Using the DXF Exporter

9.3 Using the DXF Exporter

To run the DXF Exporter utility, choose Tools>DXF Exporter:

The DXF Exporter will produce a DXF file that can be used to transfer a scaled plot of a project into AutoCAD or compatible graphics software packages. By default, the file is given the name of the project, however you can change it to whatever you want.

1. Enter a scale you wish to use in World Units per Plotting Unit (i.e. 200 feet/inch). Marker and lettering sizes are given in plotter units (i.e. 0.125 inches). You can specify a slant (i.e. 15 degrees) for lettering. Lettered items include point names, descriptors, and optional elevation labels. Lines, ellipses, relative, point names, markers, descriptors, etc. are put on their own layers.

2. If your job is 3D, you can choose to have plotted points labeled with elevations. You can also choose to export only 2D coordinates (eliminating elevations) so that distances in your graphics program will be horizontal rather than slope values.

3. If error propagation was performed, you can choose to have error ellipses included in your DXF export. The Ellipse Exaggeration will appear the same as last viewed when you screen plotted the network, and if you wish, you can increase or decrease the ellipse exaggeration for the DXF export.

4. Press the “Check Size” button to check the approximate sheet size required for the extents of the plot based on the given scale. The size calculated is based on the maximum and minimum point coordinates only, so you should allow extra size for ellipses, long point names and descriptors.

5. Press “Export!” to actually perform the DXF export.

The settings selected (scale, marker and lettering sizes, slant, items included, etc.) are saved on a project basis. Therefore, when you exit a project, and then return later to it, the same DXF option settings will appear.

When you are using the DXF Exporter on what you consider a “typical” project, you can press the “Save Settings as Typical” button to save the current DXF settings as typical defaults. Then whenever you start a new project, these saved typical settings will be used as starting settings. All settings are saved except the ellipse exaggeration that is uniquely handled as required for each project.

Exporting a “LEV” Project to a DXF file

The PLUS, PRO and LEV editions allow running stand-alone level networks. When reference northing and easting coordinates are entered for all stations in the network, the network diagram can graphically displayed in STAR*NET and therefore the it can also

be exported to a DXF file. The “Ellipses” options box on the DXF Exporter dialog will

be inactive since horizontal ellipses are not calculated in a level network.

Loading the DXF File into AutoCAD

The DXF file exported from STAR*NET can be directly imported into a new drawing by AutoCAD and most other graphics programs supporting the DXF file format.

If you want to import STAR*NET DXF files into an AutoCAD drawing environment that already has an established drawing prototype with defined entities (i.e. some third party COGO packages), here are two ways to accomplish this:

1. The most straight-forward way is to import the DXF into AutoCAD as a new drawing that has no prototype drawing already set, and then immediately save it to a standard DWG drawing file. This file can then be read into another drawings that already has defined entities.

2. Another way is to first insert the STAR6.DWG prototype file, supplied with your installation, into your existing drawing to define the entities in the DXF file, and then you can read the DXF directly into your existing drawing. The STAR6.DWG file is located in the same directory that STAR*NET was installed. This file contains all the entity definitions and layer names used by the DXF export, but no actual drawing items.

Many versions of AutoCAD exist as well as numerous other graphics programs capable of importing DXF files, and it is impossible to provide detailed instructions for each in this manual. Refer to instructions supplied with your particular graphics program for the its particular methods of importing DXF files.