Import + export DXF
DXF is the lingua franca of CAD. Diaz round-trips cleanly with AutoCAD and SketchUp via layer-mapping and explicit unit-confirmation steps.
Quick answer
- Import:
File → Import → DXF. - Pick a layer-map (NLCS auto-suggested), confirm units (mm vs inch).
- Export:
File → Export → DXF. Same dialog, reverse direction.
Step-by-step
- Open a target project (new or existing). Choose
File → Import → DXFand pick the .dxf file from your architect, surveyor, or supplier. - The layer-map dialog opens. Diaz reads every layer name in the file and proposes an NLCS mapping (A/E/S/M/D/G). Review each row — if a name is unfamiliar, the row shows
[unmapped]. Drop down to pick a target. - Confirm units. Diaz reads the
$INSUNITSheader — 4=mm, 1=inch. If the header is missing (rare), Diaz asks. Pick the wrong answer and your whole drawing is off by 25.4× — double-check by measuring a known wall after import. - Review the import. Lines, arcs, circles, polylines, text, and dimensions come across. Hatches and blocks may need attention — see Pitfalls below. The Outliner shows everything grouped by mapped layer.
- Export back to DXF:
File → Export → DXF. Same dialog reversed — Diaz proposes a layer-map from NLCS back to a target schema (AutoCAD AIA, custom, or keep NLCS). Pick a DXF version (R2018 default, R2013 for older AutoCAD compatibility). - Confirm export units (default mm) and click Export. Diaz writes the .dxf next to your project. Re-open in AutoCAD or SketchUp to verify the round-trip — text and dimensions are the most common things to inspect.
Watch out
- Layer-name encoding: older AutoCAD files use cp1252 for Dutch/Spanish accents (é, ñ, ü). Diaz reads UTF-8 by default — if layer names come in garbled, re-import via
File → Import → DXF → Advanced → Encoding cp1252. - Block references not expanded: Diaz imports blocks as grouped components but does not let you edit nested geometry inline. If you need to modify a block, explode it (right-click → Explode) — note this breaks the round-trip back to the original block reference.
- mm vs inch mismatch: if your imported drawing looks 25.4× too big or too small, you picked the wrong unit answer. Undo the import, re-run with the correct unit. Never re-scale geometry to compensate — it loses accuracy on every subsequent edit.