Export

In the document object browser, you can export selected documents to multiple output formats. From isometric drawings it is possible to export data files that can be used by third-party software applications.

Note: If the drawing sheet or the drawing views of a document contain objects whose color is white or close to white, they are exported in black color.

Latest published version

You can export a file that fully matches the contents of the latest published document version.

Prerequisites

  • The document has been published at least once.

Do the following:

  1. In the document object browser, select the documents to export.

  2. Right-click the selection and select Export > Latest published version from the context menu. The Export Publication dialog opens.

  3. Define the export settings:

    • Format – Select the export format.

      • JPEG

      • DXF 2000

      • DWG 2004

      • DWG 2007

      • DWG 2010

      • DWG 2013

      • DWG 2018

      • DWF

      • PDF

      • SVG

      • BMP

      • PNG

    • Base name – The default base name is the name of the document object appended with a running number; you can edit the name if you are exporting a single publication.

    • Output Directory – Click Browse to select the output folder.

  4. Click OK.

Current version

You can export documents in their current state. If the document has already been published, the contents of the export file and the latest published version do not necessarily match.

Do the following:

  1. In the document object browser, select the documents to export.

  2. Right-click the selection and select Export > Current version from the context menu. The Export 2D Drawing dialog opens.

  3. Define the general export settings:

    • Format – Select the export format.

      • DWG – Select also which specific AutoCAD format to use.

      • PDF

      • DWF

      • DXF

      • SVG

      • PNG

      • BMP

      • JPEG

      All formats except SVG have additional export settings.

    • Base name – The export files are named in the format <base name>.<page>.<file name extension>. The default base name is the name of the document object. You can edit the base name for single-file export.

    • Output directory – Click Browse to select the export folder.

    • Template drawing – For DWG and DXF export, you can select a DWT or DWG file to be displayed in the background of the exported pages. Click Browse to select the file to use.

    • Number of files – Select whether to export one file or multiple files. The available options depend on the export format.

      Options for DWG and DXF export:

      • Each page to separate file as model space – Select this option to export one file per document page. Each file includes the contents of the corresponding page in Model Space.

      • Each drawing to separate file as paper layouts – Select this option to export one file per document object. This file may include multiple layouts (Paper Spaces), one per document page.

      • All drawings nested in a single file – Select this option to export all the included pages into the Model Space of a single file, arranged in rows or columns. Click Settings to define the Nesting Grid Settings.

      Options for DWF and PDF export:

      • Each page to separate file – Select this option to export one file per document page.

      • Each drawing to separate file – Select this option to export one file per document object. If the document has multiple pages, the corresponding export file will also be a multi-page file.

      • All drawings to single file – Select this option to export all the included pages into a single multi-page file.

      • All drawings nested in a single file – Select this option to export all the included pages into a single-page file, arranged in rows or columns. Click Settings to define the Nesting Grid Settings.

        Note: The PDF format has a maximum page size of 508 cm x 508 cm (200 inches x 200 inches). If the resulting layout exceeds this limit, the export will fail. If this happens, try reducing the Max cells per row or column value or exporting fewer drawings at a time.

      Nesting Grid Settings

      • Nesting origin – Specify the origin point for the grid.

      • Nesting flow – Select whether to insert the cells in Rows or Columns.

      • Max cells per – Specify the maximum number of cells to populate in each row or column, depending on whether you have selected Rows or Columns.

      • Cell margin – Specify the amount of space to leave between the cells.

  4. Define the other export options:

    • One-to-one scaling – Select this option to set the scale using the Main scale field, which lists the main scales common to the included drawings.

    • View exported file – Select this option to open the file or files after the export in the viewer associated with the file type. When Use built-in viewer for DXF/DWG/DWF files is also selected, the files open in CADMATIC Viewer instead.

    • Organize model objects to blocks – When selected, the export arranges model objects into blocks. When Organize view geometry to blocks is also selected, the geometry object blocks become accessible at the top level of the exported file, rather than being stored under their respective drawing views.

      Note: Regardless of this setting, exporting to DWG or DXF places the data tables from the drawing sheet into blocks named using the format 'PageX_PAGE_SHEET_GROUP_TABLE_Y', where X is the page number and Y is the extension of the table. For example, the revision table (extension: 'rev') for the first page of the document is located in the block named Page1_PAGE_SHEET_GROUP_TABLE_rev. Additionally, any elements that are not symbols or data tables are assumed to be part of the title box and are therefore placed into the block named PageX_PAGE_SHEET_GROUP_TITLE.

