Exporting RockPlot2D Images to a DXF Format

RockPlot2D File | Export | DXF
or
RockWorks | Graphics | 2D Tools | Export | DXF

Use this program to save an existing Rw2D image in a DXF (AutoCAD-compatible Data eXchange Files) format.

Note: This program only support export to the following, generic DXF commands:

• LINE
• LWPOLYLINE
• MTEXT
• POLYLINE
• TEXT

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
DXF Limitations

Menu Options

• Input File: (in the Graphics | 2D Tools | Export | DXF program only) Click to the right to browse for the name of the existing Rw2D file to be exported.
• Diagram Type
  • Map: Choose this option if your RockPlot2D file contains a map image.
    • Projection: Choose the coordinate system represented by the map coordinates. The default setting should be the system stored in the RW2D file.
    • Vertical / Elevation (Z) Units: Select the units represented by the Z (elevation) values.
  • Log, Profile, or Section: Choose this option if your RockPlot2D file contains a cross-section, profile, or striplog diagram.
    • Units: Choose Feet or Meters to indicate the units represented in the diagram.
  • Chart: Choose this option if your RockPlot2D file contains a graph or chart, such as a ternary diagram or stereonet.
  • Unknown: Choose this option if your file contains none of the above.
• DXF Options: Click this tab to establish scaling, layer, and other DXF settings.
  • Scaling Options: Use these options to set up the output image scaling.
    • Original Coordinates: Choose this if the output DXF file is to maintain the same units as the RockWorks diagram. Be warned that if the RockWorks diagram encompasses thousands of units, that may be interpreted as thousands of inches in the DXF-reading application. If you choose to maintain original coordinates, be sure that the destination application will allow re-scaling of the image.
      • Vertical Exaggeration: This represents the vertical stretch of the diagram and should default to that which was saved in the image. You can enter a different value if you wish.
    • Rescale: Choose this option if you want your RockWorks map or diagram to be rescaled during export. Most CAD programs use an inch-based scaling system, such that a RockWare map comprised of 40,000 map units (say, feet) along the x and y axes would be 40,000 inches wide and tall when imported via DXF into the CAD application (1" = 1 unit). Not very practical.
      • Scale factors: Use these settings to establish the desired horizontal and vertical scaling factors (the number of map or diagram units to be represented per inch in the CAD system) for the output DXF file. For example, if you entered "1000" in both the Horizontal and Vertical prompts, the plot file would be translated to DXF such that 1000 units would occupy 1 inch in the CAD application. Tip: Don't know the range of your map coordinates? Use the RockPlot toolbar reference coordinates to view the X,Y coordinates at any location on the plot that you point to with your mouse.
        • Horizontal: Enter the horizontal (x) scale here in terms of how many map or diagram units are to be represented by one inch in the CAD system:
          1" in CAD = ? Horizontal RockWorks Diagram Units.
        • Vertical: Enter the vertical (y) scale here in terms of how many map or diagram units are to be represented by one inch in the CAD system.
          1" in CAD = ? Vertical RockWorks Diagram Units.
      • Origin Coordinates: If you will be importing your RockWare graphic into an existing project at a different scale than real world, your lower left corner (or origin) may not be 0,0. By entering a specific numeric value for the x and y origin of the diagram, you can achieve an offset for the entire graphic.
        • Origin-X: Enter the new easting coordinate, in the new coordinate system, for the left edge of the diagram.
        • Origin-Y: Enter the new northing coordinate, in the new coordinates system, for the base of the diagram.
    • Pattern Densities: Use these settings to change the density of the pattern lines as they are sent to the DXF file.
      • Horizontal Scalar: Set this to 1.0 to export the patterns at the density that's shown in the RockPlot window.
        If you find that this is too dense when you view the file in your CAD program, use a value > 1.0.
        If you find that this is too coarse, use a value < 1.0.
      • Vertical Scalar: You can use the same value as you entered for the horizontal density, above. Or, if you are exporting at a large vertical exaggeration you can vary the horizontal and vertical densities. The greater the number you enter, the less dense the pattern will appear in the output. If you are compensating for a large vertical exaggeration in a cross section diagram, for example, you may want to make the vertical scalar a smaller value than the horizontal scalar.
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  • Default Pen Color: All of the items within a RockPlot graphic should already have a color assigned to them; they will be translated automatically to AutoCAD's palette of colors during the DXF export. This setting permits you to establish a default color for the graphic you are exporting. The color you choose will be used for any items you add to the drawing once imported into the CAD or drawing system.
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  • Layers: Use these options to establish DXF layer settings.
    • Combined (One Layer): Click in the Combined radio button if all components of the RockWorks map or diagram are to be read by the destination application as a single layer.
      • Layer Name: Click on this item to type in the alphanumeric label for the single output layer.
    • RockPlot Layers: Click here to export to the DXF file the layer names you've defined in RockPlot2D. Note that only the items in the active (checked) layers will be included. See Working with Layers for information.
    • Separate: Choose this option if different components of the RockWorks map or diagram are to be read by the destination application as separate layers.
      • Root Name: Click on this item to enter a "root" name for all of the layers. Other layer-specific names (entered below) will be appended to the Root Name declared here. For example, if you were to enter "Layer1" as the Root Name, then the Arcs layer might be named "Layer1-Arcs", the text layer "Layer1-Text", and so on.
      • Circles: Check this to include in the output DXF file a layer for DXF circles and arcs represented in the RockWorks map or diagram. If none are present, this layer will not be created.
        • Layer Name: Enter the characters to append to the Root Name (assigned above) for the arcs and circles layer. Default = "ARCS"
      • Lines: Check this to include in the output DXF file a layer for DXF lines represented in the RockWorks map or diagram. If none are present, this layer will not be created.
        • Layer Name: Enter the characters to append to the Root Name (assigned above) for the lines layer. Default = "LINES"
      • Patterns: Check this to include in the output DXF file a layer for DXF patterns (in logs, sections) represented in the RockWorks map or diagram. If none are present, this layer will not be created.
        • Layer Name: Enter the characters to append to the Root Name (assigned above) for the patterns layer. Default = "PATTERNS"
      • Polylines: Check this to include in the output DXF file a layer for DXF polylines (such as contour lines) represented in the RockWorks map or diagram. If none are present, this layer will not be created.
        • Layer Name: Enter the characters to append to the Root Name (assigned above) for the polylines layer. Default = "POLYLINES"
      • Solids: Check this to include in the output DXF file a layer for DXF solid color blocks (as in color-filled contour maps) represented in the RockWorks map or diagram. If none are present, this layer will not be created. Leaving this box un-checked will prevent color blocks from being exported. This can be helpful if the dxf destination application is re-sorting the data such that the color blocks are being plotted on top of other entities (patterns, etc.)
        • Layer Name: Enter the characters to append to the Root Name (assigned above) for the solids layer. Default = "SOLIDS"
      • Symbols: Check this to include in the output DXF file a layer for DXF symbols (as in point maps) represented in the RockWorks map or diagram. If none are present, this layer will not be created.
        • Layer Name:Enter the characters to append to the Root Name (assigned above) for the symbols layer. Default = "SYMBOLS"
      • Text: Check this to include in the output DXF file a layer for DXF text represented in the RockWorks map or diagram. If none are present, this layer will not be created.
        • Layer Name: Enter the characters to append to the Root Name (assigned above) for the text layer. Default = "TEXT"
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  • Export Comments: If this setting is checked, the program will include in the exported DXF file explanatory comments for different blocks of data. This setting should be left un-checked if the destination application for the DXF file does not accept comments.
  • Export Extents: If this setting is checked, the program will include in the exported DXF file information about the extents of the map or diagram. This setting should be left un-checked if you wish to append the exported DXF file to another diagram, or if the destination application does not accept extents notations.
  • Export Elevations: Check this if you want the program to store any elevation (Z) values that may exist for a map, for future work within the CAD application.
    • Default Elevation: Enter an elevation value to be assigned to any items in the map which don't have an elevation attribute, such as a legend.
  • Error Report: Insert a check in this box if you want any export problems to be listed in an "error log" text file that will be displayed when the export is complete.
  • Plot w/ Default Viewer: Check this box if you want the output file to be loaded into the software on your computer that is currently established (via Windows) as the default program to view DXF files.
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• Output File
  • Output File Name
    • Automatic: Choose this option to have RockWorks assign the name automatically. It will use the name of the current program plus a numeric suffix, plus the ".DXF" file name extension.
    • Manual: Choose this option to type in a name of your own for this DXF file.
  • Display Output within AutoCAD: Check this option to have the resulting file displayed in AutoCAD once it is created.
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Step-by-Step Summary

