VERSION 4.

CADConvert
GUIDE

www.cad-schroer.com
All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any manner (print, photocopy or other) without the written
permission of CAD Schroer GmbH.
CAD Schroer GmbH has made its best effort to ensure that the information in this document is accurate and reliable, but cannot
guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, reliability or completeness of any of the information contained herein. CAD Schroer GmbH
will not make any warranty nor accept legal responsibility or liability of any kind for consequences resulting from errors or omis-
sions.

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MEDUSA, STHENO

Trademarks of CAD Schroer GmbH:

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Pro/ENGINEER, Pro/DETAIL and Pro/TOOLKIT are registered trademarks of Parametric Technology Corporation.

All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

August 2009

Copyright © CAD Schroer GmbH

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface 5

Introduction and Start 7

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Starting CADConvert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Configuration 11
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Settings - Graphical User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
True Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Font Names - Font Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Default Mapping - Graphical User Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Medstyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Changing the Configuration via User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
List of Commands 47
Common Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
DXFMed / DWGMed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
MedDXF / MedDWG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Limitations 81

Index 83

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert

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 MEDUSA4

PREFACE

Book Conventions

The following table illustrates and explains conventions used in writing about MEDUSA applica-
tions.
Convention Example Explanation
Menu Choose Zoom from the View menu Indicates a command, function or
Add button button that you can choose from a
Choose the tool Creates thin solid lines. menu, dialog or tooltray.
Syntax acos 0.345 User input,
The ciaddobj command commands, keywords and
Return or Control-g keys to press on a keyboard.
SyntaxBold Enter command> plot_config Where system output and user input
are mixed, user input is in bold.
SyntaxItalic tar -cvf /dev/rst0 filename Supply an appropriate substitute for
each variable; for the given example
replace filename with an actual file
name.
Filename&path medusa\med2d\m2d\src\ Shows path and filenames.
UPPERCASE MEDUSA or CADCONVERT Names of products.
italic left mouse button Indicates the buttons to press on a
Drafting User Guide mouse and names of books.
bold A temporary group is a collection of ... Emphasize text.

Please note: Illustrations showing menus and forms are taken from a window system.
The display for other platforms can differ slightly.

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MEDUSA4
Preface

Online User Documentation

Online documentation for each book is provided in HTML format. You can view this online
documentation in the installation directory, on the CD-ROM, or directly by calling it up within the
MEDUSA user interface.

Installation Directory
1. Navigate to the directory where MEDUSA is installed.
<MEDUSA installation directory>/meddoc/doc/<language>/ (Unix)
<MEDUSA installation directory>\meddoc\doc\<language>\ (Windows)
where <language> is either english, german or french.
2. Click on the file mainmenu.htm.
3. Click the book title you want to view.

CD-ROM
1. Navigate with your HTML browser to the CD-ROM into the following directory.
<CDROM_mount_point>/doc/<language>/ (Unix)
<CDROM_Drive>:\doc\<language>\ (Windows)
2. Click on the file mainmenu.htm.
3. Click the book title you want to view.

MEDUSA Interface
1. Click left on the entry Help inside the main menu.
2. Choose MEDUSA Documentation from the pulldown menu.
A browser opens showing the mainmenu.htm listing all available documents.

Printing Documentation

A PDF (Portable Document Format) file is included for each online book. See the first page of
each online book for the document name which corresponds to the PDF file name (e.g. HTML
title is Drafting User Guide, PDF file is drafting.pdf). Check with your system administrator if you
need more information. You must have Acrobat Reader installed to view and print PDF files. If
you don‘t have the Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free from the Adobe homepage:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert

INTRODUCTION AND START

Introduction

The CADConvert program builds the base for the MEDUSA-DXF/DWG interface. The converter
enables 2D MEDUSA-drawings to be converted into DXF/DWG-data and vice versa. Therefore
the program can be used in four ways:
• MEDDXF : Translates 2D MEDUSA-sheets to DXF-data
• DXFMED : Translates DXF-data to 2D MEDUSA-Sheets
• MEDDWG : Translates 2D MEDUSA-sheets to DWG-data
• DWGMED : Translates DWG-data to 2D MEDUSA-Sheets

DXF/DWG-data not produced by AutoCAD may not meet the DXF/DWG-standard and can
produce unexpected results. The converter has been developed fault tolerant to read in non
DXF/DWG-standard files but it is not able to compensate all deviations.

In some cases MEDUSA and AutoCAD work completely different, making it impossible to
regenerate the same data using a loop-translation (e.g. MEDUSA-DXF-MEDUSA or DXF-
MEDUSA-DXF). The converter is designed in a way to cover the properties of the target
system. For loop-translation following has to be considered:
• MEDUSA line and text types are maintained during an export/import cycle.
If lines or texts with free style are exported into AutoCAD and then re-imported into
MEDUSA, they will be free styles again having the appropriate line or text type
exported before, unless the type was explicitely mapped onto another MEDUSA style
during import.
• Standard prims of MEDUSA are maintained during an export/import cycle.
Standard prims are exported to AutoCAD as blocks and they are re-imported as
MEDUSA prims again (in earlier revisions prims changed into groups with graphic
elements). This is not valid for user defined prims. For mapping of prims see
“Configuration”, “Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed”“Symbol Mapping” on page 28.

URL text properties are exported to DXF/DWG and also imported back into MEDUSA.

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Introduction and Start

Starting CADConvert

CADConvert can be started within MEDUTIL, within MEDUSA and offline.

Running CADConvert within MEDUTIL

You can start CADConvert from within MEDUTIL using the commands listed below for the
appropriate interface.

Command Called Interface

meddxf MEDUSA to DXF
dxfmed DXF to MEDUSA
meddwg MEDUSA to DWG
dwgmed DWG to MEDUSA

Using CADConvert within MEDUSA

The interfaces mentioned in “Running CADConvert within MEDUTIL” can be called within the
MEDUSA user interface with the functions File -> Open and File -> Save as and then choosing the
extension of the AutoCAD file.

Starting Offline inside a Console

Please note: The following explanations are valid for a Windows system.
It is similar on a UNIX system. You only have to use the usual path conventions
(slash / instead of backslash \) and the executable is cadconvert instead of
cadconvert.exe.

