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Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 30 Jul 2017, 13:31
by garytennyson
I can generate a polygon or ellipse in Visio, save it in dxf format, and import it into the pattern Editor. I cannot import, though, an arc. This could be a bug in Visio, but I can see the arc in the Diptrace import dialog. The arc just doesn't show up in the pattern editor. This makes me wonder if there's some setting/option that I'm missing.

Has anyone else run into this?

Thanks

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 01:09
by Tomg
Could you attach a sample DXF file of the arc so I can do some experimenting with it? The reason I ask is because I created some arcs and splines using Alibre Design 2017 and exported them as DXF files. The circular arc imported into the Design Area of the Pattern Editor as it should. The eliptical arc did not show in the Import DXF dialog window, but imported just fine into the Design Area after clicking on the [Import] button. (You might want to try this too, then use the Zoom Extents tool to see if it might be out of view somewhere.) When the open spline (arc) and the closed spline imported without any problems, I almost fell off of my chair. I am currently using DipTrace v3.1.0.1 and in previous versions there was no way to import splines. I don't know why splines are importing now. Either the new version of DipTrace has an improved DXF importer that automatically converts splines to polylines and Novarm didn't tell anybody, or the new version of Alibre Design converts splines to polylines while exporting to DXF. Alibre Design/Geomagic Design has never done this in the past and as far as I know the new version is nothing but a re-branding update to purge the software of all references to Geomagic Design. Could be wrong, of course.

Anyway, if you could upload a sample DXF file that fails to import for you, I would appreciate it. I am curious to see what is going on here.

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 03:20
by garytennyson
I tried to upload the file, but the server tells me 'The image file you tried to attach is invalid.' Is the server trying to interpret this as an inline image? If so, how do I turn that off ?

BTW, 'dxfviewer' reads the dxf file with an arc OK.

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 04:36
by Tomg
Putting it into a compressed folder should work.

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 04:49
by KevinA
Interesting: I created a spline with TurboCAD, Saved as DXF:
TurboCAD Spline
TurboCAD Spline
spline.jpg (24.98 KiB) Viewed 500 times
imported and (View Extent is broken) hunted down the spline in Pattern Editor I found a closed spline with a pad number!
spline1.jpg
spline1.jpg (23.05 KiB) Viewed 500 times
Looking at the DXF file there is a lot of data, 758kb, makes me wonder if the DXF software is converting to many, many polylines.
New: I just found that by clicking Zoom Extent twice it would work, first click zooms to the view level needed and the second centers the object...

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 05:04
by Tomg
KevinA wrote:"...there is a lot of data, 758kb..."
My DXF export had less than 78kB for the closed spline. Maybe my drawing has fewer reference points.

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 05:59
by garytennyson
OK. I should have thought of that. Here it is in a zipped file.

The file 'Drawing2.dxf' was generated and exported by Visio. The shape is an arc, with a straight line between the end points of the arc. The Pattern Editor 'sees' the straight line, but not the arc. The 'Import DXF' window 'sees' both.

I am running Diptrace ver. 3.1.0.1

I think Visio is exporting OK. I downloaded 'dxfviewer' and it sees both the arc and the line.

Thanks for your help.

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 09:21
by Tomg
Here is what I observed with your DXF file...
1) The drawing figure is far away from the origin (0,0), which makes the Design Area appear empty until you are zoomed way out to see it. If you are using v3.1, hit the [Home] key to execute the Zoom Extents function.
2) There are two arcs (top and bottom) and this seems to confuse the DipTrace DXF import tool for some unknown reason.
3) When importing into the Top Signal layer (no fill), only the line and the top arc appear (see left side of illustration).
4) When importing into the Top Pads layer, only the vertical line appears.

Just as an experiment, I made a new DXF drawing file with only one elliptical arc. Here is what I observed...
1) When importing into the Top Pads layer, only the vertical line appears.
2) When importing into the Top Signal layer without fill, all drawing objects appear (see right side of illustration).
3) When importing into the Top Signal layer with fill enabled then the desired filled object appears, which can be converted into a pad.

I have attached the new DXF drawing file below for your amusement...

Re: Cannot import arc into pattern editor

Posted: 31 Jul 2017, 09:56
by garytennyson
Thanks,

I'll try it !

Gary