Working With Documents

nanoCAD allows documents to be saved with *.dwg (drawing format), *.dwt (template format) and *.dxf (graphic data exchange format) extensions. There is support of file formats created in the following AutoCAD versions:

• AutoCAD 2018-2019/LT2018-2019
• AutoCAD 2013-2017/LT2013-2017
• AutoCAD 2010-2012/LT2010-2012
• AutoCAD 2007-2009/LT2007-2009
• AutoCAD 2004-2006/LT2004-2006
• AutoCAD 2000-2002/LT2000-2002
• AutoCAD R14/LT98/ LT97
• AutoCAD R13/LT95
• AutoCAD R11
• In the nanoCAD button menu and on the Quick access toolbar:

Commands to work with documents are in the File menu:

and on the Main toolbar:

Creation of New Document

A new document, created at the first launch, has the name Untitled0. All subsequent documents have the names Untitled1, Untitled2 etc. Documents which have been modified and not saved have a star symbol (*):

Creating a New Document Using Template

Command line: QNEW

The command allows you to create a new document based on a template file.

The template is a drawing used for the creation of new drawings and contains some base settings (type and accuracy of units, drawing limits, settings of SNAP and GRID modes; managing of layers; dimension and text styles; types and weights of lines etc.) and graphic objects (main titles, borders and logos). Template files have *.dwt extension. Changes made to a drawing created based on a template do not affect the template itself.

Note

In nanoCAD, you can create and use templates not only for new documents, but also for importing and exporting documents.

Document template samples, delivered with nanoCAD, are in the folder C:\Users\User_name\AppData\Roaming\Nanosoft**Ошибка! Неизвестное имя свойства документа.** 25.0\Templates:

Template files having izometr in the name, contain dimension styles settings to place dimensions in isometry.

When nanoCAD is launched in the basic configuration, the Default.dwt template is used by default. When nanoCAD is launched in the Mechanica configuration, the nCad_ESKD.dwt template is used by default. When nanoCAD is launched in the Construction configuration, the nCad_SPDS.dwt template is used.

The list of templates offered for selection in the menu is limited. To select another template not presented in the list, open the Choose Template dialog or configure the Templates Names List in the Template Usage section of the Options dialog (OPTIONS):

To specify list of templates:

• 1. Click twice on the Templates Names List.
• 2. Click the button.
• 3. In the Open dialog box select template files.
• 4. Click Open.

Note

You can specify a list of templates from different folders. Select manually or using the clipbook paths to templates and templates’ names, separating them with semicolon. Spaces after semicolon are not allowed. Semicolon should be also placed at the end of the list.

To create a custom template, you need to save the drawing as a drawing template file or change the file extension to *.dwt.

Choose Template Dialog

The command opens the Choose Template dialog box with a list of template files.

The right side of the box displays a preview window and a brief description of the selected template specified in the command line.

The list of templates is managed in the Template Usage section of the Options (OPTIONS) dialog.

You can also Add or Delete a template by selecting the appropriate command in the context menu:

The order of templates can be changed by simply dragging and dropping.

Opening a Document

Command opens the dialog to find and open the desired file.

Note! Navigation pane in nanoCAD list displays only those folders that are specified in Standard directories section of the Options dialog:

To open a document, you can drag it into the working area of nanoCAD.

It is available to open document for reading or open as copy:

Open as read-only – Open the document for reading without editing.

Open as copy – Open the copy of document. Prefix Copy (N) added to the file name. N is number of copies.

Note

Assign new name for copied and read-only files to save changes.

There are two lists to quick access to the last opened files and folders in nanoCAD button and the File menu:

The last opened file has the icon.

When opening a document, it checks to see if annotative scales and empty entries in the sort table need to be cleared.

Opening a Document from the Command Line

There is a possibility to launch nanoCAD from the command line of the operating system with simultaneous opening the required document on the required layout or with the required named view. When you specify the layout name, it will be activated after opening. When specifying the named view, a model space will be activated and the required view will be displayed.

Syntax of the command line call:

/ncad.exe [/drawing_file] [-list “layout name”] [-v “view name”]

or

/ncad.exe [/drawing_file] [/list “layout name”] [/v “view name”]

Names of files and path containing spaces should be enclosed in double quotes. For example:

“C:\Program Files\Nanosoft AS\nanoCAD x64 20.0\nCad.exe”

“C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Nanosoft AS\nanoCAD x64

20.0\Samples\nCAD Mechanica. Shaft.dwg”

Note

Methods for loading a program module along with nanoCAD launch from the command line of the operating system are discussed in the Run nanoCAD from the command line with a program module section.

Options:

Example of loading a drawing file and LISP-script in the hidden mode:

"C:\Program Files\Nanosoft AS\nanoCAD x64 20.0\nCad.exe" 
"C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Nanosoft AS\nanoCAD x64
20.0\Samples\nCAD Mechanica. Shaft.dwg" -invisible -g 
"C:\modules\plot_pdf.lsp"

Replacement of Missing Font in the Document

If a document contains a font, which is not included in the program, when you open the document it is automatically replaced with an alternative font. There is a message in the command line like:

By default, nanoCAD uses CS_Gost2304.shx font for replacement If necessary, you can set other alternate file name in the Texts Settings of the Options dialog box (menu Tools – Options), by double clicking the font name and typing a new font name.

Documents Protection when Sharing

nanoCAD has mechanism protecting file against losing information when the file is opened by several users.

A message appears when user opens file that is open by another user or when file is read-only:

or

If the document is read-only, inscription Read Only appears in the document tab:

Only user who opened the file first can save the under the same name. Others receive message even if the first user closes the file:

Other users can save the file after reopen.

Working with Document Tabs

When many documents are opened, every document is opened in a separate window with a tab in the top part of the working area. To switch between them, select the tab or click the Active files button in the top right corner of the document window:

If you place the cursor over the document tab, a tooltip with the information about file location is shown:

The context menu permits the selection of display options for the documents:

Commands of the context menu:

Open Doc from File

Location

Starts the OPEN command with passage to the folder from which the current

document was loaded to search for and open the next file

(OPENFOLDERCURDWG command).

Open File Location Passage to the location where the file is stored in Windows Explorer

(OPENFOLDERCURDWGWITHEXPLORER command).

Copy Full File Path Copies full path of file to clipboard(COPYFULLPATH command).

Save Saves a document with the previous name.

Save As… Saves a document with a new name.

Save All documents Saves all opened documents(SAVEALL command).

Close Closes a document.

Close All documents Closes all opened documents(CLOSEALL command).

Close All But This Closes all opened documents except the current(CLOSEALLBUTTHIS

command).

1 Viewport In model: Representation of the document tab window in the 1st viewport.

In paper: Creating a viewport that fits within the printable area of the layout.

2 Viewports

Vertical

In model: Dividing the document tab window into 2 viewports vertically.

In paper: Creating 2 identical vertical viewports fit into the print area of the

layout.

2 Viewports

Horizontal

In model: Dividing the document tab window into 2 viewports horizontally.

In paper: Creating 2 identical horizontal viewports fit into the print area of

the layout.

3 Viewports In model: Dividing the document tab window into 3 viewports.

In paper: Creating 3 viewports fit into the print area of the layout. The command line prompts you to select a configuration for the layout of

viewports:

Enter an option

[Horizontal/Vertical/Left/Right/Top/Bottom]

4 Viewports In model: Dividing the document tab window into 4 viewports.

In paper: Creating 4 identical viewports fit into the print area of the layout.

Plot Prints a document.

Drawing Utilities Utilities to check, clean and correct a document.

Drawing Properties Information about the document.

Float Window Sets the document window to a floating state.

New Horizontal

Tab Group

Horizontal display of a tab in the working area.

New Vertical Tab

Group

Vertical display of a tab in the working area.

You can change the location of tabs by dragging them in one document window or into other windows. If you release the left button when dragging a tab over a document working area, the context menu with tab display options will be shown:

Floating Document Window

Context menu of the document tab: Float Window

Command line: FLOAT_WINDOW

The Float Window command transfers a current document tab in a floating window state.

A document’s floating window is always in the foreground. It does not contain a command line, it cannot contain other document tabs. Functional panels cannot be attached to it.

In the Options dialog you can specify whether the floating window should contain the ribbon, menu or status bar.

Docked Document Window

Context menu of the document tab: Dock Window

The Dock Window command attaches the floating document window back to the main window as a document tab.

Drawing Properties

Edit general information, keywords, custom properties of the drawing.

The command allows you to obtain information about the drawing and enter identification data.

The General tab displays the following parameters: file name, type; location, size, time the file was created, modified and last opened.