For starting CADConvert offline inside a console (DOS box) do the following steps:
1. Open a console (DOS box).
2. Inside the console start the login.bat from your user project.
3. Then type in the command:

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Starting CADConvert

<inst-dir>\CADCONVERT\M2D\RUN\cadconvert.exe @e- macro <macro name>

where
<inst-dir> is the installation directory of MEDUSA.
<macro name> is a text file with commands which shall be done by CADConvert.
Example for a CADConvert macro converting MEDUSA files into ACAD DWG format:

@e- meddxf --------------- direction of conversion

@e- modin med ------------ input format
@e- modout dwg ----------- output format
@e- reset E:\medusa\cadconvert\cfg\cadconvert.cfg
@e- BLOCKNAME Off
...(some more parameter settings)
@e- SHEETSIZE BYGEOMETRY
@e- UNITS MM
@e- in "E:\user_prj\med_to_convert\z_001.she"
@e- out "E:\user_prj\converted_to_dwg\z_001.dwg"
@e- go
...

You also can do the steps for running the login.bat and starting CADConvert in a Batch file,
which then looks like following:

call E:\user_proj\login.bat
E:\medusa\CADCONVERT\M2D\RUN\cadconvert.exe @e-
macro E:\user_proj\med_dwg.mac

List Conversion

You can convert automatically several files, which are compiled in a list, using one command.
1. Create a directory and insert any files, which should be converted. In our example the
directory is called sheet_dir. It contains MEDUSA sheets with file extension she.
2. To create the list automatically open a console (DOS box) and type in the following:
dir /s /b E:\sheet_dir\*.she > E:\sheet_dir\list.txt
The list file, here called list.txt, is inserted into the specifyed directory, E:\sheet_dir. It
contains all files of the E:\sheet_dir directory with extension .she.

In section “Starting Offline inside a Console” on page 8 the example of a macro is given, which
converts a MEDUSA file into DWG format. For the list conversion in our example the macro
convert_meddwg.mac has been created in the directory E:\userproj. It looks like as follows:

@e- meddxf
@e- modin med

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Introduction and Start

@e- modout dwg

@e- reset E:\medusa\cadconvert\cfg\cadconvert.cfg
@e- list E:\sheet_dir\list.txt
@e- go
@e- quit

The batch file, convertjob.bat, used for running the login.bat and starting CADConvert, looks for
the list conversion as follows:

call E:\user_proj\login.bat
E:\medusa\CADCONVERT\M2D\RUN\cadconvert.exe @e-
macro E:\user_proj\convert_meddwg.mac

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert

CONFIGURATION

This chapter explains all the configuration and mapping files used by CADConvert.

• Settings .................................................................................... 12

• Settings - Graphical User Interface.......................................... 15

• True Color ................................................................................ 18

• Font Names - Font Numbers ................................................... 19

• Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed....................................... 20

• Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG....................................... 31

• Default Mapping - Graphical User Interface............................. 39

• Medstyle................................................................................... 43

• Changing the Configuration via User Interface ........................ 44

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

Settings

By default the settings for CADConvert, which are transferred to the graphic user interface, are
made in one of the following files (depending on the language):
• English: <medusa>\cadconvert\cfg\cadconvert.cfg
• German: <medusa>\medchangeger\cadconvert\cfg\cadconvert.cfg
• French: <medusa>\medchangefra\cadconvert\cfg\cadconvert.cfg
• Japanese: <medusa>\medchangeja\cadconvert\cfg\cadconvert.cfg

Further more it is possible to use another directory containing the configuration file than the
default directory. This can be done by setting the environment variable
CADCONVERT_CUSTOM=e:\customer\<xyz>. The value of the variable has to be a valid
directory, which contains the cadconvert.cfg file at minimum. If the directory is invalid or the
cadconvert.cfg file does not exist, the following error message is displayed:
Setting from CADCONVERT_CUSTOM environment variable ignored, because
specified directory or file cadconvert.cfg doesn’t exist!

It follows an example of the cadconvert.cfg file. Keywords are described in the chapter “List of
Commands” on page 47.

Which mapping file is used for the conversion is described in the entries to Linestyle and
Textstyle Mapping. Mapping files are explained in the chapters “Default Mapping DXFMed/
DWGMed” on page 20 and “Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG” on page 31.

Configuration file for CADConvert

-- General CADConvert Settings

HELPPATH = ${CADCONVERT}\help\ger

MAPLOG = off
MAPFILE = cadconvert.map
ERRLOG = off
ERRFILE = cadconvert.err

-- MEDUSA Settings
PROJECT = ${MED_PROJ}
CODEPATH = ${MED_PROJ}\m2d\bin\code.bin
DDLPATH = ${MED_PROJ}\med\bin\ddl.bin
PRIMPATH = ${MED_PROJ}\m2d\bin\prims.bin

-- Linestyle Mapping
MEDDXF_LINESTYLE_MAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\med2dxf_lstyle.map
DXFMED_LINESTYLE_MAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\dxf2med_lstyle.map

-- Textstyle Mapping
MEDDXF_TEXTSTYLE_MAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\med2dxf_tstyle.map

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Settings

DXFMED_TEXTSTYLE_MAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\dxf2med_tstyle.map
MEDMED_TEXTSTYLE_MAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\med2med_tstyle.map

-- Symbol(Prim) Mapping
-- SYMBOLMAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\dxf2med_symbol.map

-- DXF Point Mapping

--POINTMAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\dxf2med_point.map

-- Layerstatus Mapping
-- MEDDXF_LAYERSTAT_MAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\med2dxf_layerstatus.map

-- MEDUSA Stylefile
STYLEPATH = ${MED_PROJ}\m2d\bin\styles.xml
COLOURPATH = ${M2D_PROD}\m2d\src\colours.map
BOLDNESSPATH = ${MED_PROJ}\m2d\bin\boldness.map

-- MEDUSA -> DXF Settings

MEDDXF_DIMENSION = DIM
BLOCKS = ON
CLUMPNAME = ON
COLORS = ON
POLYLINE = ON
MEDTEXT = medtext
MEDTEXT_GDT = medtext
DXFPRECISION = 9
MEDCODE = 1
UNSCALE = OFF
SPECTEXT_AS_PIC = OFF
SUPERLINEMODE = LINE
TEXTBOX = OFF
TEXTHEIGHT_ZERO = OFF
LTSCALE = 12
PM5 = ON
ACADVERSION = ACAD2000
-- BIGFONT = BIGFONT.SHX
DXFOUT_CHARSET = ANSI_1252

-- DXF -> MEDUSA Settings

DXFMED_DIMENSION = COM
MOVE = on
CLUMPS = on
BLOCKNAME = off
UNITS = MM
SCALE = 1.0
MEDPRECISION = HIGH
SHEETSIZE = BYDXFFILE
FILLGAP = 0.1

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Configuration

CONVSPACE = MODEL
CONVSPACE = ALL_PAPER
HIDDENLAYER = on
LINEWEIGHT_DEFAULT = 0.0
PROXY = BLOCK
SPLINEAPPROX = CONIC
DXFIN_CHARSET = ANSI_1252
FORCE_DXFIN_CS = OFF
XREF = OFF

USETRUECOLOR = OFF
OVERWRITE = ON

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Settings - Graphical User Interface

Settings - Graphical User Interface

Settings for the conversion of MEDUSA to AutoCAD and vice versa respectively can also be
made inside the graphical user interface of MEDUSA by using the Options DXF/DWG-Interface
dialog.

