CAD Formats (Open)

DWF File (.dwf)

Drawing Web Format, a 2D vector graphics format created by Autodesk.

The DWF file will contain all drawing elements with some exceptions and limitations:

pictures: due to format limitations, only straight pictures can be written to a DWF file,
cameras will not be included.

DXF/DWG File (.dxf, .dwg)

MEP Designer opens all DWG file formats starting with AutoCAD 2000.

From File > Open, select the DXF or DWG file format. Use the Settings button to open the DXF-DWG Translation Setup dialog box.

For details, see Opening DWG/DXF Files.

However, in most cases you need not adjust these translation settings, because the default setup will give you the desired result when opening a DXF/DWG file.

Note: If you are working in AutoCAD and open a DWG that was originally saved from MEP Designer, an Alert may appear. However, you should go ahead and work with the saved DWG in AutoCAD - no stability problems should result.

MicroStation Design File (.dgn) - Version 7 or 8

Do one of the following:

Use File > External Content > Place External Drawing and select a MicroStation Design File (.dgn) file (version 7 or 8)
Use File > Open and select a MicroStation Design File (.dgn) file (version 7 or 8)
Drag and drop a .dgn file to import into the current project.

Set options in the Open DGN dialog or Import DGN dialog, as applicable:

Design/Drawing Model

Use the pop-up to select one of the models in the DGN model (if it contains multiple models).

Symbology

Overwrite All Colors: The project’s Pen Set is overwritten using the DGN color table.

Note: If you check this box, and if you use a configuration file, its definitions will overwrite the Pen Set.

Config File

Optional. A default configuration file (txt) is available in the MEP Designer Defaults folder. Use or customize a config file to ensure company-standard conversions.

Background Colors Visibility

If you used File > Open to open the DGN file: A dialog will appear with the option of changing the background color to black.