CAD Output Options: AutoCAD

(This functionality is available with the Input / Output module)

General Tab
Co-ordinate Table Select whether a Co-ordinate Table is to be drawn in the CAD file.
Radiation Table Select whether a Radiation Table is to be drawn in the CAD file.
Short Line Table Select whether a Short Line Table is to be drawn in the CAD file.
Arc Table Select whether an Arc Table is to be drawn in the CAD file.
Photo Table Select whether an Photo Table is to be drawn in the CAD file.
Model Select whether the current data base Model is to be drawn in the CAD file.
An existing model must be selected from the Terrain Modelling/Display/Model command before it may be drawn in the CAD file.
Grid Select whether a Grid is to be drawn in the CAD file.
Add Zero-Zero Add a zero-zero symbol at the start of measured offsets and chainages.
Refer to the distance attributes in the Attributes/Line Command.
Rounding Select whether the rounding attributes set in the data base are to be applied to the dimensions drawn in the CAD file.
If this check box is not active, then the dimensions will be drawn at their specified precision.
Refer to the Rounding and Precision topic.
Legend Select whether a Legend is to be drawn in the CAD file.
Exaggeration Select whether any exaggerated lines which may exist in the data base are to have their exaggeration factors applied in the drawing of the CAD file.
If this check box is active, then the end point of any exaggerated line will be moved away from the start point of the line by the lines exaggeration factor.
Refer to the exaggeration factor in the Attributes/Line Command
Use Default for All Force the system to use the default code settings made in the Settings/Codes command for all codes.
Use rounded dimensions Select whether the rounding attributes set in the data base are to be applied in the computation of the polygon area. This check box is only active if Rounding has been selected.
Refer to the Rounding and Precision topic.
Attribute Offset Factors
When exporting to a CAD system, two values determine the relative positions between points and lines and their associated text (e.g. Point Id, Elevation, Code, Bearing, Distance etc.).
The defaults for these two values have been set by experimentation and are generally satisfactory when exporting to CAD systems. However the determination of these values has been dependent on a clear knowledge of the font characteristics of the text being used in the target CAD system. This is not always the case and LISCAD can often only approximate the text dimensions. In these cases, changing these values may improve the appearance of the CAD drawing.
Point (Multiplying) Attributes of a point have a minimum offset from the point for associated text, and the multiplying factor is applied to this offset. The multiplying factor is entered in 1/00ths. The default of 142 (1.42), is approximately the square root of 2. If you have a square symbol of size 1.0 at a point, this default value represents a circle around the point whose diameter is equal to the diagonal of the square.

A multiplying factor of less than 10 should not be set.
Line (Fixed) The line offset factor is also entered in 1/00ths of a unit. In this case as the value is fixed length, the offset units are in 1/00ths of a millimetre. The default is 150 (1.5mm) and there is no minimum restriction as this value is simply the physical offset of the text from its associated line.
Symbols & Line Styles
Default Symbols Select the default symbols. Refer to the Default Symbol dialog box.
Lookup Files Select the lookup files to be used for matching:
LISCAD line styles to AutoCAD line styles;
LISCAD symbols to AutoCAD blocks.

