How to attach pcg file created through ReCap 2015 to an ACAD 2012 drawing.

[khanakhan]

Using ReCap 2015 I have a point cloud exported to pcg format but when I try to attach this pcg file a ACAD 2012 dwg it says invalid point could file.

Looks like ACAD 2012 doesn't recoginse this pcg format. Is there a way to convert this pcg file to ACAD 2012 compatible version or anyother workflow in which we can attach a point could exported through ReCap 2015 into ACAD 2012.

Thanks

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

there exist different PCG formats (like oder and newer DWG formats), the PCG saved with the current ReCap can be opened by AutoCAD 2014, but not with AutoCAD 2012.

What format was the point-file(s) before you have imported them to ReCap?

- alfred -

[khanakhan]

We received the scan in .E57 format and then imported to recap in RCS format and then exported to PCG format but as mentioned ACAD 2012 doesn't recoginse that format. Basically somehow we need to get this scan in ACAD 2012.

I was thinking if we open this PCG in 2014 and save the DWG as 2012 will it also make PCG compatible to 2012?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> We received the scan in .E57 format

Sorry, I have no experience with that format.

>> I was thinking if we open this PCG in 2014 and save the DWG as 2012 will it also make PCG compatible to 2012?

No, because the PCG is only referenced and changing the DWG format will not change the PCG format, so opening the file with AutoCAD 2012 will see the same PCG file (and will not have the option to access it).

The question for me is: when you have the current ReCap version, why don't you work with the current AutoCAD release? Why do you want to work with AutoCAD 2012?

- alfred -

[khanakhan]

Because on the project all the designers are on ACAD 2012 and we have to stick to that version. So essentially now the question is given raw scan data in .E57 format, how we be get it converted to some format that is compatiable with ACAD 2012.

Is there older version fo ReCap that is accepts .E57 and can export pcg file compatible to ACAD 2012.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

the only tip I have currently is to search for a converter that can import .E57 and export one of the formats that can be used by the indexer of AutoCAD 2012 (LAS, XYB, FLS, FWS).

- alfred -

[kubitTilo · Accepted solution]

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@Alfred.NESWADBA wrote:

>> I was thinking if we open this PCG in 2014 and save the DWG as 2012 will it also make PCG compatible to 2012?

No, because the PCG is only referenced and changing the DWG format will not change the PCG format, so opening the file with AutoCAD 2012 will see the same PCG file (and will not have the option to access it).

---

I'm pretty sure that AutoCAD 2014 (and 2013) will recreate the PCG file in a compatible format when saving the DWG in AutoCAD 2010 format.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

sorry, Tilo is absolutly correct: Never thought that AutoCAD does convert anything referenced ... and yes, connecting the PCG file with AutoCAD 2014 and then save back the DWG in 2010-format makes the PCG file readable for AutoCAD 2012.

@kubitTilo 

Thanks for correcting me! Much appreciated!

- alfred -

[khanakhan]

Thanks guys, yes that works . Only thing I noticed is that in 2012 point cloud is just white points , while in 2014 point do get the RGB values , that's true even if you open a 2010 pcg file in ACAD 2014, is it just a new feature in 2014 or some setting that I am missing in 2012.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> in 2012 point cloud is just white points

Have you set the visual style to realistic? (or anything other than 2D-Wireframe)?

- alfred -

[khanakhan]

Yes, my visual style is set to Realistic. Like when you open the .pts file navisworks there is a setting in file readers to use color for point clould or not. Isn't there any similar setting for ACAD. In ACAD 2012 all points just show up in white but surprisingly if I open the same file in ACAD 2014 it does show the colors for point.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> Yes, my visual style is set to Realistic

And your hardware acceleration os ON (command _3DCONFIG ==> Manual tune)?

- alfred -

[khanakhan · Accepted solution]

Yes, I turned on the hardware acceleration with all effects on, exact same setting as I have on 2014 on the same machine. Strange thing is that when I change the view now, using view cube, while its changing the view from one to the other it shows the correct colors but once the view is set it goes back to white.

[khanakhan]

Thanks very much for your help, after resetting 3DCONFIG and Visual Style now the point could shows correctly.

[khanakhan]

Thanks for the information. So is there a way to convert the newer format to PCG to older format so that it can be attached into ACAD 2012. Because designers a are using ACAD2012 and we need it in a format compatible with that version.
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