1. From RockPlot2D: If necessary, open the Rw2D file you wish to export (see Opening Plot Files) or save the current plot if it's untitled (see Saving RockPlot2D Images). Then select the File | Export | DXF command from the RockPlot2D menu.
   - OR -
   From the RockWorks Utilities menu, select the Grafix | 2D Utilities | Export | DXF menu option.
2. Enter the requested information in the displayed program window, as described above.
3. Click the Process button when you are ready to continue.
4. The program will translate the current image to DXF format, storing the new file on disk. See DXF Limitations, below.

DXF files can also be imported into the RockPlot2D window. See Importing Images.

DXF Limitations

• Text: The output DXF files may not correctly place text that is rotated to the northwest and southwest (they will have the correct angle but incorrect placement).
• Line Styles: RockPlot line styles are different from AutoCAD line styles, and these differences are declared in the header of the DXF file RockPlot creates. When the DXF file is opened in AutoCAD, the header is read and the line styles are understood by the CAD system. If, however, there is an existing drawing open in AutoCAD when the RockPlot DXF file is read, the DXF header is ignored. Consequently, the line style information is not available to the CAD system and it doesn't "know" what to do with the RockPlot lines. This can result in an error message. To solve this problem, simply open the RockPlot DXF file first, so that the header is read and the line styles are understood.
• Color assignments: DXF utilizes a limited color palette. RockWorks will do its best to choose the closest colors to what is saved in your diagram. For information about the AutoCAD palette, please visit: http://sub-atomic.com/~moses/acadcolors.html
• Patterns: The density of the patterns that are included in the output DXF file may vary depending on the coordinate range of the data set from which the diagram was created. If you find the exported patterns to be unacceptable, even after trying the two RockPlot export settings (Fast or Slow), you might try creating the diagram without patterns at all, and then use the AutoCAD hatching tools to insert patterns there.
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See also

• Adding this program to your Playlist
• Adding this program to your Favorites
• Save/load/view menu settings
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