Refer to the Lookup File Settings dialog box.
Ambiguous Distances
Unit Show the unit letter(s) at the end of ambiguous distances. For example, 6 or 9 metres will appear as 6m or 9m respectively.
Underline Place a line under ambiguous distances.
AutoCAD Tab
Use Prototype Drawing Set this if you wish to use an existing prototype drawing. This drawing should contain all the symbols (defined as blocks) and line-style definitions you will use. If you are using a prototype drawing, you can browse to any folder to select it. However, ensure that the prototype drawing you select is of the same AutoCAD version that you selected in "Save as Type" field of the Output dialog.
Layer Name as Group Set that the group attribute will be used as the CAD layer name, regardless of the layer settings made in the CAD Output/Settings/Codes command.
Entities BYLAYER Enable the user to export all objects onto a layering system as defined in AutoCAD.
Polylines as Lines Select whether all line strings are to be output as line segments.
3 Dimensional Select whether the file is to be three dimensional.
If the check box is not active then a two dimensional CAD file will be created.
Default Elev: Enter the elevation to be used for 2D objects when creating a 3D AutoCAD file.
This is only available if the 3 Dimensional option is active.
AutoCAD default points Select this option when outputting to DXF if you wish to create AutoCAD point nodes. They will be created in the form specified in the AutoCAD Point Settings. Note that if this option is selected, the AutoCAD point node specified in AutoCAD will be used to replace the Default symbol selected in CAD Output/Output/Default Symbols/Default Point symbol.
Export Images Select whether background images are to be exported.
If the check box is active, any currently displayed background images will be exported to AutoCAD as an external attachment.
Exported images will be saved as PNG image files.
Splines as Polylines Select that splines are to be exported as AutoCAD ploylines.
3D Arcs as: Select whether arcs which have 3 dimensional points are to be exported to AutoCad as 3D arcs, 3D splines or 3D polylines.
Additional Data
Polygons as 2D Polylines Select this option if you wish all your polygons to be output as closed polylines in AutoCAD. This object is placed on the layer set in 'Settings/Code/Polygon Tab/Fill/Set...' . The Fill checkbox does not need to be set. This gives you the ability to set different layers for individual polygons via your parameter settings.
Polygons as 2D Blocks Select this option if you wish all your polygons to be output as closed polylines within an AutoCAD block. Like the option above, the block is inserted on the layer set in 'Settings/Code/Polygon Tab/Fill/Set' . The Fill checkbox does not need to be set. In addition, you may add the description and/or the code to this block. Whether these are added is controlled via the DEFAULT code settings, 'Settings/Code/DEFAULT/Polygon /Description and/or Code Check boxes.' The Polygon Block is defined as 'Polygon#' where # is the polygon number.
Note: This option is only available if 'Polygons as 2D Polylines' is selected.
Point Attributes as Block Attributes Select this option if you wish your LISCAD point feature to be added to the AutoCAD Symbol Block insertion as text attributes. The following features may be added:
  1. Point Identifier.
  2. Easting of the point.
  3. Northing of the point.
  4. Elevation of the point.
  5. The point's description and
  6. The point's code.
The text attributes will be placed around the symbol in the same position as if they were placed as individual text objects. If the AutoCAD 'Tag' for any point feature is blank, this will be created as an individual text object.
Note: - The symbol MUST be a symbol defined by a block. No attributes will be added to the AutoCAD default symbol as this is an AutoCAD point nodes. (See AutoCAD default points above)
Alignments as 2D Polylines Select this option if you wish all your alignments to be output as polylines in AutoCAD. This object is placed on the layer set in 'Settings/Alignment/Alignment Description/Set' . The Alignment Description checkbox does not need to be set. This gives you the ability to set different layers for individual alignments via your parameter settings.

Note: As AutoCAD polylines only support 2D arcs, the objects are output as single 2D polylines to maintain as close as possible the integrity of the object in AutoCAD. Polylines in AutoCAD will have the same area and length as in LISCAD. However, if other LISCAD objects such as splines or spirals are part of a polygon or an alignment, these values will no longer be maintained as both of these objects will be created as short line segments within the polyline.
Scale Linetypes Select this option to scale the linetypes according to the scale set in the Output dialog. For example, if the scale is 1:500 the linetypes will be scaled by a factor of 0.2; if the scale is 1:100 the linetypes will have a scale factor of 1. If the option is not selected, the linetypes will not be scaled (i.e. scale factor 1).
Set Tags... Launches the AutoCAD Attribute Tags dialog box that enables you to Set AutoCAD 'Tags' for each LISCAD CAD output point text attribute. (See Set CAD Output Codes - Points Tab)
OK Close the dialog box and save the settings.
Cancel Close the dialog box without saving the changes to the settings.

Note: A prototype drawing 'Liscad.dwg' together with a supporting shape file 'Liscad.shx' is supplied with the system and installed in your user folder. This drawing file contains symbols and line styles which match the standard LISCAD symbols and line styles.