DXF / DWG Export Settings 

When exporting a selection to DXF or DWG, or when saving a file in DXF or DWG format in Pythagoras, various settings can be adjusted to optimize the result for the recipient.
This article explains what each option means and when to use which setting.

In this article:

• DXF / DWG Export Settings 
  • Library symbols
    • Points
    • Symbols
    • Line styles
  • Export
  • ByLayer
  • BLOCK-names
  • Conversion
  • Notes

Library symbols

This section defines how points, symbols and line styles will be converted.

Points

For converting points there are two options:

• Point (POINT) Each selected point will be exported as an AutoCAD POINT-object. The style of the point (symbol), as it is in the Pythagoras drawing, is lost.

• Symbol (BLOCK)   Each Pythagoras point style becomes an AutoCAD BLOCK-object.
  The points in the DXF/DWG file will be exported as INSERT <BLOCKNAME>.
  In addition you can:
  
  - Point attributes as ATTRIBS: Tick the desired attributes under Point Attributes to include this information. These attributes (Point number, Comment, Data, Z) can be queried and edited in AutoCAD.
  
  - Point attributes as text object: Tick Make attributes visible under the Exportto also display this information as text objects in the drawing. 

Symbols

Symbols can be exported to the DXF/DWG file in three ways:

• Point (POINT)  Each selected point will be exported as an AutoCAD POINT, independently of the Pythagoras style of the point. The 'symbol' is lost.

• Symbool (BLOCK) Each symbol becomes a BLOCK, including rotation, scale, and shape. (Block name, X scale factor, Y scale factor, rotation angle).

• Unpacked  Each symbol is broken into individual elements (lines, circles, etc.) and placed in the ENTITIES section of the DXF/DWG file.

Line styles

For standard line styles (dash, dot, dash-dot, etc.), an LTYPE is automatically added to the DXF/DWG TABLE SECTION. All Custom line styles are also converted to LTYPEs and retained. The following only applies to other special line styles.

Special line styles can be converted in three ways:

• Solid Line  all lines are converted to solid lines.

• Retain Line Style  Complex line styles are written to an SHX file. This file must be sent along with the DWG/DXF. (Recommended option).

• Unpacked  The line style is broken into basic graphic components and placed in the ENTITIES section of the DXF/DWG file.

Export

Invisible points and lines   Invisible points are only exported (as DXF/DWG POINT), if this option is checked in the dialog window. If not invisible objects are not exported.

Polygon/path as polyline   All selected polygons and paths will be exported as an AutoCAD-POLYLINE.

Objects as 2D   The Z-value for each object will be ignored and set to 0.

Make attributes visible   The Point attributes which are checked (Pointnumber, comment, Data, Z) will be inserted to the blocks as visible texts.

Subdocuments as xrefs   Subdocuments will be included as external references (XREFs).

ByLayer

In Pythagoras, properties like color, line style, and line width are assigned per object, and layers don’t enforce them. This allows more flexibility but differs from AutoCAD’s structure. In AutoCAD, each layer has fixed properties: color, line style, and line width. These are linked — objects on the layer inherit these properties if they're set to ByLayer.

When exporting a Pythagoras drawing to DWG, you can choose to apply ByLayer logic. Pythagoras will analyze each layer and determine:

• The most-used Color

• The most-used Line style

• The most-used Line weight

These majority values are then set as the official ByLayer properties in the DWG file.

This ensures the exported drawing aligns with AutoCAD conventions while preserving layer consistency.

BLOCK-names

Determine how BLOCK names are constructed: Group_Symbol or Symbol.

• Symbol   Use only the symbol name.

• Group_Symbol   The name consists of 'groupname_symbolname'.

Prefix (optional): Add a prefix to all BLOCK names during the DXF/DWG export. This is useful to make Pythagoras symbols easily recognisable in AutoCAD or to avoid naming conflicts — for example, using the prefix PY_.

Conversion

Only active when a conversion table is loaded (via Settings > Conversion Maps Manager). These settings override other export settings:

• Width to Color: Converts line widths to specific colors.

• Symbols and Layers: Converts symbols and layers according to the conversion plan.

When using a conversion table, no DXF header is written.

NOTES

Patterns: These are exported as an AutoCAD 'HATCH'-entity. Only polygons that cannot be converted into a HATCH-command are exported as an "ANONYMOUS BLOCK".

Terrain models: DTM's will be exported as a "3D-faces"-object. When there is a colorized map active for a DTM, these colors will not be exported to DWG/DXF. The 3Dfaces object cannot have color in the DWG/DXF format.

View (works views) are not supported by AutoCAD. 

There is an important difference between Export > DWG/DXF and Save As DWG/DXF

Export DWG/DXF: You start with a selection of objects, and choose File > Export > DWG/DXF, only the selected objects will be exported. The objects in Page Coordinates, the Sheets and Viewports will NOT be exported.

Save As DWG/DXF: The complete drawing will be converted to DWG/DXF. Including the Sheets with their object in Page Coordinates and Viewports.
Read more in Difference between 'Save As DWG' and 'Export DWG'