Please note: Modifications, which you make in this dialog and confirm them with OK, are only
active during this work session. With a restart the settings are taken from the
cadconvert.cfg file (see “Settings” on page 12). Since the cadconvert.cfg will be not
overwritten automatically, MEDUSA reverts to the last saved settings of the file.
i.e. If you want to change settings permanently, you have to change them in the
cadconvert.cfg.

Choose the entry Options from the main menu and then Interfaces > DXF/DWG.
Figure 1 The Interfaces Pulldown Menu

The dialog Options DXF/DWG-Interface opens. It contains two different tabs.

The first tab provides the settings for the conversion from MEDUSA to DXF/DWG.

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

Figure 2 Dialog DXF/DWG Interface: Tab MEDUSA -> DXF/DWG

OK
Assumes modified settings for the duration of the work session.
Cancel
Changes are not assumed. The last specified settings, which have been approved
with OK are active.
Reset
Takes the default settings from the cadconvert.cfg file.

The second tab contains the settings for the conversion from DXF/DWG to MEDUSA.

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Settings - Graphical User Interface

Figure 3 Dialog DXF/DWG Interface: Tab DXF/DWG -> MEDUSA

The functions of the buttons comply with the ones described on the previous page.

Keywords inside the dialogs are described in the chapter “List of Commands” on page 47.

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

True Color

Since AutoCAD 2004 it is possible to define True Colors for elements.

Usually AutoCAD has 256 base colors, the so called AutoCAD-Color-Index (ACI), which are
defined as RGB values. However since AutoCAD 2004 an additional True Color can be defined,
which can have any RGB value from the whole color palette of 16,7 million colors. If existent,
the True Color value is leading against the ACI color value.

During conversion for both directions, import and export, the option USETRUECOLOR can be
set in order to transfer these True Color values. For example, if you export a MEDUSA drawing,
after an import of the drawing as a DXF or DWG file the same colors as before will be displayed
in MEDUSA. If the option USETRUECOLOR is off, the ACI color value will be used.

DXF/DWG -> MEDUSA

When importing from AutoCAD, the True Color is taken, if it was defined in AutoCAD. If there is
no color with appropriate RGB values in MEDUSA, the color will be added to the MEDUSA color
catalog. If there is an appropriate value, the color existing in MEDUSA will be used. MEDUSA
can manage 256 colors. If this amount is exceeded, that color will be taken which matches best.

MEDUSA -> DXF/DWG

When exporting, an AutoCAD file with RGB values will be written, if the option
USETRUECOLOR is switched on. This will be not done, if the MEDUSA color comes close to
an ACI color, then this one will be taken.

Mapping

Instead of a color number an RGB value can be defined for a True Color in the column Colour
of the mapping table, if a certain True Color is to be mapped. This is possible for input and
output.

Syntax: RGB 247, 111, 17

True Color values are handled in the same way as usual color values.

Details on the mapping is given in “Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed” on page 20 and

“Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG” on page 31.

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Font Names - Font Numbers

Font Names - Font Numbers

Inside the graphical user interface MEDUSA uses font names instead of font numbers, which
are used internally only. CADConvert needs font numbers for mapping. The assignment of font
names to font numbers is done in the code.dat file which is located in the directory
med2d\m2d\src.

Font assignment has the following syntax:

FONT <no> <name>

where
<no>
is an integer number
<name>
is the font name

If you want to define a certain font for mapping on the site of MEDUSA look into the directory
med2d\m2d\src either at the code.dat file or the font.map file for the number of a certain font name.

Details on font assignments are given in the MEDUSA Customization Guide, chapter „Decortext
Fonts“, „Numbering Fonts“.

Example for some font assignments in code.dat:

...
-- The FONT vector
-- ===============
--
-- The FONT vector associates the font number attribute of Decortext
-- with a font name
--
Font 1 ARIAL_DEFAULT
Font 2 ARIAL_FILL_DEFAULT
Font 3 EXPRESS
Font 4 GOTHIC
Font 5 HAND
Font 6 LEROY
Font 7 PICA
...

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed

General Practice

Basically lines and texts are converted from AutoCAD into MEDUSA in that way, that the same
style names are used. If no appropriate MEDUSA style name is found for a AutoCAD style
name, conversion is performed according to the definition in the appropriate mapping table (see
“Line Style Mapping” on page 21 and “Text Style Mapping” on page 25).

Layers are numbered in sequence as they appear in the DXF/DWG-file. The numbering starts
using the baselayer that can be set in dxf2med_lstyle.cfg located in subdirectory cfg. The states of
a layer (invis, frozen,...) are not taken into account.

Attributes

DXF/DWG-attributes can be visible, invisible, constant or variable. In MEDUSA all attributes are
translated as text attributes and added to the respective structure. To be consistent with the
MEDUSA naming conventions, the attribute names are stripped to 6 characters. If the
converted name already exists, a figure is appended to the name until a unique name is found.

If for example the attributes NUMBER_A, NUMBER_B and NUMBER_C are used within the
DXF-file, then CADConvert changes NUMBER_A to NUMBER, NUMBER_B to NUMBE1 and
NUMBER_C to NUMBE2.

Hints for Mapping

Properties which are locked in the MEDUSA style are not taken from the mapping.

Mapping does not create new styles.

For color of lines numbers are used on the side of MEDUSA. These numbers represent a
certain coloring. The assignment of numbers to properties can be found in the file:
<installation path MEDUSA>\med2d\m2d\src\colours.map

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed

Line Style Mapping

Differing from standard and in dependency of name, layer and color, DXF lines can be assigned
to a defined MEDUSA line with a defined layer.

This can be done with the file dxf2med_lstyle.map in the subdirectory cfg.

File Syntax
-- Linestyle Mapping Autodesk DXF --> MEDUSA
CSGCONVTYPE : CSGDXF2MED4
CSGMAPPINGTYPE : CSGLINESTYLEMAPPING
CSGBASELAYER : <int>
-- AutoCAD : MEDUSA
-- LineStyle : Layer : Colour : Bold : LineStyle : Layer : Colour : LineType : Bold : Transfer :
-------------+---------+--------+------+------------+----------+--------+----------+------+---------+
<str> : <str> : <int> : <re> : <str> : <int> : <int> : <str> : <re> : 1 / 2 :

Please note: The first two entries are internal keywords which specify the kind of file.
You may not change these entries.

