AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

[#1]

This is truly insane.  Many of us out here still need to use .3ds for a variety of reasons - not the least of which is that we are importing complicated symbols created in AutoCAD, and .3ds is still the fastest and easiest way to import into programs like 3D Studio Max.

Collaborators and consultants also still very much require .3ds files.

Autodesk, stop messing about and bring it back.

Tnx

[#2]

They are not listening at all, I lost that feature in 2010 upgrade ( I have to use Rhinoceros Program)

[#3]

I'll second that

just got 2012, but still need older vesion installed for 3dsout

[#4]

Hi,

>> 3ds is still the fastest and easiest way to import into programs like 3D Studio Max

To get geometry from AutoCAD into 3DSMax I use the DWG-file, what's the reason to go through a fileformat that is not the native format of both of your progs (AutoCAD and 3DSMax)? And if you use import or reference (XRef) or DWG-Link-Manager is up to you, every of these ways does have it's advantages.

And 3DS is not the format that is really not the best format to hold objects like nurbs- or acis-based, imho it's just transporting geometry as faces, so every export from any software to 3DS-format has to convert to faces ... and that is not as easy and as fast and as accurate as other formats handles these more and more complex geometry we are used to use nowadays.

That said I see the activities around FBX as one of the most important exchange-formats for visualisation currently. This is used by many products having to do with visualisation/rendering/animation. On the Autodesk-site you can also find many plugins for different packages (>>>here<<<) and one product called FBX-Converter (on the same site). That converter is able to convert to a lot of different formats and so also 3DS with the options to convert from or to.

just my 2c, - alfred -

[#5]

Thanks Alfred,

tried fbx - some objects didn't export, that will go right thru via 3ds out.

I use a 3rd party plugin in autocad that exports fine in 3dsout, but dwg or dbx  into max makes a mess out of block exports.

[#6]

Hi,

>> I use a 3rd party plugin in autocad that exports fine in 3dsout

Ok, if the application creates app-specific objects, every exporter could have problems, depends on the implementation of the ARX-application. In this case I would discuss that with the vendor of the application.

You can also try before exporting the object to _EXPLODE it (backup your drawing first!), if these objects are standard AutoCAD-geometry elements they should be exportable into FBX also.

>> but dwg or dbx  into max makes a mess out of block exports

How the elements are grouped can be defined with the first dialog showing the import-options.

HTH, - alfred -

[#7]

Tried to use FBX export from autocad. 

1) FBX changes - traditionaly - every year. Maybe, because of fast worldwide CG development, maybe because it was not finished every time it was released.

2) FBX exporter gives god damned mess from exported data. Everything is exploded, triangulated and attached back,   no matter what options were turned on.

3) Official FBX exporter STOPPED to convert FBX into 3DS since 2010. DAE and OBJ formats writes without materials, at least, from Autocad-generated FBX. Gained OBJ never have MTL.

Common, just bring back 3DSOUT. That's all, that Autocad needs.

[#8]

3DSOUT is dead and gone, it's never going to see the light of day again. Sorry, but I thought I should mention this since no one else wanted to go that far as a response here.

[#9]

orly?

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2012/3DSOUT-for-AUTOCAD-2012/td-p/3396519

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-for-Mac/3dsout-Function/td-p/2950588/page/2

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2011/want-to-buy-a-3dsout/m-p/2685196

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2011/export-to-3ds/m-p/2972496

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2011/Unable-to-load-Ac3DSOUT-arx-file/m-p/2917778

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?40179-3DSOUT-not-available-in-AutoCAD-(vanilla)-2010

....

(if (>= (read (getvar "acadver")) 18)

(quit)

(open "autocad 2009");; 3DS stayes alive

)

FBX. Strange opened format, that changes every year, has same problems as 3DS (vertex quantity per object), doesnot write any materials and trying to compete with DAE.

For now FBX export is looking dead and gone =)

I guess that the next after 3DS should be LISP, but then intellicad-based platforms will get the dominance on the next day.

[#10]

BRING BACK 3DSOUT!!!!!!!!!!

I need it too.I have downloaded FBX and there is no available option to convert .dxf to .3ds.

It is described as available, but can't choose this option. AutoCad2013.

I have tried many ways to convert the .dwg into .dxf file but it is not enough to work.

Lucyna

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