The Attributes section shows file attributes set at the systemic level:

• Read only the file is protected from rereading;
• Archive the file is subject to archiving (used when selecting files for backup);
• Hidden not shown in lists and can be opened only by entering the name directly.
• System the file is a system one.

On the Document tab you can enter the information about the following parameters: In the Summary tab:

Title Document Title.

Subject Document subject

Author Document author.

Keywords Keywords for search.

Comments Comments.

Hyperlink base Hyperlink base for all relative hyperlink in drawing.

Statistics tab

The Statistics tab displays the drawing data: time it was created and modified, information about modification author, revision number and total editing time.

The Custom tab sets additional properties of the current drawing. The properties set on this tab can be used when inserting fields. They are displayed in the Field dialog box (Custom properties – List of the Add custom property section).

Properties can be sorted by the Name column or by the Value column. To sort, left-click on the column header. The sorting direction is indicated by an arrow.

To assign a new custom property to the current drawing:

1. Press Add button.

• 2. Enter a unique property name in the Name field. The name should contain at least one character and no more than 255 characters. The following characters are not allowed: < > / \ ” ” : ; ? * | , = `.
• 3. Enter the Value property, if necessary (a field may be empty).
• 4. Press OK. The name and the value are displayed in the Custom properties list.

To remove property – select it and press Delete button**.** Multiple properties can be selected at once. Multiple selection is performed by holding down the SHIFT or CTRL keys.

Note

If the removed custom property is used in any of the fields in a drawing, when the fields are updated, that field will display the latest value.

Closing a Document

When closing an existing document, you should save the changes to it; the document is saved with its name.

When closing a new document, the program offers to save changes and opens the Save Document File dialog box.

To close all open drawings, you can use the Close All command (CA, CLOSEALL). For each drawing that has unsaved changes, you should confirm saving.

Saving a Document

Documents can be saved in the *.dwg drawing format, in the *.dxf graphic data exchange format and in the *.dwt template format. Save, Save As and WBLOCK commands are used.

The use of file formats when saving documents using the Save and Save as commands is selected and configured in the Save documents section of the Options dialog (menu Manage > Options):

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Saving of an existing document

The command saves a document with its name.

Saving a new document

The Save command opens the Save Document File dialog box, where you can specify a path for a document and change the default file name:

The full file name (including the file path length and extension) must be no more than 255 characters.

The nanoCAD list on the left side of the dialog displays only those user folders whose path is specified in the corresponding subsection Common files of the Standard directories section of the Options dialog (OPTIONS):

The Quick acces list on the left side of the dialog displays the Explorer’s quick access folders. You can add a folder by selecting the Pin to Quick Access command in the folder’s context menu or by dragging the folder to the list. You can remove a folder from the list by selecting the Unpin from Quick Access command in the folder’s context menu.

To save a document:

• 1. Specify the path to the file in the Folder drop-down list;
• 2. Type the name in the File name field;
• 3. Select the format in the File type field;
• 4. Select the Save button.

Saving the file will be done without specifying the path and file name in the future.

Note

Format, specified in the File type field, is also used as default to save all documents with Save, Save As and WBLOCK commands.

To save all open drawings, you can use the Save All command (SA, SAVEALL). If the drawing is not named, you will be prompted for a file name when you run the command.

Saving a Document with Another Name

Menu: File – Save As

Hotkeys: CTRL+SHIFT+S

Command line: SAVEAS, SAVEASDOCUMENT

Every time you select the Save As command, nanoCAD will offer to specify a path to the file and/or change the file name in the Save Document File dialog. The selected path and entered file name are set by default, and when the Save command is used, the file will be saved with the path and name specified earlier.

Note

Navigation pane in the nanoCAD list displays only those folders that are specified in Common files location section of the Options dialog.

The nanoCAD list on the left side of the dialog displays user folders, the path to which is specified in the corresponding subsection Common files of the Standard directories section of the Options dialog (OPTIONS):

The Quick access list on the left side of the dialog displays the Explorer’s quick access folders. You can add a folder by selecting the Pin to Quick Access command in the folder’s context menu or by dragging the folder to the list. You can remove a folder from the list by using the Unpin from Quick Access command in the folder’s context menu.

The selected path and the entered file name are set as default values, i.e. in the future, when using the Save command, the file will be saved to the location selected by the Save as command with the specified name.

The path and name should not be the same as the name of a file opened in another session or by another user (document sharing protection).

To save the document with another name:

• 1. Select folder to save the file.
• 2. Change the name in File name field.
• 3. Select the desired file format in Save as type list.
• 4. Click the Save button.

The Save As command can be used to change the format of a file, specified to save all documents using Save, Save As and WBLOCK.

Saving a Document or Its Part Using the WBLOCK Command

The WBLOCK command is started from the command line and allows saving of an entire document and also part of a drawing using the Write Block dialog:

The Write Block dialog box complements and extends the capabilities of the Save and Save As commands, allowing the saving of an entire document (Entire drawing parameter) and also part of a drawing (Block and Objects parameters). For more information, see Saving a block to a separate file section.

AutoSaving and Backup

To minimize losses caused by software or hardware failures and any other consequences, nanoCAD has auto saving and backup functions.

AutoSaving

If Autosaving mode is switched on, the data is saved at the specified intervals.

Attention

Autosaving mode is automatically disabled while the REFEDIT mode is on. After you exit REFEDIT mode autosaving automatically resumed.

The time and date of the auto saving is added in round brackets to a file name with *.autosave extension, for example: .dwg(20-29-44_15.08.2010).autosave

Note

The time of autosaving is the time of the first autosaving and it is not updated further.

Note

If the program is closed normally, autosaved documents are removed. If there is software or hardware failure and any other consequences, autosaved files are not removed.

Note

You can restore the previous session of a document from the auto saved file. Do not close the program and document, then copy autosaved file to another folder and rename as described below.

A default folder for auto saved files: C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Temp.

Attention

If you specify another folder for autosaving, the current (open) document is autosaved into the previous folder. The document is saved into the specified folder only after it is opened again.

If a user-defined folder is deleted or renamed, autosave files will be placed in the default folder C:\Users\User_name\AppData\Local\Temp.

To open and work with an auto saved file, change its extension to *.dwg (delete the additional information in round brackets and the *.autosave extension).

The auto saving parameters are specified in the AutoSave and Backup section of the Options dialog box (Tools menu > Options):

Parameters:

Autosaving every min Time interval between savings. To switch off auto saving, set 0 for

this parameter.

Autosave folder Folder to save files.

The first launch of nanoCAD after a failure starts from the Recover documents dialog box, containing information about the original file (name, path and creation time) and last autosave time.

To recover document data, click on the file name and select one of the following in the context menu:

Recover from autosaved document Opens the autosaved file with all changes made when the document was autosaved last time. Open original file Ignores the automatically saved version and opens the original document (if it exists). The autosave file in the autosave folder is not deleted. Delete autosaved file Deletes the automatically saved versions. No files are opened.

Open both files Opens the original file and a new document restored from the autosave

file.

The recovered document has not yet been saved anywhere: it contains an asterisk in the title. The header of the recovered document contains the path to the original (source) file and the word (Recovered). The AutoSave

file in the AutoSave folder is not deleted.

Note

If you click the Cancel button in the Recover Document dialog, the autosaved file from the autosave folder (Temp by default) is not deleted.

Backup

nanoCAD creates two backup copies of the file with the same name, but with different extensions.

Original Backup copy (file *.original) stores content of the opened or new (but saved!) as it was on first save command. The original backup copy is created only once – on the first editing session. In future sessions, this file will not be overwritten/saved if the path for the Backup folder (in AutoSave and Backup section in Options dialog) was not changed or the backup file was not deleted. Original backup copy (file with *.original extension) saves document data as it was when the file was opened for editing (original backup is created at the beginning of the session of file editing).

Backup copy (file with *.bak extension) is often updated during the document editing process (at every saving by the user). Different contingencies can occur with a document during the working process, for example, malfunctions of hardware, failure of the software or improper actions of a user. Backup copy allows the user to recover information and minimize losses of information by means of periodic savings (for example, every 15-20 minutes) of the file by the user.

Backup copies are saved in the folder where the document file is saved.

Backup parameters are specified in the AutoSave and Backup section of the Options dialog box (Tools menu > Options):

Parameters:

Create backup copy Switches backup mode on/off.

Backup original Switches original backup mode on/off.

Backup folder Location to save backup copies.

To recover data from a backup copy, change the file extension to *.dwg.

