Demo user: Exporting Solid Edge dft to DWG?

[gunnykiln]

HI,

We have been using Ashlar Vellum 3D for about 7 years and it is time to upgrade to a solids program. Since it will be cheapest to upgrade (since it is an ashlar upgrade) and not a very steep learning curve (since the interface and commands are about the same) I ran the demo of Cobalt for about a week and did not like it at all. In a lot of ways it felt more like a beta product that a released one. So I got a Solid Edge demo and so far I really like it. But we have one big problem that needs to be resolved before we commit.

We have a customer that absolutely requires good quality drafts in dwg format to import into their AutoCAD programs without the need to install additional software or files on their computers. In our tests with this customer everything worked great except that Solid Edge draft symbols (like the symbols for diameter, counterbore, countersink, depth, and so on) do not import into AutoCAD 2000 correctly. They also do not print in a pdf correctly if the Solid Edge symbol fonts are not installed on the PC.

I called tech support and they suggested we send the solid edge font files to the customer and have them install them. Or we should have them install the free solid edge viewer. The customer responded with the fact that they are a very large company with plants all over the world and it would simply not be feasible to expect them to install fonts or viewers on the hundreds of PCs all over the world in order to view our drafts correctly in pdf and AutoCAD DWG.

So in short, here is the question: How do I get the Solid Edge draft containing ANSI draft symbols exported in a DWG to correctly import into AutoCAD 2000 without installing any additional files/software on the AutoCAD PC?

Thanks much,
Larry

 

[cfee]

Larry-
I'm REALLY interested in this one too. Have you solved it outside posts to this site?

Seems like you're going to have to export on your machine and distribute the DWG's (or PDF's) to the client, since you have all the necessary fonts... on your system. Whew! What a hassle! Have you looked at other PDF writers? I've used PDF995 for my ACAD distributions, with very good success, but, the dwg's had the data complete and correct to start with.

Please post with your final solution.

Best wishes!
C. Fee

 

[gunnykiln]

cfree,

I did find a solution for the PDF.

When printing to the acrobat distiller you can embed TTF into the pdf. So I embedded the "Solid Edge ANSI Symbols" fonts. That seemed to work.

On the dwg I havent had much luck.

 

[cfee]

gunnykiln-

Haven't had much luck with the dwg? How so? (just curious)

C. Fee

 

[gunnykiln]

C. Fee,

According to the SE tech support person I talked to you cannot change the symbol fonts in the dimension text properties. So even if you switch the dimension font to Arial, for instance, the solid edge symbol fonts would still be used for the dimension symbols. SE provides no setting to change this.

As far as I can tell when you export a draft to DWG format that contains the counterbore symbol it will not appear correctly unless the PC that imports it into AutoCAD has the solid edge symbol fonts in the fonts directory. I don't see a way around it.

So instead of using the symbols I will have to use the appropriate words (cbore, csk, etc.)

Larry

 

[friendojerry]

How about using a .dxf? I send a couple customers .dwg's
and .dxf's from V15. I haven't had any problems that the
customers are complaining about. Although they are mainly using the geometry. I wish they would just stop using
DynoCAD (AutoCAD), and at least step into the 20th century.

I'll keep looking though.

Jason

 

[cfee]

Jason-

I'll bet that your customers either aren't using your symbology, or are working around the confusion.

Symbols that don't work, views that don't align, parts that become detached from the managed items list, parts lists recounts that can't be managed, extensive translation issues, workaraounds that are sold as the established process for so many commands... The list is growing.

As long as you're willing to constrain yourself (limit yourself) to just those processes provided for in the program, and forget about those that aren't available (and "just don't do that") and search out the currently popular workaround for any "issue" and use that as the "command process", you'll be fine using S.E.

However, those (the vast majority of all seats in use) that are still using "dynoCAD" made it the DOMINATOR by demanding from AutoDESK that they write a solution to any discovered need, based on industry design and fabrication functionality and not on attractive programming shortcuts and workarounds.

You can "wish they'd" do better - just the way YOU want them to, but I'll bet they'll just keep doing what they KNOW WORKS. If they are the customer, and you want them to sign the check, meeting THEIR need is the priority. I know Senior Level S.E. CAD designers that STILL do their layouts using "DynoCAD" and port them in to S.E.

Still looking for solutions, and grateful for the help...
Thanks-
C. Fee