import multiple dxf files into a collection file ...how to?

QCAD Professional QCAD 'How Do I' Questions
1

Hi Qcad,

I’m trying to import multiple dxf files into a collection file which I also want to save in dxf format.
Specifically, I want to collect individual dxf letters until it is a word and this in several layers.
Do you have a trick for this?

Thank you very much, Emiel

qcad 3.27.1.0 (3.27.1)

2

Hi,

I don’t know … maybe. :open_mouth:

We are talking about a low or a hight number of imports? What is the used Operation System?

3

Hi Husky. I would like to import 10 pieces of .dxf but more than 1 is not possible now. Thank you for advice.


Win10-Pro

Intel(R) Core™ M-5Y71
CPU @ 1.20GHz 1.40 GHz

x64-processor

4

Yes, the import is restricted to one because there is no way to tell the tool where to position each single drawing. It would dump all of them on the same coordinate - a mess to sort that out later. :wink:

There are QCAD tools out there which will import multiple drawings into one. The downside is that they are script based which requites to tell the script file name, position, rotation, flip x, flip y, scale etc etc. It isn’t worth the effort for a 10 drawing import.

I recommend import them piece by piece or load them all together (QCAD, Open, multi selection of the files, ok) in QCAD and use Copy/Paste to accomplish the task.

5

Thank you Husky but unfortunately both options don’t work.

When I make a copy of any font character to another layer where another font character is already present the copy shows
which I’m trying to import as a copy of the character that was already in the layer.
For example. I open a layer with the letter A and I immediately save this drawing. Then I open this file and I want to import the letter L
in a layer called L. What then happens is that a letter A appears that I can put in the layer L.

When you try opening multiple characters as separate files and then copy-paste you get exactly the same result as
with the above import attempt. Its a shame, but there is nothing to do about it. :cry:

6

Maybe not yet for you - but it works. :wink:


I assume your characters are blocks. The same block name exist in the source and in the target drawing - but they have different content. Your paste option is set to “Overwrite blocks”. Please deactivate that option, rename eventuell identical block names and try it again.

Husky-2022.05.21-03.png
If that doesn’t solves the issue please attach two drawings which shows the issue and we will look at it.

I doubt that … :wink:

7

Hi,

First: Both ‘Import’ and ‘Paste’ have the option to create in the ‘Current layer’,‘Overwrite layers’ or ‘Overwrite blocks’.
Also see Husky’s reply.

But I don’t think the failing is due to that.
For the ease while importing:
The glyphs shapes in dxf can be drawn on there designated layer so that an ‘L’ directly imports on layer ‘L’.
Or one can use ‘To current layer’ after layer ‘L’ is set active in the target file, each letter.
Similar for glyphs as blocks.
Then there is also the matter where block references are placed.

Still.
You are mentioning:

This I can’t reproduce … When I import a file called ‘A.dxf’ with the shape of a capital letter A …
… I simply get that shape A …
… and never a preview with the shape of an L in a file called ‘L.dxf’.
Meaning: QCAD previews/imports the wrong file … :confused: :question:

To make sure: We are talking about importing letter shapes each stored in a seperate dxf file.
And not about editing/creating CXF font files. Are we?
Ifso: Editing CXF files is done as blocks with its entities on ‘Layer 0’.
And this just as an intermediate, it are only the shapes of the glyphs that are stored in a CXF file.

Regards,
CVH