Saving File History and Possibility to Return to Previous States

Usually, files created as a result of autosave can be useful only in case of abnormal end of the program session, since in this case these files remain on the disk. In case of normal end of work with a document, autosave files are automatically deleted.

Sometimes you may need to return to previous states of a document file, for example, if it wasn’t saved by mistake.

In this case you should enable and configure the save file history mode. It is based on the mechanism of autosaving files and is configured in the Options dialog box – Section Save documents – File history:

• Save file history (FILEHISTORY variable) whether maintain autosave history or not (0 disabled or 1 – enabled);
• Number of stored file versions (FILEHISTORYMAX variable) maximum number of autosaved file versions;
• File versions are stored for <> days (FILEHISTORYDURATION variable) period of storing autosaved file versions in the storage (in days).
• File history folder folder for storing autosaved copies.

Files created in this mode are saved with the Read-only attribute to protect against overwriting. When opening a file, a warning message is displayed, and in the document tab, the inscription Read-only is added to its name with a dash in parentheses. To work with the file, save a copy using the Save As command.

Files are deleted from the storage:

• when trying to save a file version in the storage, which already contains a number of file versions equal to FILEHISTORYMAX (the earliest version is deleted);
• when closing nanoCAD, the storage period for files in the storage is checked. If the file is in the storage longer than FILEHISTORYDURATION, then it is deleted.

The Open file history command (OPENHISTORY) is intended to open a file from the storage.

Incremental Saving

In the incremental saving mode, a file is not overwritten whole, - only changes made after the previous save are added in it. And only if the size of all accumulated changes exceeds half of the original document size, the file will be overwritten in whole.

This significantly accelerates the process of saving large drawings. The incremental save is especially effective when creating backup during autosave.

By default, the incremental saving mode is enabled only for autosave. Normal saving is performed in a standard way.

You can disable the incremental saving mode or enable it for saving operations in the Incremental saving mode section of the Options dialog:

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Off The mode in which incremental save will not be applied.

Full save and full autosave will be performed.

Autosave The mode in which full save and incremental autosave will

be performed.

Save and Autosave The mode in which incremental save and incremental

autosave will be performed.

Import

Command line: IMPORT, IMP

You can import data in AutoCAD format (*.dwg) and data exchange format (*.dxf) into nanoCAD documents.

Many existing file formats can be imported in nanoCAD documents, which allows for exchange of graphic and other data of various CAD systems and applications.

The following data formats are imported in nanoCAD documents:

The following 3D formats are also available for import Subject to the presence of 3D Module :

To import data:

• 1. Start the File Import command;
• 2. In the Open Vector File dialog box select a format and specify a file name;

The nanoCAD list in the navigation area on the left side of the dialog displays user folders whose path is specified in the corresponding Common files subsection of the Standard directories section of the Options dialog (OPTIONS).

The Quick access list on the left side of the dialog displays the Explorer quick access folders. You can add a folder by selecting the Pin to quick access command in the context menu of the folder or by dragging the folder to the list. You can remove a folder from the list by using the Unpin from quick access command in the context menu of the folder.

3. Select Open.

The ways to use templates for imported documents are set in the Options: Template Usage > For imported documents.

Importing PDF Files Data

You can import geometry, raster images and TrueType text objects from PDF files into nanoCAD documents.

Based on the tasks, you can import PDF files data in different ways:

• 1. Import data of the entire PDF file or a selected page as nanoCAD objects.
• 2. Convert the inserted PDF underlay in whole or in part into nanoCAD objects.

Note that when importing PDF data, visual information is retained, but the objects themselves will be converted. The conversion result depends on how the objects were saved in the PDF file.

To import PDF files data:

• 1. Run the menu command File – Import PDF.
• 2. In the Open dialog box, select PDF file to be imported, click the Open button.
• 3. Set the desired parameters in the Import PDF dialog box.
• 4. When importing from multi-page files, select the page or pages to be imported. Pages can be selected by clicking on the thumbnail picture or by entering the page number of the Select field. To select several pages, their numbers should be separated by commas. Multiple selection of page thumbnails can be performed when holding down SHIFT or CTRL keys.
• 5. Click OK.

Options:

File name: Name of the file to import.

Button to call the Open dialog box to select another PDF file to import.

Pages

Display of file data and selection of pages when importing multi-page files.

Enables/Disables information about the page being inserted (type, size, measurement units). Buttons to control the page display scale in the dialog viewport. Select Displays and enters imported pages numbers. You can insert several pages at once by listing them separated by commas.

Location

Specify insertion point on-screen

Enables/Disables the mode to select the data insertion point through indicating by cursor on the screen after closing the dialog box.

Buttons to control transition between file pages in the dialog box.

Scale Sets a different scale for the imported data.

Rotation Sets the rotation angle when importing.

PDF data to import

Selecting specific data to import.

Vector geometry Imports PDF vector data.

Solid fill Inclusion of all areas having a solid fill in import.

TrueType text Imports text objects created with TrueType fonts.

Create Mtext Creates multiline text when importing TrueType text.

Text objects that use SHX fonts are imported as geometric objects.

Raster images Imports raster images by saving them into external files and

subsequently inserting into the current document.

Image files are saved by default to the folder specified in the Options > Standard Directories > PDF import images location.

Layers

Use PDF layers Creates layers based on PDF life layers when importing. Layers

names will begin with PDF prefix.

Create object layers Creates layers for each of the common types of objects imported

from PDF file: PDF_Geometry, PDF_Images and PDF_Text.

Current layer Places imported data on the current layer.

Import options

Import as Selects the data import options.

Block the imported data into a block or combine.

Group the imported data into a group.

Convert solid fills to

hatches

Converts solid fill to solid hatch.

Apply lineweight

properties

Imports vector geometry with the same lineweight as in PD file.

When the option is disabled, vector geometry is imported with

default lineweight.

Remove duplicate

entities

Disabling this option may speed up file import.

Importing PDF Underlay Data

Command line: PDF2DWG

The command converts PDF underlay (fully or partially) into nanoCAD objects. PDF underlay should be inserted into the document in advance.

To convert PDF underlay data:

• 1. Run the PDF2DWG command.
• 2. Select the PDF underlay.
• 3. Specify on the screen a rectangular area to import part of objects or select the All option in the command line to import all underlay data.
• 4. At the prompt in the command line: Keep or upload PDF underlay? [Keep/Upload] - select the desired option.

The uploaded underlays are not displayed and are not printed, but references to them are saved in the External references dialog.

The Options command line option opens a brief dialog PDF import settings to set import parameters.

Options:

PDF data to import

Selection of certain data for import.

Vector geometry Import of PDF vector data.

Solid fill Inclusion of all areas having a solid fill in import.

TrueType text Import of text objects created with TrueType fonts.

Create Mtext Creates multiline text when importing TrueType text.

Text objects that use SHX fonts are imported as geometric objects.

Raster images Import of raster images by saving them into external files and

subsequent insertion into the current document.

Image files are saved by default to the folder specified in the Options > Standard Directories > PDF import images location.

Layers

Use PDF layers Creates layers based on PDF life layers when importing. Layers

names will begin with PDF prefix.

Create object layers Creates layers for each of the common types of objects imported

from PDF file: PDF_Geometry, PDF_Images and PDF_Text.

Current layer Places imported data on the current layer.

Import parameters

Import as Selection of data import option: combine imported data in a block

Block or combine imported data in a group.

Group

Convert solid fills to

hatches

properties

Converting solid fill to solid hatch.

Apply lineweight Importing vector geometry with the same lineweight as in PDF file.

When the option is disabled, vector geometry is imported with

default lineweight.

Remove duplicate

entities

Disabling this option may speed up file import.

Export

Command line: EXPORT, EXP

A nanoCAD document data can be exported to:

• document format AutoCAD (*.dwg);
• file format for exchange of graphical information (*.dxf);
• 3D PDF (*.pdf) format to visualize 3D models in Acrobat Reader;
• DWF (*.dwf, *.dwfx) format for exchange of large volumes of data of 2D and 3D design, reading, printing and reviewing;
• STL (*.stl) layout format used for stereolithography. STL files are used in additive manufacturing to create 3D prototypes from 3D CAD models. Export options available for STL.

Note

The 3D PDF export command is intended for 3D content only. To save data in regular PDF format, use Document plot and select a PDF plotter, such as the Internal PDF Plotter.

In case 3D Module is available, the following 3D are also available for export:

You can export both the entire document content or only selected data.

Unlike the Save as command, the Export command allows you to save the edited document with a new name without closing it.

For STL and JT formats the Settings… button is available, which opens the Export’s options dialog box:

Options:

Visible items only – enables/disables the export mode of only the active model and construction geometry that are displayed in the part or assembly. Only working solids are exported. Simplified solids contained in the assembly are not exported.

