> I tried to unzip and install the latest version but get
> the message that there is a system error ...
> I don't have zlib1.dll

You would get that error if you tried to run the .exe file just directly from the .zip file without actually unzipping the whole thing. When you do that it the windows shell basically unzips just that one file to a temp directly and then tries to run it - but in order for the .exe to run correctly it needs all the files that are included in the .zip along with it to all be unzipped, not just that one file alone.

So try right-clicking on the .zip file and choose "Extract All..." from the context menu that pops up - that will then actually unzip all the contents of the zip file which has 4 files in it (including the zlib1.dll file which the error message mentions) and with those 4 files all together in a folder you can then double-click the .exe file and it should then run ok.

When you just double-click a zip file in windows explorer, you actually haven't really unzipped it yet, you're only getting a view of what is contained inside the .zip . In this case you need to really unzip it and get all the files in it extracted in order for it to work.

Please let me know if this still doesn't make sense or if you're still stuck.


> Will MoI 3 have the ability to export dxf files in the next beta?

I'm not exactly sure when it will happen, probably sometime during v3 but it does not seem likely to be in the very next beta though.

- Michael

Thanks Michael ..
Yes, that worked!
It seems to have converted properly and works in DraftSight.
This might well provide a simple and cheap way to work with MoI and dimension and note dwg files as a companion.
I'll welcome the day when I can do most of this within MoI but please continue to focus on MoI's modeling improvements.
cheers,
eric

Draftsight has fixed the dimensioning in paperspace issu, so it's more interesing now.
It is also possible to dimension isometric projections by changing the ucs (which is called ccs in draftsight I think) and using the "oblique" command on dimensions.

It also exports clean pdf without segmentation

Marc

I have just tried to convert my MOI file to dwf as described above and then opened it in DraftSight but I did not have the same successful result. Just a few splines are appearing in the drawing, nothing more.
I am now wondering if I have done something wrong.
I used the V3 beta, I have to do something particular with MOI before converting the file to dwf?

Matteo

Hi Matteo - that converter is only a simple conversion tool that translates curves in a 3DM file into a curves in a DXF file.

It does not process solids or surfaces or do hidden line removal to generate a full 2D drawing from a 3D object, so that particular tool just ignores any solids or surfaces that you have in the 3DM file.

I'm not quite sure from your description what it was exactly that you were trying to convert - was it a file that had all curves in it or were you trying to convert solids?

- Michael

Thanks Michael,

I’ve now understood the purpose of the converter. Yes, there are lot of solids and surfaces in the drawings. Overall then it would seem that I cannot export my model.

I was just looking for a way to import a 3DM file to DraftSlight in order to layout plan, elevations and some isometric views with a template.

In particular I was requested to show a wireframe view of the object and in MOI I could not find a way to do it, whence my issue. Importing the dwf could have been a solution.

Has someone came across the same problem and found a solution without recurring to commercial software (if not at least affordable software)? Thanks.

Matteo

Hi Matteo - if all you need is a wireframe and not an actual hidden line drawing, then you can duplicate all the edges of your solids into curve objects, then they would get processed by that converter program.

In order to duplicate them you need to select the edges, then use Copy (Ctrl+C) which puts them on to the clipboard as curves, then use Paste (Ctrl+V) to paste them into the current model. Keep in mind that this will produce a bunch of duplicated geometry.

The easiest way to select all edges is to use the Scene browser and go to the Types section, there is an entry there for "Edges" which you can use to target all edges and select them.

- Michael

Google Sketch can import dxf
take the version 6 it's free
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads/sketchup.html

or you can also export directly from Moi in skp format (sketchup)
And inside sketchup ask to show only structure (SelectionToy by Thomthom)
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=14975

Thanks Michael,
I tried and it works, only problem I need an hidden line drawing otherwise to messy. However, I found it a useful tip.

Thank you Frenchy as well, I am sure with Sketch Up is going to works, not sure about the free use of the software for commercial purpose, there is an endless debate on the web.

Hi Matteo, I do plan on working on a hidden-line drawing mechanism for MoI but currently you would need to use some other software to generate that for you.

One pretty inexpensive option for doing that is ViaCAD:
http://www.punchcad.com/c-12-consumer-cad.aspx

- Michael

Hi Michael, looking forward for the hidden-line drawing mechanism.

Thanks for the link, very good price and also it also serve my purpose with the layout/template. I will have a look at that. Thank you again.

< not sure about the free use of the software for commercial purpose,
of course the free version of Sktechup is not for commercial use ;)

I think Sketchup Free version is licensed for commercial work.

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=20842&p=175544&hilit=eula#p175544

not sure that was in 2009 ;)
Now it's
Google SketchUp
Home/Personal Use

Google SketchUp Pro
Professional Use

look the story ;)
https://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/forum/#!category-topic/sketchup/sketchup/nZl7g5rKW-0