Mathematica Import/Export Format

DXF (.dxf)

MIME types: image/vnd.dxf, image/x-dxf
AutoCAD DXF format.
3D geometry format.
Commonly used for the exchange of CAD data.
Plain text ASCII or binary format.
DXF is an acronym derived from Drawing Exchange Format.
Stores a 3D object as a collection of line and polygon primitives and their properties.
Introduced in 1982.

Import and Export fully support the ASCII DXF format.

IMPORT AND EXPORT

Import["file.dxf"] imports a DXF file as a Graphics3D object.

Export["file.dxf", expr] exports a Graphics3D expression to DXF.

Import["file.dxf"] returns an expression of the form Graphics3D[ GraphicsComplex[vertices, primitives, opts]].

Import["file.dxf", elem] imports the specified element from a DXF file.

Import["file.dxf", {elem, sub_a, sub_b, ...}] imports a subelement.

Import["file.dxf", {{elem₁, elem₂, ...}}] imports multiple elements.

The import format can be specified with Import["file","DXF"] or Import["file", {"DXF", elem, ...}].

Export["file.dxf", expr, elem] creates a DXF file by treating expr as specifying element elem.

Export["file.dxf", {expr₁, expr₂, ...}, {{elem₁, elem₂, ...}}] treats each expr_i as specifying the corresponding elem_i.

Export["file.dxf", expr, opt₁->val₁, ...] exports expr with the specified option elements taken to have the specified values.

Export["file.dxf", {elem₁->expr₁, elem₂->expr₂, ...}, "Rules"] uses rules to specify the elements to be exported.

See the reference pages for full general information on Import and Export.

ImportString and ExportString support the DXF format.

ELEMENTS

General Import elements:

	"Elements"	list of elements and options available in this file
	"Rules"	full list of rules for each element and option
	"Options"	list of rules for options, properties and settings

Data representation elements:

"Graphics3D"

DXF file represented as a Graphics3D object

	"Graphics3D"	3D geometry represented as Graphics3D
	"GraphicsComplex"	list of GraphicsComplex objects, each representing a geometry stored in the file
	"LineData"	lines represented as lists of indices, referencing the vertices as given by the "VertexData" element
	"LineObjects"	list of Line primitives given in absolute coordinates
	"PointData"	point data in indexed form
	"PointObjects"	list of Point primitives given in absolute coordinates
	"PolygonData"	polygon data in indexed form
	"PolygonObjects"	list of Polygon primitives given in absolute coordinates
	"VertexColors"	colors associated with each vertex, given as a list of color primitives (Import only)
	"VertexData"	list of vertex coordinates

Import and Export use the "Graphics3D" element by default for DXF files.

Meta-information elements:

	"PlotRange"	specifies what range of coordinates to include in the graphics
	"ViewPoint"	coordinates of the view point

When rendering a DXF color model, Import automatically uses the setting Lighting->"Neutral".

OPTIONS

General Import options:

Background	Automatic	what background color to use
ImageSize	Automatic	overall size of the graphics to display
Lighting	Automatic	what simulated lighting to use in coloring 3D surfaces

TUTORIALS

Importing Graphics and Sounds

Exporting Graphics and Sounds