STL output type

Single STL file – creates a single STL document containing the components of the assembly. This option is not available in documents of parts.

STL file for each component – creates separate STL documents for each component of the assembly. Only working solids are exported; construction solids and simplified data are not exported.

Accuracy parameters

Conversion accuracy – the maximum allowable deviation in deflection (the distance between the converted surface and the triangle mesh). The range of values is determined by the dimensions of the

exported model and is set in drawing units. The lower the value, the more accurate and smooth the model is and the larger the file size.

Normal’s deviation – the maximum allowable deviation in the angle of normals (the upper limit of nonparallelism of normals to the surface at any two points under the surface). The angle of deviation of the normal is set in the range from 1 to 60 degrees. The lower the value, the greater the accuracy of the model.

Max chord len – the maximum allowable distance between adjacent points (side of a triangle). The range of values is determined by the dimensions of the exported model and is set in drawing units. The lower the value, the greater the accuracy of the model.

The following options for setting accuracy parameters are available:

• Other manual specification of the Conversion accuracy and/or Normal’s deviation parameters (entered in the field or set using the slider).
• High selection of high model accuracy, normal deviation of 1 degree is automatically set.
• Low selection of low model accuracy, normal deviation of 60 degrees is automatically set.
• Chord len specification of the Max chord len parameter (entering the distance in the field).

Export of All Data

After running the command, in the opened Save Document File dialog:

• 1. Specify the path for the exported file in the Folder drop-down list.
• 2. Type a name in the File name field.
• 3. Select a format in the File type field.
• 4. Select the Save button.

In the nanoCAD list of dialog left part, only those user folders are displayed, the path to which is specified in the Common files location subsection of the Standard directories section of the Options dialog:

The Quick access list on the left side of the dialog displays the Explorer’s quick access folders. You can add a folder by selecting the Pin to Quick Access command in the folder’s context menu or by dragging the folder to the list. You can remove a folder from the list by selecting the Unpin from Quick Access command in the folder’s context menu.

Export of Selected Data

The export procedure for selected data is the same as the export procedure for all the data, except that the Selection Only checkbox is selected in the Save Document File dialog box:

Attention

If no objects were selected before saving, the Selection Only checkbox is unavailable.

Integration with CAE Fidesys

CAE Fidesys is a strength analysis package, it is a convenient and effective tool that allows you to carry out a full cycle of strength engineering analysis:

• Loading and analysis of CAD model;
• Creating computation grid;
• Settings loads and mechanic properties of material;
• Selecting and adjusting FEM solver;
• Calculation of model;
• Visualizing calculation results.

Interaction with CAE Fidesys is possible if FidesysBundle is installed on the user’s computer and through a cloud solution – Sim4Design, which requires an Internet connection and a modern browser.

The commands to manage integration process are located in the menu Tools – Fidesys:

• Open in FidesysBundle
• Export model for Sim4Design
• Download CAE Fidesys

Open in FidesysBundle

Ribbon: Output – Export > Open in FidesysBundle

Menu: Tools – Fidesys > Open in FidesysBundle

Command line: FIDESYSEXPORTTOBUNDLE

Uploads the current 3D model (if any) to the FidesysBundle package for further full engineering analysis.

Export Model for Sim4Design

Ribbon: Output – Export > Export model for Sim4Design

Menu: Tools – Fidesys > Export model for Sim4Design

Command line: FIDESYSEXPORTFORCLOUD

Allows you to save the current model in a suitable format for use in Sim4Design cloud (www.sim4design.com) .

Download CAE Fidesys

Ribbon: Output – Export > Download CAE Fidesys

Menu: Tools – Fidesys > Download CAE Fidesys

Command line: FIDESYSDOWNLOADBUNDLE

Opens the FidesysBundle download page the access to 30-day trial version.

Create Transmit Package

Ribbon: Output –Export > Etransmit

Menu: File – Etransmit…

Command line: ETRANSMIT

This command forms packages of files for transmitting to other computer (ZIP archive or folder with files) and email a package of files (*.eml file)

In some CAD “set of files” term is used instead “package of files”.

The package automatically or manually includes all files associated with the drawing.

File types included in the package:

• current drawing file and attached external links (*.dwg);

• font files and line type files (*.shx, *.ttf);

• *.dwf files;

• *.dgn files;

• *.pdf files;

• raster files, including texture rasters;

• point cloud files;

• 3D files.

The Formation of a package of files dialog box displays all files referenced by the current drawing in a tree view :

Or in the form of a table , which presents information about each file included in the package: (Name, Size, Type, Date, Saved path)

Files marked with and are included in transmittal package.

At the top of the window, Statistics on loaded and unloaded external links and underlays are displayed.

Buttons:

Adding external files to a package

Opens a standard file open dialog for manual adding a file to a package. The added files have the icon.

Open the package creation settings window

Opens the Settings for generating a package of files dialog box:

Package parameters

Package type:

• Zip (*.zip) creates a package of files in the form of a zip archive;
• Folder with files (not sent by email) creates a package of files in the form of a folder with files.

Send by Email – enables the mode of generating a *.eml file;

Additional parameters:

• Visibility of statistics enables/disables display of the Statistics section in the Formation of a package of files dialog.
• Include fonts includes font files in the package (the Fonts folder is created);
• Include 3D-files includes 3D-files in the package;
• Include point clouds includes point clouds in the package;
• Include textures from materials includes texture files created and/or used in the drawing into the package (the Textures folder is created);

Include unloaded External References – includes unloaded external references in the file package.

Path parameters

Use Organized Folder Structure – duplicates the folder structure for files of the generated package, changing absolute paths to relative ones. The root folder is the top-level folder in a hierarchical folder tree.

Place all files in one folder – all files will be placed in one folder.

Keep files and folders as is – the folder structure that existed at the time the package was created is completely preserved.

Rest Settings – restores standard (default) file package creation settings.

Form a package Starts the formation of a file package (ZIP archive or folder with files).

When the Send by Email mode is enabled, it also creates a file in *.eml format and automatically opens it with the mail client installed on the computer. The generated package (ZIP archive) is attached as an application.

Cancel Closes the dialog box without saving changes.

To create transmittal package:

• 1. Run Etransmit command.
• 2. Click the Settings button and specify the required parameters.
• 3. Uncheck the files that should not be included in the package. Multiple selection is possible using the SHIFT and CTRL buttons.
• 4. To include additional files, click the Add file… button in the Create Transmittal dialog box, then select files in standard dialog Open.
• 5. Click the Form a package button. Specify a file name and locate the folder where you want to create the transmittal package in Save as dialog box.

The generated package of files also includes an information file with the *.txt extension, containing a list of all included and excluded files (including folders), instructions and notes for users.

You can set up Etransmit settings in the Etransmit section of the Options dialog (menu Tools – Options).

Sending by Email

Menu: File – Sending by Email…

Command line: ETRANSMITDWG

The command generates a file in *.eml format and automatically opens it with the mail client installed on the computer for sending by e-mail.

To send the current drawing by Email:

• 1. Run the Sending by Email command.
• 2. Specify the name and the path for storing the *.eml file in the standard Save as dialog.
• 3. Select a mail client and specify the data for sending the current drawing by e-mail.

CAD Standards

The application of standards is relevant in case of collaborative work on one project. In this case it may be necessary to create corporate standards to ensure the uniformity of drawing files design, which would simplify the understanding of drawings by other team members, shorten the time of the project work and reduce the number of possible errors.

The use of standards determines the sets of common properties of a drawing’s named objects, such as layers, text styles, dimension styles, linetypes. A user or administrator can create, use and check standards preset in drawings. The check for standards violations can be carried out both manually and automatically, for example, when saving, plotting, replicating a document.

Creating a Standards File

After the standard is defined, it should be saved in a standards file – a file with DWS extension. One standards file can be associated with several drawing files. A drawing associated with a standards file can be checked for these standards violations automatically and manually.

To create a standards file, open a new document, in which configure layers, dimension styles, linetypes and text styles in accordance with the established norms. Then save the document in DWS format using Save as command.

To check a drawing for compliance with standards, a DWS standards file should be attached to it. DWSfiles should be saved in the current program version format. To save a DWS-file in a previous version format, first save the file in the desired version DWG format, and then rename it by changing extension to .dws.

One standard file can be associated with several drawing files. A drawing associated with a standard file can be checked for these standards violation in automatic and manual mode.

Association of Standards with a Document

Note

The Standards audit button is displayed in the status bar only if at least one standard file was associated with a drawing.

