Import options when importing a DXF file into drawing

[dinomyar]

Is there any NEW documentation on the settings allowed in the import ini file used during the import of a DXF file into a new drawing?

In 2020, there are settings that default differently, or did not exist, than they did in 2019 and those defaults are causing some issues. For example

CONSTRAIN ENDPOINTS (DRAWING)

CONSTRAIN LOGICAL (DRAWING)

settings default to "Yes" and then the DXF file read in can be automatically changed, which we do NOT want.

I have modified our code to turn these settings off, but I need to know if there are others that can impact the geometry when it is read in.

Also I need to know if the template file, that can now be specified, can exist outside of the current projects directory (specified with a full path) and not give a warning when used.

[chandra.shekar.g]

@dinomyar,

Can you please provide more details about issue with reproducible data and steps?

Please make sure that files are non confidential.

Thanks and regards,

[dinomyar]

In the attached file you will notice that the three tabs are the same size. If you save the flat pattern as a DXF file, then open the DXF file into a new Inventor drawing, the geometry is changed. We are doing this through the API using the TranslatorAddIn class and specify an Import_Acad_IniFile through the NameValueMap class. The original settings in my ini file that I specify were as follows

[COMMON OPTIONS]
FILE VERSION=3.0
FILE UNITS=mm

In 2020, when this DXF file is opened, the middle tab on the part is changed. I understand that it is due to a bad design, so the applying the constraints tries to fix it, but in this case we cannot allow that. It must be exactly as it is created otherwise there will be a problem with manufacturing and assembly. I found that if I add the following to the ini file, it seems to keep the constraints from modifying the geometry.

[2D OPTIONS]
CONSTRAIN ENDPOINTS (SKETCH)=No
CONSTRAIN ENDPOINTS (DRAWING)=No
CONSTRAIN LOGICAL (SKETCH)=No
CONSTRAIN LOGICAL (DRAWING)=No

I was wondering is there is any other settings that could be in the ini file that would also affect the geometry when a DXF file is imported. Plus I had questions about the template specifications, will it work without a warning if the template is in a directory other than the current project settings. I will try to test this shortly when I have some time, but was asking to get an answer faster.

[YuhanZhang]

Hi,

I don't think there is any change to the importdxf.ini between the Inventor 2019 and 2020. Can you create a video to show DXF difference between them on your side? And also please let's know if you ever modified the exportdxf.ini and importdxf.ini on your side when you export to DXF and import it to drawing.

[dinomyar]

I have no idea what you are asking. There is no difference between the DXF files. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. I asked if there is documentation on the settings in the IMPORT ini file. If I take the 2020 DXF file created from the part I sent and import it into a new drawing in 2019 it experiences the same issue, but only if I specify to Constrain End Points and Apply Geometric Constraints. If I DO NOT specify either of these settings the DXF file will come in correctly. In 2020, these settings are defaulting to ON instead of OFF, so I have to  now explicitly turn them OFF. I am just asking for DOCUMENTATION on the settings so I know what other ones I potentially need to change.

In every version from Inventor 4 up until 2019 my 1000+ customers IMPORT ini file had only these three lines in it.

[COMMON OPTIONS]
FILE VERSION=3.0
FILE UNITS=mm

The settings for Constrain End Points and Apply Geometric Constraints defaulted to OFF. Now in 2020 they are defaulting to ON, so I have to turn them off in the ini file so it looks like this

[COMMON OPTIONS]
FILE VERSION=3.0
FILE UNITS=mm
[2D OPTIONS]
CONSTRAIN ENDPOINTS (SKETCH)=No
CONSTRAIN ENDPOINTS (DRAWING)=No
CONSTRAIN LOGICAL (SKETCH)=No
CONSTRAIN LOGICAL (DRAWING)=No

I just want to know what all the other settings do so I can decide which ones I might need to set to what my customers need to correctly get the flat patterns into my software.

[YuhanZhang]

I checked with developer, and this is already known as a regression, you can provide the INVGEN-24035 to query its status.

[mschindler-mum]

Hi @YuhanZhang,

Can you say the acctual status of this issue?

Is it planed to fix in an update soon?

Many thanks,

Kind regards,

Matthias Schindler
CAD/CAM/PDM technical specialist at

[YuhanZhang]

I see the status is fixed for Inventor 2020 RTM, please double check it there.