    • Exclude page number from file name for single page drawings – When selected, page numbers are omitted from the file names of single-page documents.

  5. Click OK.

Main Document & Spools

You can export the current state of a main document and the related pipe spool or duct spool documents. If the document has already been published, the contents of the export file and the latest published version do not necessarily match.

The export process is otherwise the same as that described in Current version, but when exporting PDFs you can select a DWG or DXF file to be used as the front page of the PDF.

Advanced settings

In the Export 2D Drawing dialog, the Advanced button opens the advanced settings of the currently selected export format.

Advanced settings for DWG/DXF | Advanced settings for PDF/DWF | Advanced settings for BMP/JPEG/PNG

Advanced settings for DWG/DXF

  • Export colors – Select how to export colors:

    • Use current colors – Export everything using the colors shown on the screen.

    • Black & white – Export everything in black and white.

    • Grayscale – Export everything in grayscale.

    • Custom current colors – Export everything in current colors except items that are defined to be exported in black and white. See Configuring export colors.

    • Custom black & white – Export everything in black & white except items that are defined to be exported in color. See Configuring export colors.

    Note: If the drawing sheet or the drawing views contain objects whose color is white or close to white, they are exported in black color.

  • Summary information – Fill in the fields Title, Author, Subject, and Keywords. See also Using tags in document attributes.

  • Post-processing – Select post-processing options:

    • Purge unused objects from export – Select this option to remove unused objects (such as unused layers and styles) from the export data.

    • Map exported colors to indexed colors – Select this option to replace each exported RGB color with the closest indexed color. Indexed colors are used in AutoCAD, for example.

Advanced settings for PDF/DWF

  • Size / Orientation / Color – Select the page size, the page orientation (Landscape or Portrait), and how to export colors:

    • Use current colors – Export everything using the colors shown on the screen.

    • Black & white – Export everything in black and white.

    • Grayscale – Export everything in grayscale.

    • Custom current colors – Export everything in current colors except items that are defined to be exported in black and white. See Configuring export colors.

    • Custom black & white – Export everything in black & white except items that are defined to be exported in color. See Configuring export colors.

    Note: If the drawing sheet or the drawing views contain objects whose color is white or close to white, they are exported in black color.

  • Summary information – Fill in the fields Title, Author, Subject, and Keywords. See also Using tags in document attributes.

  • PDF specific – Select the required options.

    • Embed truetype fonts – Select this option to embed the fonts in the PDF file.

    • Include layers – Select this option to include the layers in the PDF file.

    • Fit to page – Select this option to fit oversized documents to the page size.

    • Export texts as graphics – Select this option to export texts as graphics (and not as text).

    • Limit size to 5080x5080mm – Select this option to set the maximum page size to 5080 x 5080 mm, to make the PDF file comply with ISO 32000. Content that exceeds the limit will be cut off, unless Fit to page is also selected.

    • Front page – Select a DWG or DXF file to use as the cover page of the PDF.

Advanced settings for BMP/JPEG/PNG

  • Size – Select the page size.

  • Color – Select how to export colors:

    • Use current colors – Export everything using the colors shown on the screen.

    • Black & white – Export everything in black and white.

    Note: If the drawing sheet or the drawing views contain objects whose color is white or close to white, they are exported in black color.

Using tags in document attributes

When exporting a Plant Modeller document in a format that allows specifying values for document attributes, it is possible to use tags within curly brackets in the attribute value fields: "{}". For example, to link document name to the title of the exported DWG or PDF, you can type something like "Document name: {.dU}" in the Title field. If the document name is "My Document", the title of the exported document would be: "Document name: My Document".

You can use the Manage COS tool to check which attribute tags relate to drawings and can therefore be used in document export.

This command exports production files for Transfluid and Addison McKee bending machines. See Transfluid and Addison McKee Link.

This command opens the settings for Transfluid and Addison McKee export. See Transfluid and Addison McKee Link.

This command is available if the PipeFAB link has been installed, you have a license for PipeFAB export, and the Transfluid and Addison McKee link is not active in your environment. See PipeFAB Link.

This command is available if Welding Book export has been enabled in Automatic Annotation Settings. See Welding Book Link.

This command is available if PCF export has been enabled in Automatic Annotation Settings. See PCF Export.

Related topics

Document browser