The line style mapping file has the following main definitions:
• CSGCONVTYPE marks the conversion type and is CSGDXF2MED4.
• CSGMAPPINGTYPE marks the mapping type. For line mapping it is
CSGLINESTYLEMAPPING.
• CSGBASELAYER is the number of the basis layer, e.g. 500. This entry is optional.

Below the main definitions you find a table. On the left hand side the columns for AutoCAD line
definitions are given, which are mapped to the MEDUSA line styles on the right.

The columns for AutoCAD definitions are:

• LineStyle gives lines by names (e.g. contour).
• Layer gives layers by names (e.g. dimension).
• Colour gives colors by the color numbers (e.g. 2) or True Color RGB values (e.g.
RGB 247,111,17).
• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).
You can also define an area for boldness in the column (e.g. 0.18-2.5).

The columns for MEDUSA definitions are:

• LineStyle is the name of a MEDUSA style (e.g. solid_thick).
• Layer gives layers by numbers (e.g. 11)
• Colour gives colors by color numbers (e.g. 1) or True Color RGB values (e.g. RGB
247,111,17).

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

• LineType gives lines by its internal names (e.g. L0). LineType is always associated
with the MEDUSA LineStyle and therefore it matters for the Free Line Style only.
• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).

Global setting:
• Transfer can be 1 for transferring elements and 2 for no transfer.

You can insert the following value types into the columns:
<str> = string
<int> = integer
<re> = real
< > = no entry. Any table cell can be empty. If a cell in the input section (DXF/DWG) is
empty, it matches any property of a DXF element. If a cell in the output section
(MEDUSA) is empty, it is filled during the scan, or, if scanning is finished, the default
value is inserted.

The following special values can be set in the MEDUSA section:

@FRE creates a Free Line Style which is characterized in that way that it has no name. This
keyword can be set for LineStyle only.
@SRC states that the input value is used also in the output. If there is no equivalent value in
MEDUSA, the closest value is used. If you use @SRC for LineStyle and if there is no
equivalent value in MEDUSA, the following styles will be generated:
• acad_solid for solid lines,
• acad_center for center lines,
• acad_dashed_short for dashed lines (with comparable stroke/gap sequence to
MEDUSA’s dashed short line style),
• acad_dashed_long for dashed lines (with comparable stroke/gap sequence to
MEDUSA’s dashed long line style), and
• acad_phantom for phantom lines.
@NUM defines that the output uses the same number as the input. For color, this can lead to a
different color in AutoCAD and MEDUSA depending on the definitions inside the color
map. @NUM can be set for Layer and Colour only.
@DEF defines that the output uses the default value. The result of scanning is not taken into
account.

Columns are separated by colons. You can comment out a column with two dashes (--).

A mapping table should be structured in that way, that on top of the table the special line types
are defined and in the bottom the common definitions are given. This is because scanning the
table is done from top to bottom (see ”Mapping Procedure” below).

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Mapping Procedure

CADConvert determines all qualities of a DXF/DWG element and puts them into an imaginary
table. The table is scanned from top to bottom and from left to right, and each entry is evaluated
for matching with a table entry inside the mapping table (see “Example” on page 23).

A DXF/DWG element table entry matches with a mapping table entry, if the elements quality is
the same or if the mapping table has an empty table cell.

Once a DXF/DWG element table entry matches with a mapping table entry, the appropriate
MEDUSA definitions are used. Characteristics that are not explicitly mapped are set to the
default but they can be overwritten in the following scan, they are not occupied.

Several lines of the mapping table can match the properties of the DXF/DWG input element.
Note that already set MEDUSA definitions are not overwritten. Only those MEDUSA settings
can be overwritten which still have default values meaning that they are not occupied.

If all input DXF/DWG qualities are found in the mapping table or if all entries of the mapping
table were checked, then scanning is finished for the current DXF/DWG element and the next
one is evaluated.

Please note: Mapping does not create new MEDUSA line styles.
Mapping can be done on existing MEDUSA styles only.
Properties are only taken if they are not protected inside the MEDUSA style.

Example

The table below gives the mapping used for this example:
--AutoCAD : MEDUSA
--LineStyle: Layer : Colour: Bold :LineStyle : Layer : Colour: LineType : Bold : Transfer :
-----------+---------+-------+------+-----------------+-------+-------+----------+------+----------+
:dimension: : : : 4 : : : : 1
continious : : : :solid_thin : 21 : : L0 : : 1
dashed : : : :dashed_short_thin: : : L3 : : 1
:machine : : : : 256 : @DEF : : : 1
:basement : 6 : : : 64 : @NUM : : : 1
:basement : 7 : 0.18 : : 60 : : : @SRC : 1
:basement : 5 : : : 58 : : : : 1
: : : :@FRE : : : L4 : : 1

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Configuration

The following table shows some DXF/DWG elements, one per line, on the left hand side. On the
right you see the resulting MEDUSA line styles, which are created according to the mapping
table given above.
AutoCAD MEDUSA

LineStyle Layer Color Bold LineStyle Layer Color LineType Bold

dotted dimension 5 0.5 Free Style 4 Default L4 0

phantom dimension 3 0.5 Free Style 4 Default L4 0

continuous dimension (all) 0.5 solid_thin 4 Default L0 Default

continuous (all, not 4) (all) 0.5 solid_thin 21 Default L0 Default

dashed machine (all) 0.2 dashed_short_thin 256 Default L3 Default

dashed basement 5 0.2 dashed_short_thin 58 Default L3 Default

dashed basement 6 0.2 dashed_short_thin 64 6 L3 Default

dashed basement 7 0.18 dashed_short_thin 60 Default L3 0.18

The value Default in the table above stands for the appropriate default value of the MEDUSA
style, which always has defaults for layer, color, line type and boldness. In case of Free Style
boldness is set to zero, meaning minimum thickness.