To be able to check the document for the relevant standards, associate the standards file with the document.

When trying to check standards of a document not associated with a single standards file, an alert will appear:

Standards are associated with a document in the Configure standards dialog box. You can open it from the ribbon, from the menu or directly by reference in pop-up message.

Standards tab

On this tab you can associate standards files with a document and set the sequence of checking files. The left part of the box displays the associated standards files, the right one gives a brief description.

Associate a new standards file.

One standards file can be associated with several drawing files.

Disable the selected standards file.

When checking a drawing, there may be conflicts between norms in different standards files, if different values are set in several standards files for one and the same parameter, for example, color of the particular layer. In such cases the higher priority is for the standards file, which is located higher in the list. If

necessary, the standards file order can be changed by buttons to change the

parameters’ priority.

Configure tab

On this tab you can disable the existing checkers that are not required at the moment. For example, if you know that changes you make to a drawing concern only the text, to save time you can limit it to checking a drawing with the layer plug-ins and text styles plug-in, and disable the rest. By default, all plug-ins are used to check drawings for standards violations.

Options

Check… Checks a document for standards violations.

Settings… Opens the Check settings dialog box.

OK Saves changes and closes the dialog box.

Checking Standards

Note

The Standards audit button is displayed in the status bar only if at least one standard file was associated with a drawing.

When checking a drawing for standards violations, the parameters of each named object of a specific type are checked against the corresponding parameters in the corresponding standards files. For example, parameters of each layer in the drawing are checked against the layers parameters specified in the standards file.

The check can be performed both manually and automatically (setting standard checking parameters). After a warning message appears, you can make a choice: correct the violation or leave it unchanged:

After the warning appears, you can choose to correct the violation or ignore it.

If you choose to fix the violation, the Check dialog box opens. If it is not required to fix the violation, select Save non-standard object, when the alert appears.

Each detected violation can be fixed or ignored. Information on each detected but not fixed standards violation is saved in the drawing. You can turn off the display of information on such ignored objects the next time you check the drawing.

If there is no preferred fix option for the current standards violation, there will be no options highlighted in the Replace with list, and the Fix button is not available.

A check can uncover two types of errors:

• An object with a nonstandard name in the drawing being checked. For example, a layer named Wall is present in the drawing, but not found in any associated standards file.
• A named object with a standard name has nonstandard properties. For example, in the drawing the Wall layer has one color, while another color is specified in the standards file for the Wall layer.

Detected elements with nonstandard names are purged from the drawing. All objects associated with the nonstandard element are associated with other element, which replaces that being purged. For example, when detecting a nonstandard layer Wall, it can be replaced with the standard layer Archwall. In this case, in the Fix mode of the Check dialog box all objects from the Wall layer are transferred to the Arch-wall layer, then the Wall layer is purged from the drawing.

If in the Check dialog box the Mark this problem as ignored is flagged for the detected violation, then notifications on detected violations related to this named object will not be displayed in future.

Once the entire drawing has been audited, the Check complete message is displayed; it reports all standards violations found in the drawing, as well as the details for violations: fixed automatically, fixed manually, ignored.

Note

To check several drawings for compliance with standards, use the Batch File Processing utility with the Batch Standards (BATCHSTANDARDS) current profile.

Standards Check Options

Status bar: context menu of the button Check standards > Settings…

Dialog box Configure Standards: button Settings…

Command line: STANDARDSSETTINGS

Note

The Standards audit button is displayed in the status bar only if at least one standard file was associated with a drawing.

Dialog box for setting standards check.

Options:

Notification settings

(system variable STANDARDSVIOLATION)

Disable standards Turns off notifications on standards violations and absence of standards files.

notifications

Display alert upon standards violation

Turns on notifications in finding standards violations while working on the drawing in form of pop-up box that proposes options.

Display standards status bar icon Turns on notifications in finding standards violations while working on the drawing through an icon in the status bar.

Check standards by the command

Save, Save as, Import, Plot, eTransmit

Selects the commands in performing which the standards should be checked for violations.

Check options

Automatically fix nonstandard properties

Manages the mode of automatic fix of nonstandard objects, if a more preferable replacement is available. Automatic replacement occurs only in cases when a nonstandard object has a name that matches the name of a standard object having different properties.

In this case, the properties of the standard object are assigned to the nonstandard object. After the check is completed the number of automatically fixed violations is displayed in the alert box.

Show ignored problems

If in the Check dialog box the Mark this problem as ignored is flagged for the detected violation, then notifications on this problem will still be displayed in future.

Preferred to use for replacement

The list of standards files which is the basis for default selection of a recommended fix in the Replace with list in the Check dialog box.

• If there is a recommended replacement (flagged in the Replace with list), then this recommended replacement is selected by default regardless of a file selected in this field.
• If no recommended replacement is found, and a standards file (DWS) is selected, the first replacement of the selected standards file is chosen.
• If None is selected for this option and a recommended replacement is absent, nothing is selected for replacement.

Layer Translator

Layer Translator is intended for converting layers of the current drawing in accordance with the standards specified for layers.

You can also use the Layer Translator to visually control the contents of layers and to remove unused layers in a drawing.

The command opens the Layer Translator dialog box:

Options

Translate from Selecting a layer to convert from the list of all layers in the current drawing.

To select several layers, press and hold the SHIFT key; to add any layer to the selection, select while holding down the CTRL key.

You can also add layers to your selection using the Selection Filter.

All layers in the list are selected using the Select All context menu command. The Deselect All command deselects all selected layers in the list.

To the left of the layer name there is an indicator of the content of objects on the layer:

– used layer (or current layer);

– the layer does not contain objects.

You can delete unused layers in the current drawing using the context menu Delete unused command.

Selection Filter Using a filter to select layers from the Translate from list. You can use special characters in the filter.

Select Adds filtered layers to the selected layers in the Translate from list.

Translate to Selects the layer whose standards will be used for conversion.

Load… Loading layers into the Translate to list from a drawing (*.dwg), template (*.dwt) or standards file (*.dws).

If the downloaded file already contains a Layer Translation Mappings table (files created using the Save… button), then this information will be displayed in the Layer Translator window.

You can load layers from multiple files into one drawing.

When loading files with same name layers, the layer loaded first is included in the Translate to list. Likewise, the loading of a mapping table element is canceled if it matches one in the drawing.

New… Creates a new layer in the Translate to list.

If you select a layer in the Translate to list before clicking the button, the properties of that layer will be used by default for the new layer.

The name of the new layer should not coincide with existing ones in the Translate to list. The following symbols are not allowed in the name: <>/ "":;?*|,=`.

Map Matches layers from the Translate from and Translate to list and adds them to the Layer Translation Mappings table. Adding is also done by double-clicking on a layer (from or to).

Map same Matching layers that have the same names.

Layer Translation Mappings

A tabular preview of the list of layers to be converted and the list of properties they will receive: New Layer Name, Color, Linetype, Lineweight, Transparency, and Plot Style.

Double-clicking the left mouse button on the column title separator automatically changes the width of the columns.

You can edit the properties of the destination layer in the Edit Layer dialog box.

Edit… Opens the Edit Layer dialog box, where you can change the properties of the destination layer: Color, Linetype, Lineweight, Transparency, Plot style.

You can also open the Edit Layer dialog box in the Layer Translation Mappings table by double-clicking on the mapping or by using the Edit context menu command.

Remove Removes the selected mapping from the Layer Translation Mappings table.

You can delete all mappings at once using the Delete All context menu command.

Save… Saves the current layer mapping table in a separate file for later use.

Layer mappings are saved in a *.dwg or *.dws file format. The layer translator creates layers in a file and writes mapping information to each of them.

Settings… Opens the Settings dialog box, where you can configure layers translation.

Force Object Color to BYLAYER

Configures the color of objects when translating layers.

Applicable for objects that have Color set other than By Layer.

When the ox is checked, the color of such objects will change to By layer; when the box is unchecked, the color of the objects will remain unchanged.

Force Object Linetype to BYLAYER

Configures the linetype of objects when translating layers.

Applicable for objects that have a Linetype set other than By Layer.

When the box is checked, the linetype of such objects will change to By Layer; when the box is unchecked, the linetype of the objects will remain unchanged.

Force Object Transparency to BYLAYER

Configures the transparency of objects when converting layers.

Applicable for objects that have Transparency set other than By Layer.

When the box is checked, the transparency of such objects will change to By Layer; when the box is unchecked, the transparency of the objects will remain unchanged.

Translate Objects in Blocks

Enables/disables the mode of translating objects in blocks.

When the box is checked, objects in blocks participate in the transformation of layers; when the box is unchecked, objects in blocks remain unchanged on the original layers.

