Exporting paint box to DXF

[AmperNr1]

Hello,

I have a (big) problem with exporting to DXF. I've been testing some approach of using TsgCADtoDXF (in C++ Builder 2009), but some kinds of DXF's are not exported. Exporting to DXF is the last stage of my project and everything else work properly. I have a paintbox:

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TSGDrawingNavigator *FsgPaintBox;
__property TSGDrawingNavigator* sgPaintBox = {read=FsgPaintBox};

where DXF's are drawn (and I don't have any problem with this); and one global object, where all drawn DXF's are kept:

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TsgCADImage *vGlobalCADFile;

I've tried to do like this:

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TsgCADtoDXF * vExpCADfile;

   if(sgPaintBox)
   {
   
   vExpCADfile = new TsgCADtoDXF((TsgCADImage *)sgPaintBox->Picture->Graphic);
   try
    {
    vExpCADfile->SaveToFile(SaveDialog3->FileName);
    ShowMessage(MSG20);
    }
   __finally
    {
    delete vExpCADfile;
    }

   }//if


or like this:

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TsgCADtoDXF * vExpCADfile;


   if(vGlobalCADFile)
   {
   
   vExpCADfile = new TsgCADtoDXF(vGlobalCADFile);
   try
    {
    vExpCADfile->SaveToFile(SaveDialog3->FileName);
    ShowMessage(MSG20);
    }
   __finally
    {
    delete vExpCADfile;
    }
   }//if



Both approach give me the same effect - some of DXF's on the paint box are not exported (depends on DXF contains - I've read internal structure of these DXF's and suppose that problem could lie in INSERT's).

I've spent on this problem some time - even tried to write my own exporting function basing on TsgDXFExport - and the result is still unsatisfying to me.

I'm asking for help.

Best regards,

Mariusz Hyzorek

[support]

Hello Mariusz.
TsgDrawingNavigator class provides functionality to display drawings, it doesn't related to export functionality. TsgCADtoDXF exports a single CAD drawing. If exported TsgCADImage object contains references to another drawings then created file will contain these XRefs. Referenced files must be present on specified paths on further import.
Please specify that did you mean by:

...but some kinds of DXF's are not exported.

Alexander.

[AmperNr1]

Hello Alexander,

Thank you for the answer.

On the end, on the paint box, I have 7 different DXF's. 6 of them are always the same (read from external DXF files - NOT created by a program) and two from these 6 are not exported. Besides - there is another DXF, which is always different (depends on user choice - also from external DXF file). And that user-chosen DXF is exported properly or not exported at all - that depends on a content of DXF file.

All DXF's are placed as INSERT's and in my program there is an insert list keeping pointers to these inserts. I do it like this:

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TsgDXFInsert *TForm1::AddNextDXF(TsgCADImage* GlobalCADFile,TsgCADImage *Im, TFPoint Position)
{
 //function adds dxf file to the profile reading it from Im and setting it
 //on position "Position"
 //Im is added to GlobalCADFile

 int i;
 TsgDXFConverter *Conv;
 TsgDXFConverter *MainConv;
 TsgDXFBlock *Block;
 TsgDXFInsert *Insert;
 static int BlockCnt = 0;

  if(Im != NULL)
   {
   Conv = Im->Converter;
   Block = new TsgDXFBlock;
   Block->Name = '$';
   //Block->Name += IntToHex((int)Block,8);
   //Block->Name = Conv->FileName;
   Block->Name += IntToHex(BlockCnt++,8);
   for(i=0 ;i<Conv->Counts[csEntities]; i++)
   {
   Block->AddEntity(Conv->Entities[i]);
   }
   MainConv = GlobalCADFile->Converter;
   for(i=0; i<Block->Count; i++)
   {
   MainConv->Loads(Block->Entities[i]);
   }
   MainConv->Sections[csBlocks]->AddEntity(Block);
   MainConv->Loads(Block);
   Insert = new TsgDXFInsert;

   Insert->Block = Block;
   Insert->Point = Position;
   MainConv->Sections[csEntities]->AddEntity(Insert);
   MainConv->Loads(Insert);
  }
 else
  {
  Insert = NULL;
  }
 return Insert;
}


[support]

Hello Mariusz.
The snippet you use doesn't take into account DXF specific. So, there are few possible problem causes:

1. A CAD drawing can contain some number of layouts. Generally entities placed on model when file created, however other layouts can contain own entities. More frequently a layout contains ViewPort object that displays a part of model image or full model image. TsgCADImage.Converter.Entities provides access to entities from single layout that is visualized on control. A CAD file contains variable that specified which layout will be visible after drawing visualization.
So the situation is possible when imported drawing have (for example) Layout1 is active with ViewPort defined. Drawing can be seen, however Converter.Entities doesn't contain entities.
Generally you must copy entities from all layouts to correspond layouts of main drawing using TsgCADImage.Layouts[i].Entities. Or make sure the active layout is the one that contains necessary entities. If all required entities placed on model then using TsgCADImage.Layouts[0].Entities will be correct, the model is always Layouts[0].

2. A CAD drawing can contain all entities inside an insert(s). For example let all entities placed in one block inserted on model and model visualized. TsgCADImage.Converter.Entities provides the single insert in entities list. However the block (with entities) that referenced by this insert won't be copied. So, you must copy the blocks of source drawing that referenced by inserts.

Entities like texts or lines can use styles that must be copied also. Styles can be found in TsgCADImage.Converter.Styles.

Please note, copying must not produce styles or blocks with the same names.

Alexander.

[AmperNr1]

Thank You very much.

Now I'm trying to make a copy on one layout and with unique block (inserts) names.
I hope Your explanation help me to find solution.

Mariusz