In detail a DXF element is mapped like following, taking the last DXF/DWG element as
example. The input element is dashed basement 7 0.18.
1. CADConvert starts scanning through the mapping table looking for dashed in the 1st
row.
The first cell is empty, meaning that it matches. The second cell contains dimension
which does not match and CADConvert aborts evaluating this row.
2. CADConvert goes on looking for dashed in the 2nd row.
The first cell contains continuous, meaning no match and CADConvert goes on
scanning the next row.
3. CADConvert looks for dashed in row 3.
In this row dashed is found and now the other two table entries are evaluated. Both
are empty, meaning that also these entries match. Now CADConvert takes the defined
properties of the appropriate line style and writes the entries into the table.
At this time the MEDUSA style settings are:
dashed_short_thin Default Default L3 Default.
4. CADConvert goes on looking for dashed in the 4th row of the mapping table.
The left table entry is empty, meaning that it matches.
CADConvert looks for the 2nd table cell, basement, but it finds machine, meaning no
match. Scanning this row is finished with that.
5. CADConvert goes on looking for dashed inside the next row (5).
Again the left table cell is empty, meaning that it matches.
a. CADConvert looks for basement in the 2nd cell.
Now basement is found and so it matches.

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b. The color 7 is looked up in the 3rd cell.

In this row the color is 6. So there is no match and CADConvert goes on scanning
the next row.
6. CADConvert looks for dashed in row 6 of the mapping table.
Again the first cell is empty (match).
a. The 2nd cell is basement (match).
b. The 3rd cell is 7 (match).
c. The 4th cell is 0.18 and so the whole line matches.
As in step 3 CADConvert takes the appropriate line style settings and writes the
entries into the table. This time only the layer number 60 is taken because all other
properties were already allocated in step 3. The MEDUSA settings are now:
dashed_short_thin 60 Default L3 0.18.
Because all input properties are evaluated, scanning for this DXF/DWG element is
finished.

Text Style Mapping

Differing from standard and in dependency of name, layer and color, DXF/DWG texts can be
assigned to defined MEDUSA texts with a defined MEDUSA text style, text type, font, layer,
color and boldness. This can be done with the file dxf2med_tstyle.map located in subdirectory cfg.

File Syntax
-- Textstyle Mapping AutoCAD -> MEDUSA
CSGCONVTYPE : CSGDXF2MED4
CSGMAPPINGTYPE : CSGTEXTSTYLEMAPPING
CSGBASELAYER : 500
--AutoCAD : MEDUSA
--TextStyle: FontFile: Layer: Color: Bold: TextStyle : Layer: Color: TextType: Font: Bold: Transfer:
-----------+---------+------+------+-----+-----------+------+------+---------+-----+-----+---------+
: : : : 0.18:plain_large: : @DEF : : : 0.5 : 1 :
: : : : :plain_large: : @SRC : : : @SRC: 1 :
<str> : <str> : <str>: <int>:<rea>: <str> : <int>: <int>: <str> :<int>:<rea>: 1 / 2 :

Please note: The first two entries are internal keywords which specify the kind of file.
You may not change these entries.

The text style mapping file has the following main definitions:
• CSGCONVTYPE marks the conversion type and is CSGDXF2MED4.
• CSGMAPPINGTYPE marks the mapping type. For text mapping it is
CSGTEXTSTYLEMAPPING.
• CSGBASELAYER is the number of the basis layer, e.g. 500. This entry is optional.

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Configuration

Below the main definitions you find a table. On the left hand side the columns for AutoCAD line
definitions are given, which are mapped to the MEDUSA line styles on the right.

The columns for AutoCAD definitions are:

• TextStyle gives styles by names (e.g. hints).
• FontFile is a file name (e.g. ARIALBD.TTF). If you do not want to use True Type
fonts, the file medtext.shx is provided which is in the subdirectory font.
• Layer gives layers by names (e.g. dimension).
• Colour gives colors by the color numbers (e.g. 2) or True Color RGB values (e.g.
RGB 247,111,17).
• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).
You can also define an area for boldness in the column (e.g. 0.18-2.5).

The columns for MEDUSA definitions are:

• TextStyle is the name of a MEDUSA style (e.g. plain_large).
• Layer gives layers by numbers (e.g. 11)
• Colour gives colors by color numbers (e.g. 1) or True Color RGB values (e.g. RGB
247,111,17).
• TextType gives texts by its internal names (e.g. T1). TextType is always associated
with the MEDUSA TextStyle and therefore it matters for the Free Text Style only.
• Font gives the number of the font (e.g. 1).
• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).

Global setting:
• Transfer can be 1 for transferring elements and 2 for no transfer.

You can insert the following value types into the columns:
<str> = string
<int> = integer
<rea> = real
< > = no entry. Any table cell can be empty. If a cell in the input section is empty, it matches
any property of a DXF element. If a cell in the output section is empty, it is filled during
the scan, or, if scanning is finished, the default value is inserted.
The following special values can be set in the MEDUSA section:
@FRE creates a Free Text Style which is characterized in that way that it has no name. This
keyword can be set for TextStyle only.
@SRC states that the input value is used also in the output. If there is no equivalent value in
MEDUSA, the closest value is used. If you use @SRC for TextStyle and if there is no
equivalent value in MEDUSA, the following styles will be generated:
• acad_ttf_text for all text elements with a True Type font, and

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• acad_plain_text for all other text elements.

@NUM defines that the output uses the same number as the input. For color, this can lead to a
different color in AutoCAD and MEDUSA depending on the definitions inside the color
map. @NUM can be set for Layer and Colour only.
@DEF defines that the output uses the default value. The result of scanning is not taken into
account.

Columns are separated by colons.You can comment out a column with two dashes (--).

A mapping table should be structured in that way, that on top of the table the special text types
are defined and in the bottom the common definitions are given. This is because scanning the
table is done from top to bottom. For details on the mapping procedure see “Mapping
Procedure” on page 23.

Example

The table below gives the mapping table used for this example:
--AutoCAD : MEDUSA
--TextStyle: FontFile: Layer: Color: Bold: TextStyle : Layer: Color: TextType: Font: Bold: Transfer:
-----------+---------+------+------+-----+------------+------+------+---------+-----+-----+---------+
example1: :text : : 0.18:plain_large : : @DEF : : : 0.5 : 1 :
: :com : 7 : 0.2 :plain_large : : @SRC : : : @SRC: 1 :
hints : : : : :plain_large : : : T1 : : : 1 :
: :title : : : : 2 : : : : 1 : 1 :
company : : : : :plain_small : 17 : : T1 : 1 : : 1 :
number : : : 4 : :circle : 11 : : TC1 : : : 1 :

The following table shows some DXF elements, one per line, on the left hand side. On the right
you see the resulting MEDUSA style, which is created according to the mapping table above.
AutoCAD MEDUSA

TextStyle Layer Color Bold TextStyle Layer Color TextType Font Bold

example1 text 5 0.18 plain_large Default Default Default Default 0.5

example1 com 7 0.2 plain_large Default 7 Default Default 0.2

hints text 2 0.2 plain_large Default Default T1 Default Default

hints title 4 0.2 plain_large 2 Default T1 Default 1

company title 2 0.2 plain_small 2 Default T1 1 1

company text 2 0.2 plain_small 17 Default T1 1 Default

number text 4 0.2 circle 11 Default TC1 Default Default

number text 5 0.2 Free Style Default Default Default Default 0

As you can see the last DXF element matches with no line of the mapping table and therefore
this element is assigned to the free style in MEDUSA.