Write Transaction Log Enables/disables the mode of recording translation results in the transaction log.

A file with the drawing name and *.log extension is created in the folder where the source drawing is located.

Show Layer Contents When Selected

Enables/disables view mode for selected layers in the graphics area of the drawing.

You can select a layer from the Source Layers list and from the Layer Mapping Table. When unchecked, all layers in the drawing are displayed

You can select a layer from the Translate from list and from the Layer Translation Mappings table. When unchecked, all layers in the drawing are displayed.

Translate Starts the layer translation process based on the specified mappings.

If the current layer mapping table has not been saved (Save… button), a warning message will appear:

The tr4anslation is performed on all specified layers, including invisible, frozen, and locked layers. When translating layers, the service layers 0 and Defpoints and the layer assigned to the current layer are not deleted.

To translate drawing layers according to specified standards:

• 1. Run the command.
• 2. In the Translate from list, select the layers to translate. If necessary, use the Selection Filter.
• 3. Click the Load… button to load destination layers from a drawing, template, or standards file. Or click the New… button to create a new destination layer. In the Translate to list, select the layer whose standards will be used for translation.
• 4. Click the Map button and check the data in the Layer Translation Mappings table. If necessary, repeat the layer selection to set other mappings.
  • To map layers with the same names, use the Map Same button.
  • To edit destination layers, click the Edit… button or select the Edit context menu command. To remove mappings from the table, click the Remove button or use the Delete, Delete all context menu commands.
• 5. If necessary, click the Save… button to save the mappings.
• 6. Click the Settings… button and select layer translation settings.
• 7. Click the Translate button to start the process of translating drawing layers in accordance with the specified standards.

To delete unused layers in the current drawing:

• 1. Run the command.
• 2. Call the context menu with the right mouse button on the Translate from list.
• 3. Select the Delete unused command.

To visually control the contents of layers in the graphics area of a drawing:

• 1. Run the command.
• 2. Click the Settings… button.
• 3. Check the Show Layer Contents When Selected box. Click ОК.
• 4. Select a layer to view in the drawing graphics area from the Translate from list or from the Layer Translation Mappings table.

Utilities

Errors and damage can occur in document files due to disruptions in power supply, malfunctions of computer hardware, program crashes, transfer of documents on electronic media and transferring over the network etc.

Utilities find and correct errors and damage in problem files as far as possible. Full recovery of data is not guaranteed.

Purging of a document allows deletion of unused elements from the finished document to reduce document size.

Document Audit

Document tab context menu: Drawing Utilities > Audit

Command line: AUDIT

The command allows auditing of an opened document in nanoCAD for errors and correcting some of them. If a document cannot be opened due to damage, use the Recover command.

Correction of all errors is not guaranteed.

After starting the command, in the inquiry Do you want to fix errors? Or [Yes/No]: select Yes.

Audit report is shown in the command line and looks like:

AcDbLine(117689). Error:: Inactive Xdata handle (1157FE) was found.

Audit: Invalid. Fixed:: Replaced: Set to Null. AcDbArc(11768A). Error:: Inactive Xdata handle (1157FE) was found. Audit: Invalid. Fixed:: Replaced: Set to Null. AcDbCircle(119E1F). Error:: Inactive Z coordinate – 1e+100 was found. Audit: Invalid. Fixed:: Replaced: Set to 0.

For more convenient viewing of the protocol at the end of the check, you can call up a text window by pressing the F2 key .

Auditing Geometry

Command line: AUDITGEOMETRY

The command is intended to identify and fix problematic drawing objects located outside the range 1e+20 along Z axis.

The command ensures correction of Z-coordinates for objects located on frozen, locked and disabled layers.

The first opening of a file is accompanied by an automatic check of objects geometry. When geometry errors are found, a dialog is displayed with a message and a choice of action

Fix - immediately run the Audit Geometry command to fix errors.

Cancel - open the file without correcting errors.

Fix - immediately run the Audit Geometry command to fix errors.

Cancel - open the file without correcting errors.

If errors are not fixed, when files are opened again (after re-saving), the geometry audit is started by the command manually.

Note

Hatch audit is not performed in an automatic mode. To find and fix problematic hatches, it is necessary to run the audit manually.

Audit modes:

Audit Auditing Z-coordinates of all objects in a drawing.

Z_coordinates

Audit_Hatches Auditing the correct display of hatches within the boundaries of

contours.

Audit Z coordinates

Audit options:

Yes(fix_errors) Fixes the errors found. Yes(fix_and_log_erro rs) Fixes errors and generate report on found and fixed errors. No Does not fix errors. No(only_log_errors) Creates a report on detected errors without fixing them.

Detected and fixed errors are reported in the Geometry audit log dialog

By clicking the Log dialog button, you can save the log information to a separate file. By default, the Log file is saved in a drawing folder and assigned with the drawing file name with *.log extension.

When saving reports of consecutive audits of Z coordinates and hatches for one drawing, 2 log files will be created:

• first File name.log;
• second with adding the index File name_1.log.

Command prompts:

Select audit type
[audit_Z_coordinates/Audit_hat
ches]
                                     Select Audit_Z_coordinates mode.
Do you want to fix errors? 
[Yes(fix_errors)/Yes(fix_and_l
og_erros)/No/No(only_log_erros
)]
                                     Select the required audit option.

Audit Hatches

Select audit type
[audit_Z_coordinates/audit_Hat
ches/]
                                    Select Audit_hatches mode.

Audit logs are displayed in the command line.

Recovery of Document

Command line: RECOVER

The command allows recover a document that cannot be opened.

Full recovery and correction of all errors are not guaranteed.

After command launch, a standard dialog box to open a file appears, you have to select the folder and the name of the damaged file and after that click the Open button.

The report is shown in the command line and is similar to the report of the Audit command:

AcDbLine(117689). Error:: Inactive XData handle (1157FE) was found.
Audit: Invalid.
Fixed:: Replaced: Set to Null.
AcDbArc(11768A). Error:: Inactive XData handle (1157FE) was found.
Audit: Invalid.
Fixed:: Replaced: Set to Null.
AcDbCircle(119E1F). Error:: Inactive Z coordinate - 1e+100 was found.
Audit: Invalid.
Fixed:: Replaced: Set to 0.

For more convenient viewing of the protocol at the end of the check, you can call up a text window by pressing the F2 key .

Purging of Document

Command line: PURGE, PU

This command is used to purge unused named elements from a document: block descriptions, dimension styles, layers, text styles and line types.

Using this procedure, you can reduce file size after finishing your project.

Attention

Deleted elements cannot be recovered.

The Purge dialog box appears after the command is launched. There is a list of elements which available for deletion, and a list of elements which are not available for deletion. The list is organized as a tree: to open a list of elements of one type, click twice on the elements name or select the sign to the left of the name. If there is no sign, it means that there are no elements of this type to delete (or which cannot be deleted).

Parameters:

View elements you can purge

Switches on the mode for viewing elements which can be deleted from a document.

View elements you cannot purge

Switches on the mode for viewing elements which cannot be deleted from a document. Elements, used in a document or standard items which cannot be deleted.

Confirm each item to be purged

Switches on the mode for displaying a query to confirm for each purged element. For further purge in an automatic mode, at any moment you can click Yes to all in a query box.

Purge nested items

Switches on the mode for purging all unused named objects contained inside other unused named objects. The purge is confirmed in a separate dialog box.

Purge zerolength geometry and empty text objects

Switches on the mode for purging graphical waste. The checkbox is not available in case such geometry is absent in a document.

Automatically

Purges outdated vector data styles of DGN format.

purge orphaned data

Buttons:

Purges the selected elements.

Purges all elements from the list.

To delete elements with confirmation:

1. Switch on the Confirm each item to be purged mode.

2. Select the or button.

3. In the opened dialog box confirm purging of the elements:

Buttons:

Purging a Document Using the Command Line

Command line: -PURGE, -PU

The version of the PURGE command to work from the command line. Contains expanded purging abilities.

Command options:

Blocks Block definitions. DEtailviewsty les Detail view styles.

Dimstyles Dimension styles.

Groups Groups.

LAyers Layers.

LTypes Line types.

MAterials Materials.

MUltileaderst

yles

Multileader styles.

Plotstyles Plot styles.

SHapes Shapes.

textSTyles Text styles.

Mlinestyles Multiline styles.

SEctionviewst

yles

Section view styles.

Zero-length geometry.

Empty text objects.

Tablestyles Table styles.

visualstyles visual styles.

Regapps Registered applications.

