how do i import dxf files into AI?

[colinheaney]

Can i import dxf files into AI CC

[Mike_Gondek]

Just use the open command to the default of all readable formats. .dxf is one of the formats.

Choose original size or 100%.

If those are greyed out then you get to play the guessing game size of what until the Auto Cad person was working in before they saved, and that they have dimensions shows on their file.

[colinheaney]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. The problem is when I open the files i just get some very small text. No image at all.

I get dxf files from different pattern makers only one of them has dxf that opens correctly. I am thinking there are different versions of dxf?

I you can help with this I would really appreciate it.

Yours Colin

[d0nut247]

id ask them to save as dwg if you can, they seem to be more successful for me when im importing stuff.

also check that the file you import is not just positioned away from the view, zoom right out as far as you can, and change view to outline preview, see if anything appears, just incase it is importing with no line colour?

[Mike_Gondek]

I am not an auto cad guy but do remember looking over the should of other propel doing this. There are settings such as including hidden layers and such. A common problem we get is the artwork comes in at wrong scale so soon in to see if there is a tiny versions. They also have the ability in Autocad to export a .ai file. In summary stay on them they will just want to get this off their plate, say they sent you a dxf, and leave this for you to figure out. 

Please post a screenshot of what you are getting and your settings as I did, and we shoddy eb abel to help you out. I have a friend at work who does auto cad, but will only go over and ask him if you give me enough to show what is going on.

[shehzaadhib67506035]

Hi Colin

I am a designer pattern maker and i am experencing the same issue, i have AI 2020. garment DXF files just opens as a text, no pattern pieces .

have you found a soloution to this?

Shehzaadhi Alli

[Nur şirin29030396zs0e]

Hi. I am facing with same problem. I got only texts when I open dxf. Even if I can open it after converting AI, the scale is not correct and there are no marks, names and all kinds of attributes.

[mechanicalpencil]

Illustrator CC cannot open .dxf files, it just crashes and hangs. If you try to open .dwg files instead you get "unrecognized file type" errors. Sometimes it is possible to manipulate linework in pdfs exported from AutoCAD but you will not have proper scale or access to layer information...

Good luck.

[Mike_Gondek]

If you were to save a .dxf from Illustrator you should have no problem opening that in Illustrator. Sometimes it helps to ask the auto cad person to choose an older format for .dxf or .dwg. Communication with whomever is making that auto cad file is key, if you are doing this yourself then the problem just requires you flipping all the settings until you find what works.

[colinheaney]

Hi Mike thank you for your reply.

It looks as if EXDXF plugin will do the job.

Yours Colin

[Mike_Gondek]

Thanks never heard of that one. Let us know who that works out. I found it here for $90

BABY UNIVERSE Plug-in :: EXDXF-Pro4 :: Adobe Illustrator plugin for dxf converting

or here for free, (might be a demo)

EXDXF-Pro for Mac - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com

[colinheaney]

Hi Mike,

It is working!!!

thanks Colin

[Mike_Gondek]

That is great! 

Did you use the EXDXF plug in? If so can you share what you learned about this and if the free version worked and what version of CC you had.

[colinheaney]

I used the trial version EXDXF plug in. It worked with AI 6 but I am having trouble with AI cc. I sent some files to baby universe to open and they can open them in CC, we are trying to figure out why it doesn’t work on my AI cc.

[Mike_Gondek]

That is really good of them to be working with you. Their free plug in just said CC, but not CC2015, so not sure what version their free plug in works with. I don't have a file to test as all my files open in Illsutraror that come from our Solidworks, but installed as every once in awhile we get a die from the outside world that will not open. Am confused at to why they offer a free version.

[colinheaney]

I don’t know about the free version I am using the free trial but will buy it now. They have been very helpful.

[mechanicalpencil]

No actually, it doesn't work even if you try to use the sixteen year old AutoCAD filetype (2000 .dxf or .dwg) that some people recommend...

[d0nut247]

it snot a pretty work around, but you could get yourself a trial copy of rhino, that works as a great in-betweener for all kinds of formats as Rhino is basically super cool and works exactly as its meant to most of the time!

open the file, then re-export or you can print to pdf at a specified scale.

[colinheaney]

Thank you for your reply. It looks as if I will be able to use EXDXF plugin for AI

Yours Colin

[colinheaney]

Thank you for you reply, I believe EXDXF will do the job.

Yours Colin

[tomii42727953]

I just saved a file from AutoCAD 2015 for Mac using AutoCAD 2007/LT2007 DXF (*.dxf) format.

Since it's for an Epilog laser cutter, the file only contains Polylines.

AI opened that file perfectly.

Then I changed the stroke weights to 0,01 mm and saved as PDF.

Cheers!

Tomi