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

The value Default in the table above stands for the appropriate default value of the MEDUSA
style, which always has defaults for layer, color, line type and boldness. In case of Free Style
boldness is set to zero, meaning minimum thickness.

Special Text

For a clear definition of special texttypes (e.g. underlined text, text in a box, ...) a second
mapping table is recommended. This is the table med2med_tstyle.map located in the subdirectory
cfg.

The file is build up like:

-- Textstyle Autodesk DXF --> Mapping MEDUSA
CSGConvType : CSGMed2Med
CSGMappingType : CSGTextStyleMapping

-- ACAD : MEDUSA
--Texttype: underlined : overlined : boxed : circle : sausage
----------:------------:-----------:----------:----------:--------
<string> : <string> : <string> : <string> : <string> : <string>

The following table is delivered as a standard. You can change and extend it.

--Texttype: underlined : overlined : boxed : circle : sausage

----------:------------:-----------:-------:--------:--------
DT1 : DT2 : DT1 : DT3 : DT4 : DT5
T1 : TU1 : T1 : TR1 : TC1 : TS1
T2 : TU2 : T2 : TR2 : TC2 : TS2
T3 : TU3 : T3 : TR3 : TC3 : TS3
ST1 : TU1 : T1 : TR1 : TC1 : TS1
ST2 : TU2 : T2 : TR2 : TC2 : TS2
ST3 : TU3 : T3 : TR3 : TC3 : TS3

Symbol Mapping

In MEDUSA you can have prims consisting of one or more line elements. When converting a
MEDUSA drawing into AutoCAD, prims are converted to blocks with a certain nomenclature.
For example, a prim PAP in MEDUSA gets the block name MEDPRIM_LAY6_PAP_ in AutoCAD,
if it is on layer 6, or MEDPRIM_LAY90_SUP_EAR_ is a superprim with picture EAR on layer 90.

To re-create prims or superprims from blocks in AutoCAD during the translation to MEDUSA,
there exists a mapping file dxfmed_symbol.map, containing the assignment of block names and
prims and superprims respectively. The path to the mapping file has to be set in the
configuration file cadconvert.cfg (see “Settings” on page 12).

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Example Table:

-- Symbol Mapping AutoCAD -> MEDUSA --

CSGCONVTYPE : CSGDXF2MED4
CSGMAPPINGTYPE : CSGSYMBOLMAPPING
-- DXF-BLOCK : MEDUSA Prim : Superprim
-------------------+---------------------------------
MED*PRIM*PAP? : PAP :
MED*PRIM*EAR_ : EAR : SUP

The block names can contain wildcards. * stands for several signs and ? represents one sign.

Point Mapping

Points in AutoCAD are converted into Prims in MEDUSA.

The path to the mapping file has to be set in the configuration file cadconvert.cfg (see “Settings”
on page 12).

Example Table:

-- Point Mapping
--POINTMAP = ${CADCONVERT}\cfg\dxf2med_point.map

CSGCONVTYPE : CSGDXF2MED4
CSGMAPPINGTYPE : CSGPOINTMAPPING

-- DXF-Point No : MEDUSA Prim : Superprim

------------------+--------------+-------------------
2 : PAP :
32 : PAP :
5 : PAP :
62 : PAP :
34 : PAP :
35 : PAP :
3 : DTM :

Raster Images

With the conversion, referenced raster images of a DXF/DWG file are transferred to MEDUSA.
Precondition for the import is, that the referenced image(s) is (are) located in the same directory
as the DXF/DWG file.

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Configuration

With the conversion of raster images only rectangular clipping of images and rotation by steps
of 90 degrees is possible. Shearing is not transferred (see also chapter “Limitations” on
page 81).

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Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG

General Practice

Basically lines and texts are converted from MEDUSA to AutoCAD in that way, that the same
style names are used. If no appropriate AutoCAD style name is found for a MEDUSA style
name, conversion is performed according to the definition in the appropriate mapping table (see
“Line Style Mapping” on page 31 and “Text Mapping” on page 35).

If additional definitions of MEDUSA linestyles (STY >5, so called user-styles) in the MEDUSA
code-file are made, these definitions have also to be done in the file medstyle.cfg located in
subdirectory cfg. The syntax in this file is the same as in the MEDUSA code-file (see <install
path to MEDUSA>\med2d\m2d\src\code.dat).

Text height and text width are taken from the code-file definition. Using the online parameter
MEDTEXT, you can determine which font-file is used for the graphical representation in
AutoCAD.

During conversion the states of a layer (invis, frozen,...) are not taken into account. Therefor an
additional Layer Status Mapping can be used (see “Layer Status Mapping” on page 38).

Attributes

MEDUSA attributes are converted to constant hidden text attributes in DXF/DWG. Since there is
no way to attach attributes to single elements in DXF/DWG, only clump-linked MEDUSA
attributes can be converted.

Hints for Mapping

For color of lines numbers are used on the side of MEDUSA. These numbers represent a
certain coloring. The assignment of numbers to properties can be found in the file:
<installation path MEDUSA>\med2d\m2d\src\colours.map

Line Style Mapping

Differing from standard and in dependency of name and layer MEDUSA lines can be assigned
to defined DXF lines with defined layer, color and linestyle. This can be done with the file
med2dxf_lstyle.map located in subdirectory cfg.

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Configuration

File Syntax
-- Linestyle Mapping MEDUSA -> AutoCAD --
CSGCONVTYPE : CSGMED42DXF
CSGMAPPINGTYPE : CSGLINESTYLEMAPPING
CSGBASELAYER : 500
-- MEDUSA : AutoCAD
-- LineStyle : Layer : Color : LineType : Bold : LineStyle : Layer : Color : Bold : Transfer :
-------------+-------+-------+----------+------+-----------+-------+-------+------+----------+
<str> : <int> : <int> : <str> : <re> : <str> : <int> : <int> : <re> : 1 / 2 :

Please note: The first two entries are internal keywords which specify the kind of file.
You may not change these entries.

The line style mapping file has the following main definitions:
• CSGCONVTYPE marks the conversion type and is CSGMED42DXF.
• CSGMAPPINGTYPE marks the mapping type. For line mapping it is
CSGLINESTYLEMAPPING.
• CSGBASELAYER is the number of the basis layer, e.g. 500. This entry is optional.