Zero-

length_geomet

ry

Empty_text_ob jects

Orphaned_data Unused line style data from *.dgn format.

ANnotscales A nnotative scales.

Point_clouds Point clouds.

sorTTable Purging the sorting table, which contains lists of objects ordering

(DRAWORDER). Sometimes, there are so many such records that the program starts working with the document much slower. Purging of this

list removes empty entries, greatly speeding up your work.

Full Automatic full purge of a document. Including the purge of objects having

zero-length geometry, empty text objects, annotative scales and

registered applications.

All Purging unused objects of the same nesting level. Objects having zero-

length geometry and empty text objects are not purged.

Command prompts:

Enter type of unused objects to purge [Blocks/DEtailviewstyles/Dimstyles/Groups/Layers

Select the type of objects to

/LTypes/MAterials/MUltileaderstyles/Plotstyles/S Hapes/textSTyles/Mlinestyles/SEctionviewstyles/T ablestyles/Visualstyles/Regapps/Zerolength_geometry/Empty_text_objects/Orphaned_data /ANnotscales/Point_clouds/Full/All]:

purge, press ENTER.

Enter name(s) to purge <*>: Enter names to purge or

press ENTER to search for all elements of selected type.

Verify each name to be purged? [Yes/No] : To confirm purging of each

element, select Yes.

Convert to 2D

The command is intended for projecting selected objects that have Z-coordinates other than 0 onto the XOY plane of a custom coordinate system.

The command does not work on objects located on frozen and locked layers.

The Convert to 2D command does not support creating projections of 3D-objects. For operations with 3D objects, use functions from 3D menu.

Options:

? Calls additional options to select the objects.

Flatten options:

Select options or [?]: Select objects to convert to 2D. Select options or [?]: Press ENTER to finish.

Information on the process dynamics is displayed in the dialog box:

You can cancel the conversion by pressing Cancel dialog button or ESC.

The Convert to 2D command is not applicable to objects that are not supported in a plane other than the XoY WCS: multiline, shape, figure, leaders, table.

The command is also not applicable to masking and underlay objects.

The results of using the Convert to 2D command for different types of objects are shown in the table:

When converting to 2D UCS-rotated multi-line text that has a font that does not match the font set in the text style, a new text style will be created - EXPLODED with a text height of 0.

When converting to 2D, the thickness of objects changes to 0.

If you need to use the Convert to 2D command for proxy objects, you should use the XPROXY command to break up the proxy objects, and then apply the FLATTEN command to the result.

Text Encoding Conversion

Command line: TEXTDECODER

Text and named objects (blocks, layers, text and dimension styles, line types) encoding conversion.

The utility helps fix the problems when texts and object names are replaced by garbled symbols, characters or hieroglyphs associated with incorrect recognition of the text code page.

The command opens the Text Decoder dialog box.

156

Options

Select Selects from the list of drawing elements that contain named objects and texts. Named objects of the selected element are displayed in the section window.

Select all Selects all named objects displayed in the section window. A

random selection of objects for conversion can be made by

using CTRL and SHIFT keys.

Decoding

Source encoding Selection of supposed type of source encoding from the list.

Displayed as Selection of supposed type of target encoding from the list.

Decoding modes

Manually The mode of manual encoding selection.

Autodetect Automatic encoding selection.

Decode Starts the decoding procedure.

Decoding output

Select all Selects all decoding results displayed in the section window. A

random selection of objects for encoding conversion can be made by using CTRL and SHIFT keys. On the right there is a list

of possible decoding options.

Before-After Table View decoding results as a table, with the possibility to sort

columns alphabetically.

Apply Applies all decoding results.

Apply to selected Applies the conversion results to selected elements.

Encoding conversion procedure

1. Open the Selection list, select the named object or text that requires conversion.

• 2. Select the necessary from the elements displayed in the section window or click Select all button to select all elements.
• 3. Set the decoding mode:

Manually:

• Select the encoding type from the Source encoding list.
• Select the encoding type from the Displayed as list.

Autodetect – the source and target encodings are selected automatically. The corresponding lists will be disabled.

4. Click Decode.

Applying the decoding results

The decoding results are displayed in the section window after the separating characters ─>.

If conversion is made in the Autodetect mode, the list of decoding options becomes available for the element selected in the box.

When using Manually mode, the desired result can be achieved by changing types of source and target encodings.

• 1. Select the elements with the correct decoding result in the section window.
• 2. Click Apply to selected button.
• 3. If all encoding conversion results are acceptable, click Select all button and Apply button.

Vector Correction

nanoCAD button – Utilities > Vector Correction

Menu: File – Utilities > Vector Correction

Command line: AUTOVC

The command allows you to correct geometric deviations made during construction or as a result of automatic and semi-automatic vectorization (tracing) for the following objects:

• line;
• polyline;
• arc;
• circle.

Objects for correction can be pre-selected or specified after launching the command.

Automatic correction allows you to:

• delete objects smaller than the specified size;
• restore contacts between objects;
• “paste” fragments into a single object;
• align lines along standard directions (UCS, Ortho-grid), if their deviations do not exceed the value specified by the user.

Vector correction parameters should be specified in the Properties (INSPECTOR) bar.

Parameters

For vector correction:

• 1. Run the Vector correction command to correct all objects in the drawing or pre-select objects in the drawing and then run the Vector Correction command. If it is necessary to add objects to the selection, click the button in the Selected objects line.
• 2. In the Properties bar, select the necessary correction options in the Remove, Gap, Angles groups.
• 3. Enable Yes options for the Show preview and Show differences options in the Preview group to track changes on the screen.

4. Select Yes in the command line to apply the correction.

Batch File Processing

The command is intended for applying the purge and audit commands to a batch of files.

It is available to apply commands for purging files (PURGE), auditing files (AUDIT), auditing geometry (AUDITGEOMETRY), removing proxy objects (RMPROXY).

Upon running the command, the Batch processing dialog box opens.

The right field displays a list of files selected for processing.

You can add files with *.dwg (drawing format) and *.dwt (template format) extensions: to the list

• one by one using the Brouse file,
• as a whole folder using the Brouse folder button.
• by the Use current drawing button (adds the current document to the list).

In the Settings , you can specify the following parameters of the list (disabled by default):

You can remove files from processing using the context menu: individual files (Remove) or all files at once (Clear):

The left part of the Batch processing window contains a list of commands available for applying with a list of parameters. The flags mark the actions to be performed for each file from the list in the right part of the window.

You can create a new profile with a clean list of commands using the New script button.

To add a new command manually, you can use the Add command button.

Commands are executed from top to bottom in the list, so changing the order of commands changes the operating principle of the utility. To change the order of commands, click the button and in the window that opens change the commands order by drag and drop.

All possibilities of the Purge command are available in the Purge files option, including non-dialog command option -PURGE (Empty entries in the sort table,. Annotative scales, registered applications). In addition, batch processing implements the possibility to purge external reference files (the Purge xrefs checkbox).

For example, if there are problematic files with annotative scales, you need to purge all external references at once to get rid of these scales.

The Batch purge automatically opens xref files and cleans them up. And then updates all external references.

Purge is also performed on disabled, frozen and blocked layers.

Batch processing settings can be saved by the Save profile button .

The profile is saved as a *.json file, allowing for subsequent use of this profile. By default, the file is saved in the folder C:\Users\User_name\AppData\Roaming\Nanosoft\nanoCAD x64 25\Batches.

After creating user profiles you can Rename or Remove them.

The default profile report contains 6 stages of batch file processing:

• 1. Purging files (PURGE);
• 2. Clearing files from CIVIL objects (CLEARCIVIL);
• 3. Auditing files (AUDIT);
• 4. Auditing geometry (AUDITGEOMETRY);
• 5. Removing proxy objects (RMPROXY), enabled by default;
• 6. Saving the corrected file (SAVE).

The batch processing is started by clicking the Run button. The processing progress is displayed at the bottom of the window. You can stop batch processing by clicking the Stop button, which appears instead of the Run button.

After starting batch processing, changing the dialog parameters becomes unavailable, and records of found and corrected problems appear in the log field.

After the audit is completed, the final report can be copied to the clipboard or saved to a separate file of *.log format.

To customize the list and order of batch processing commands:

• 1. Create a separate new profile with an empty set of commands by clicking the New script button. A new profile with the default name Profile N is added to the Current profile: list, where N is the sequential number of the created profile, starting with 1.
  • Or create a new profile with a set of commands from the standard default profile by clicking the Save profile button.
• 2. If necessary, change the profile name by clicking the Rename profile button.
• 3. Add new commands to the profile by clicking the Add command button. In the Add command dialog box, specify the display and internal names of the command. The display name is specified by the user. The internal name is the name under which the command is registered in the application. You can find out the internal name in the Properties section of the Customize user interface (INTERFACE) dialog. After clicking OK button, the list will be replenished with a new command that will be applied to all files processed by this profile.
• 4. Change the order of command execution by clicking the Reorder commands button and by dragging and dropping.
• 5. Add files for processing using the Browse file, Browse folder or Use current drawing buttons.

