CompuServe Thread

#.DXF -> .SKD (?)

6 messages in this thread
#22261From: Peter PettoApr 26, 1988 1:17 PM
#.DXF -> .SKD (?) — declared parent_msg_num=(none), resolved parent_id points to #(none)
Is there any way to use AutoSketch to work on files originally generated in AutoCAD? (It sure seems like that "oughta be" possible!)
#22274From: Tim WorleyApr 26, 1988 8:53 PM
#22261-#.DXF -> .SKD (?) — declared parent_msg_num=22261, resolved parent_id points to #22261
Peter; I'm not an AutoCAD user, but I have used AutoSketch for some time now. The problem will be that AutoSketch cannot read .DXF files, it can only generate them. I guess that AutoDesk's thoughts were that ASketch files could be loaded into ACAD through the .DXF format (reverse of what you're asking). I'm sure that there would also be problems with the fact that AutoCAD can generate a lot of 'stuff' that AutoSketch has no way of handling. Nonetheless, I an still a confirmed believer in AutoSketch. –Tim
#22279From: Peter PettoApr 26, 1988 11:26 PM
#22274-#.DXF -> .SKD (?) — declared parent_msg_num=22274, resolved parent_id points to #22274
I understand that the opposite of what I asked about is available. And for the most part, SKD to DXF conversion (that is AutoSketch to AutoCAD) is what I'm looking for. I'm an occasional user, and AutoSketch is all I really need. If I sketch up the "gist" of an idea, it's great to pass my work to our engineer who can snazz things up with all the facilities that AutoCAD offers. But from time to time he may generate something that I want to touch up. (In the case at hand it is a simple map of how to get to our plant from major highways — all simple stuff that AutoSketch can handle.) It would make sense to me that AutoSketch ought to be able to read DXF files. In the case where DXF files contain elements unavailable in AutoSketch, these elements would simply be ignored, and an appropriate warning would be displayed. I've seen this framework for conversion applied in a variety of spreadsheet and word-processing format conversion programs. I like to see symmetry and I don't like to see "one-way" conversion facilities. Thanks for your reply.
#22286From: Tim WorleyApr 27, 1988 8:29 AM
#22279-.DXF -> .SKD (?) — declared parent_msg_num=22279, resolved parent_id points to #22279
Peter; I can see what you'd like to do — certainly makes sense. AutoDesk seems to have big plans for AutoSketch (with the Team1), and I've talked to them recently, and they claim to have BIG enchancements in the works for the next two releases of Sketch. Sounds like something to add to the wish list — Jamie are you listening? –Tim
#22289From: Jamie Clay [Adesk]Apr 27, 1988 9:10 AM
#22279-#.DXF -> .SKD (?) — declared parent_msg_num=22279, resolved parent_id points to #22279
Peter, DXFIN is on the wish list for future versions of AutoSketch. You guys covered most of the reasons it isn't there now. AutoSketch would have to remove much of the information that an AutoCAD drawing can contain (Layer names, text styles, solids, 3d entities and so on). You could end up with less of a drawing. Jamie
#22311From: Peter PettoApr 27, 1988 3:58 PM
#22289-.DXF -> .SKD (?) — declared parent_msg_num=22289, resolved parent_id points to #22289
It's good to know that DXF-in is on the wish list — please accept my encouragement to do whatever is necessary to put it near enough to the top of the list that it actually ends up in the next version. I understand that fancy AutoCAD information wouldn't make it to AutoSketch. But if the drawing is kept "simple" an exchange such as: here's my idea…here I detailed it, is it OK…yes except for these two things that I corrected and one thing I forgot…(and so on) becomes possible. The advantage of this possibility is apparent. Anyhow, thanks for listening.