Below the main definitions you find a table. On the left hand side the columns for AutoCAD line
definitions are given, which are mapped to the MEDUSA line styles on the right.

The columns for MEDUSA definitions are:

• LineStyle is the name of a MEDUSA style (e.g. solid_thick).
• Layer gives layers by numbers (e.g. 11)
• Colour gives colors by color numbers (e.g. 1) or True Color RGB values (e.g. RGB
247,111,17).
• LineType gives lines by its internal names (e.g. L1). LineType is always associated
with the MEDUSA LineStyle and therefore it matters for the Free Line Style only.
• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).

The columns for AutoCAD definitions are:

• LineStyle gives lines by names (e.g. contour).
• Layer gives layers by names (e.g. dimension).
• Colour gives colors by the color numbers (e.g. 2) or True Color RGB values (e.g.
RGB 247,111,17).
• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).

Global setting:
• Transfer can be 1 for transferring elements and 2 for no transfer.

You can insert the following value types into the columns:

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<str> = string
<int> = integer
<re> = real
< > = no entry. Any table cell can be empty. If a cell in the input section is empty, it matches
any property of a MEDUSA element. If a cell in the output section is empty, it is filled
during the scan, or, if scanning is finished, the default value is inserted.

The following variables can be set in the MEDUSA section:

@FRE defines the Free Line Style which is characterized in that way that it has no name. This
keyword can be set for LineStyle only.

The following variables can be set in the AutoCAD section:

@SRC states that the input value is used also in the output. If there is no equivalent value
available in the output, the closest value is used.
@DEF defines that the output uses the default value. The result of scanning is not taken into
account.
@NUM can be set for Colour only. @NUM defines that the output uses the same color number
as the input. This can lead to a different color in AutoCAD and MEDUSA depending on
the definitions inside the color map.
@NAM can be set for Colour only. @NAM instructs the converter to use the MEDUSA layer
label as AutoCAD layer name. If no label is defined, the naming convention is
Layer_<layer no>.

Columns are separated by colons.You can comment out a column with two dashes (--).

A mapping table should be structured in that way, that on top of the table the special line types
are defined and in the bottom the common definitions are given. This is because scanning the
table is done from top to bottom. For details on the mapping procedure see “Mapping
Procedure” on page 23.

Example

The following table is the mapping used for this example.

-- MEDUSA : AutoCAD
-- LineStyle : Layer : Color : LineType : Bold : LineStyle : Layer : Color : Bold : Transfer :
-------------+-------+-------+----------+------+-----------+--------+-------+------+----------+
dotted thin : 11 : : L1 : :Continuous :boundery: : : 1
: 100 : : L0 : :Continuous :shafts : : : 1
: 110 : : L0 : :Continuous :details : @NUM : @SRC : 1
: 1018 : : : : :hidden : 3 : : 1
: : : L1 : :Continuous : : : : 1
: : : L2 : :centre :centre : 4 : : 1

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

The table below gives some MEDUSA input elements on the left and the resulting AutoCAD
elements after conversion on the right. For the DXF output the closest possible DXF value is
calculated from the MEDUSA input value, given as best match (BM) in the table below.
MEDUSA AutoCAD

LineStyle Layer Color LineType Bold LineStyle Layer Color Bold

dotted_thin 11 2 L1 0.25 Continuous boundary BM BM

hidden_line 1018 2 L1 0.25 Continuous hidden 3 BM

dotted_thick 100 2 L1 1.0 Continuous 100 BM BM

hidden_line2 1018 2 L4 0.75 hidden_line2 hidden 3 BM

chain_thin 11 2 L2 0.25 Centre centre 4 BM

solid_thin 100 2 L0 0.25 Continuous shafts BM BM

solid_medium 110 2 L0 0.5 Continuous details 2 0.5

solid_medium 110 12 L0 0.75 Continuous details 12 0.75

solid_thick 11 2 L0 1.0 solid_thick 11 BM BM

dashed_short2 1 2 L3 0.75 dashed_short2 1 BM BM

Special Mappings

The line styles of the following special mappings are „imaginary“ line style for CADConvert.
They are used for the graphical translation of the elements Prim, Point function and Superline.
• Linestyle mapping for Prims

MEDUSA DXF
LineStyle Layer Color Bold Layer Color Linestyle
LPRM 241 Surface
• Linestyle mapping for Point functions

MEDUSA DXF
LineStyle Layer Color Bold Layer Color Linestyle
LFUN 0 FUNV
• Linestyle mapping for Superlines

MEDUSA DXF
LineStyle Layer Color Bold Layer Color Linestyle
LSUP 0 Superline

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• Linestyle mapping for the graphical part of, for example, boxed or underlined texts

MEDUSA DXF
LineStyle Layer Color Bold Layer Color Linestyle
LTXT 0 Textline

Text Mapping

Differing from standard and in dependency of text, font and layer MEDUSA texts can be
assigned to defined DXF texts with a defined DXF layer, color style and font. This can be done
with the file med2dxf_tstyle.map located in subdirectory cfg.

File Syntax
-- Textstyle Mapping MEDUSA -> AutoCAD --
CSGCONVTYPE : CSGMED42DXF
CSGMAPPINGTYPE : CSGTEXTSTYLEMAPPING
CSGBASELAYER : 500

-- MEDUSA : AutoCAD
-- TextStyle: Layer: Color: TextType: Font: Bold: TextStyle: Font: Layer: Color: Bold: Transfer:
------------+------+------+---------+-----+-----+----------+-----+------+------+-----+---------+
<str> : <int>: <int>: <str> :<int>: <re>: <str> :<str>: <str>: <int>: <re>: 1 / 2

Please note: The first two entries are internal keywords which specify the kind of file.
You may not change these entries.

The text style mapping file has the following main definitions:
• CSGCONVTYPE marks the conversion type and is CSGMED42DXF.
• CSGMAPPINGTYPE marks the mapping type. For text mapping it is
CSGTEXTSTYLEMAPPING.
• CSGBASELAYER is the number of the basis layer, e.g. 500. This entry is optional.

The columns for MEDUSA definitions are:

• TextStyle is the name of a MEDUSA style (e.g. plain_large).
• Layer gives layers by numbers (e.g. 11)
• Colour gives colors by color numbers (e.g. 1) or True Color RGB values (e.g. RGB
247,111,17).
• TextType gives texts by its internal names (e.g. T1). TextType is always associated
with the MEDUSA TextStyle and therefore it matters for the Free Text Style only.
• Font is the number of the font (e.g. 1).

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).