6. Start the processing procedure using the Run button.

To update the file version:

• 1. In the Options dialog (OPTIONS), in the Save documents section, specify the required file format in the Save in a format list and set For all documents in the Apply selected format subsection.
• 2. Create a new profile with a set of commands from the standard default profile by clicking the Save profile button and make this profile a current one.
• 3. Using the context menu of commands, exclude all commands from the list except Save (right-click > Remove).
• 4. Add files using the Browse folder button.
• 5. Start the processing procedure using the Run button.

Problem Report

nanoCAD button: Utilities – Problem Report

Ribbon: Output – Export – Problem Report

Menu: File – Drawing Utilities – Problem Report…

Command line: ReportProblem

The command is designed to collect data when errors occur in operation, including those that cause the program to crash. The command creates a folder with the time and forms a package of files for transmission in it. In the Files to send dialog box, you can add or delete files to be sent. The report can be saved in a ZIP archive format or sent by email in EML format.

Attention

The command is launched automatically when critical errors occur.

The standard list of files added to the report:

• About.xml information about the product version and license;
• Date.log full command line log;
• Date_brief.log brief command line log;
• BlackBox.log program crash log;
• BlackBox.mdmp program crash log;
• Et_crash.log program crash log;
• VPerf.reg.txt information about the graphics system;
• SystemInfo.nfo information on Windows system;
• EventLogApplication.evt Windows application event report;
• EventLogSystem.evt Windows system event report;
• as well as the drawing file and its accompanying files.

Parameters

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Buttons

To create a problem report:

1. Run the ReportProblem command and wait until the program prepares a list of files for generating the report.

• 2. In the Files to send dialog box, uncheck the files that you do not want to send.
• 3. Use the Add files button to add files to the list for analysis.
• 4. Click the Save report button to generate a ZIP archive or the Send report button to send the report via Email.

File Explorer Toolbar

File Explorer is association of Windows explorer and drawing definition table. Drawing definition table is tables of layers, layouts, external references, block definitions, linetypes, text styles, and dimension styles.

File explorer displays only the following files:

• drawing files – dwg, dxf, dwt;

• underlay files dwf, dwfx, pdf;
• raster image files jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, pcx, tiff.

File explorer not display files with other types.

File explorer need more horizontal area than other functional toolbars.

The File Explorer window has a built-in toolbar located below the window title.

Toolbar button:

Selects a file in the tree, but using the Open dialog box.

Moves to the previous state of the window.

Moves to the next state of the window (according to the list of previously made transitions).

Moves to the folder marked as primary (home).

Moves to the Favorites folder.

• Moves up one level in the tree.
• Menu to set up the list display in the right area of the window (Large icons, Small icons, List, Details).

The central part of the window is a moving vertical line (splitter) divided into two parts. Left part (Folders) displays folders tree of current user. Right part displays content of selected tree node. Right part divided into three parts: full list of elements, description of selected element and image of selected element. Every element type has own icon.

Right part of dialog box shows the following elements: Folder, Drawing file, Underlay file, Raster image file, definitions table (Layers, Blocks, Text styles, Linetypes, Dimstyles, Layouts, XRefs), named object (Layer, Block definition, Text style, Linetype, Dimstyle, Layout, XRef).

Actions

Actions on elements from the right part of File Explorer: Drag&drop, double click, right click. Sometimes multiple preselection is available (with SHIFT and CTRL).

This makes it easy to copy definition table elements from one drawing to another

Drag and drop is used for the following elements:

Double click is used for the following elements:

Following elements contain context menu:

File Explorer Toolbar

File Explorer dialog box contains toolbar placed under window title.

Toolbar buttons:

Toolbar contains context menu that is identical to View > Toolbars:

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Drawing Comparison

File comparison feature allows you to find the differences between the contents of the model space in two drawings: detect objects that have been modified, added, or removed in the compared drawings.

The Drawing Compare.dwg toolbar is designed to detect changes in different versions of drawings.

The comparison process determines objects that were changed, added or removed.

There is a number of limitations to using the Drawing Compare .dwg function**:**

• The function works only in the model space.
• Only .dwg files are supported.
• The following types of objects are not supported: OLE objects, cameras, geographic data, GIS objects from Map 3D, underlays (not dwg), images, coordination models, and point clouds.
• Changes of properties By Block and By Layer are not detected in nested blocks.

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To compare files:

• 1. Start the Compare Files command to open Drawing Compare panel.
• 2. Click the button in the File1 field in the Select section. In the dialog that opens, select the first drawing file for comparison.
• 3. Do the same for the File2 field.
• 4. Set the Visibility, Color and Transparency settings for the compared files.
• 5. Click the Compare button.

A new document tab will open with the name Result of comparing and the names of the files being compared. Visual differences between drawings will be displayed with the options set in the Drawing Compare toolbar.

You can control the display parameters of the comparison result both before the procedure and after displaying it on the screen.

Options:

Visibility

File 1 Controlling the visibility of objects belonging only to file 1.

File 2 Controlling the visibility of objects belonging only to file 2.

Shared Controlling the visibility of objects belonging to both files.

Text Showing/hiding the results of comparing text objects.

Hatch Showing/hiding hatch comparison results.

Color

File 1 Color for objects belonging only to file 1.

File 2 Color for objects belonging only to file 2.

Shared Color for objects belonging to both files.

Transparency

File 1 Transparency of displaying objects belonging only to file 1.

File 2 Transparency of displaying objects belonging only to file 2.

Shared Transparency of displaying objects belonging to both files.

Click the icon to open a dialog with information about the compared files:

When closing a document, the program offers to save the comparison result and opens the standard Save Document File dialog.

IFC Viewer

Menu: View – Toolbars – Functional – IFC…

Command line: SHOWTABIFC

Command line: TABS > IFC

Tool for viewing IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) files. IFC is used as a format for the building information model BIM (Building Information Modeling):

Model Import

• 1. Run the import command:
  • The Import button in the main menu of the IFC toolbar.
  • The Import button in the tree of elements.
  • Command line: IFCVIEW3D.
• 2. Select the IFC file and confirm the selection.

The file will be analyzed and imported into the nanoCAD environment. The loading time depends on the computer’s power and the file’s complexity.

3. After import, a tree of elements will be available, united into one project. Additional commands will become available. When importing several models sequentially, several projects will be displayed in the tree.

Main Menu of the Toolbar

Depending on the selected element in the tree, the following commands become available:

• Import the command opens the dialog for selecting a file to import.
• Delete the command deletes the selected element and all its descendants from the model.
• Update IFC the command updates the model tree.
• Drop-down list for selecting a group.
• Grouping the command opens the Grouping dialog to set up the grouping of objects in the element tree.
• Show/hide in model the command controls the display of the selected element and all its descendants. You can also control the display using the switch to the left of the element name.
• Show/hide only this the command switches the display between the selected element and the elements of the same parent.
• Show on drawing the command focuses and selects the object in the drawing (in the model space).
• IFC import settings the command opens the IFC Import Settings dialog.

Note

The commands of the element tree context menu duplicate the commands of the toolbar’s main menu.

Grouping

By default, elements in the tree are grouped in the following sequence: Project – Site – Building – BuildingStorey – Type – Name.

It is possible to select another grouping method (from the grouping selection list) or assign a userdefined one.

Standard groupings: Default, Type, BuildingStorey, Layer.

To view the composition of a grouping, select the required grouping and click the Grouping button. In the Grouping dialog, the fields will display the parameters of the selected grouping. To create a userdefined grouping, change the composition of the fields and click the OK button.

By default

User-defined

Note

When creating a user-defined grouping, elements are additionally grouped by the title of the name. The title of the name is the text of the name from the first character to the first space (or end of line).

IFC Import Settings

The settings dialog consists of the list and the import/export toolbar.

List

The list consists of a set of IFC classes. The class name is in the first column IfcClass. It is impossible to add a new class or delete it.

The Layer, Color, and Visibility columns are used for setting up.

Layer – the name of the layer on which the graphics of this class will be located.

Color – the color of the graphics.

Visibility – controls the display of graphics in the drawing.

Toolbar

Import settings – the command allows you to import settings from an XML file.

Export settings – the command allows you to export settings to an XML file.