The columns for AutoCAD definitions are:

• TextStyle gives styles by names (e.g. hints).
• Font is a file name (e.g. ARIALBD.TTF). If you do not want to use True Type fonts,
the file medtext.shx is provided which is in the subdirectory font.
• Layer gives layers by names (e.g. dimension).
• Colour gives colors by the color numbers (e.g. 2) or True Color RGB values (e.g.
RGB 247,111,17).
• Bold gives boldness by thickness values (e.g. 0.18).

Global setting:
• Transfer can be 1 for transferring elements and 2 for no transfer.

You can insert the following value types into the columns:
<str> = string
<int> = integer
<re> = real
< > = no entry. Any table cell can be empty. If a cell in the input section is empty, it matches
any property of a MEDUSA element. If a cell in the output section is empty, it is filled
during the scan, or, if scanning is finished, the default value is inserted.

The following variables can be set in the MEDUSA section:

@FRE creates a Free Line Style which is characterized in that way that it has no name. This
keyword can be set for TextStyle only.

The following variables can be set in the AutoCAD section:

@SRC states that the input value is used also in the output. If there is no equivalent value in
AutoCAD, the closest value is used.
@DEF defines that the output uses the default value. The result of scanning is not taken into
account.
@NUM can be set for Colour only. @NUM defines that the output uses the same color number
as the input. This can lead to a different color in AutoCAD and MEDUSA depending on
the definitions inside the color map.
@NAM can be set for Layer only. @NAM instructs the converter to use the MEDUSA layer label
as AutoCAD layer name. If no label is defined, the naming convention is
Layer_<layer no>.

Columns are separated by colons.You can comment out a column with two dashes (--).

A mapping table should be structured in that way, that on top of the table the special text types
are defined and in the bottom the common definitions are given. This is because scanning the
table is done from top to bottom. For details on the mapping procedure see “Mapping
Procedure” on page 23.

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Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG

Example

The table below gives the mapping table used for this example:
-- MEDUSA : AutoCAD
-- TextStyle : Layer: Color: TextType: Font: Bold: TextStyle: Font : Layer : Color: Bold: Transfer :
-------------+------+------+---------+-----+-----+----------+-------+--------+------+-----+---------+
: : : T1 : 1 : : :MEDTEXT: : @NUM : @SRC: 1
: 2 : : : : : :MEDTEXT:titlebox: 3 : : 1
: 11 : : T1 : : : :MEDTEXT:hints : : : 1
: : : TC1 : : : :MEDTEXT:partlist: 4 : : 1
: : : TR1 : 0 : : :MEDTEXT:company : 5 : : 1

The following table gives some MEDUSA input elements on the left and the resulting AutoCAD
elements after conversion on the right. For the DXF output the closest possible DXF value is
calculated from the MEDUSA input value, given as best match (BM) in the table below. For Font
the default is usually the parameter MEDTEXT (see “Settings” on page 12).
MEDUSA AutoCAD
TextStyle Layer Color TextType Font Bold TextStyle Font Layer Color Bold

plain_large 11 2 T1 1 0.7 plain_large MEDTEXT hints 2 0.7

plain_medium 2 3 T1 0 0.35 plain_medium MEDTEXT titlebox 3 BM

plain_thin 100 4 T1 1 0.18 plain_thin MEDTEXT 100 4 0.18

part1 11 2 TC1 1 0.18 part1 MEDTEXT partlist 4 BM

part2 2 2 TC1 1 0.18 part2 MEDTEXT titlebox 3 BM

part3 110 2 TC1 1 0.18 part3 MEDTEXT partlist 4 BM

decor1 11 5 TR1 0 0.18 decor1 MEDTEXT company 5 BM

decor2 2 6 TR1 1 0.18 decor2 MEDTEXT titlebox 3 BM

decor3 110 7 TR1 0 0.18 decor3 MEDTEXT company 5 BM

decor4 11 8 TR1 1 0.18 decor4 MEDTEXT 11 BM BM

Note that in the last row of the table the MEDUSA input element does not match any line inside
the mapping table and therefore the AutoCAD- TextStyle is used as MEDUSA style name.

Mapping for Decor Text

MEDUSA AutoCAD

TextStyle Layer Color TextType Font Bold TextStyle Font Layer Color

T1 2 DT1_2 ARIBLK.TTF (*) Decor

(*) For the assigned DXF font the filename has to be used. This can be found under the
following path:
C:\winnt\fonts

You can only use Windows true type fonts (*.TTF) or AutoCAD fonts (*.SHX), no Windows
bitmap fonts (*.FON)!

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Configuration

Special Text

For special texttypes such as underlined text and text in a box, the online parameter MEDTEXT
(see “Settings” on page 12) is also significant. Most of these texttypes can be displayed in DXF/
DWG by special characters. When the parameter MEDTEXT is set to medtext, this conversion
is processed automatically, otherwise only underlined text is converted.

For a correct presentation in AutoCAD, the text shape file medtext.shx located in the
subdirectory font has to be copied to the AutoCAD installation. A complete data exchange
should always include this text shape file.

If the parameter SPECTEXT_AS_PIC is set to ON inside the file cadconvert.cfg (see “Settings” on
page 12), special texts are transferred as blocks. A block contains text and lines respectively
circles.

Layer Status Mapping

In AutoCAD layers can have the states frozen, off or locked. To set these states in AutoCAD by
the translation from MEDUSA, there exists a mapping file med2dxf_layerstatus.map. In this file
you can make the settings. The path to the mapping file has to be set in the configuration file
cadconvert.cfg (see “Settings” on page 12‘).

Example Table:

-- Layerstatus Mapping MEDUSA -> AutoCAD --

CSGCONVTYPE : CSGMED42DXF
CSGMAPPINGTYPE : CSGLAYERSTATUSMAPPING

-- DXF-Layer : Status FROZEN / HIDDEN / LOCKED

---------------+---------------------------------
11 : FROZEN

• Status FROZEN: The layer has the state frozen in AutoCAD.

• Status HIDDEN: The layer has the state off in AutoCAD.
• Status LOCKED: The layer has the state locked in AutoCAD.

Combinations of the states are possible.

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Default Mapping - Graphical User Interface

Default Mapping - Graphical User Interface

The files which define the mapping between MEDUSA and AutoCAD are available as text files,
which can be edited inside the graphical user interface of MEDUSA.

This section gives you the dialogs. Below each dialog you will find a link to the section which
gives detailed explanations on the entries of the appropriate mapping table.

Open the Mapping Tables Dialog

Please note: The Interfaces -> DXF/DWG Mapping Tables function is only available in the Admin mode.

Choose the entry Options from the main menu and then Interfaces -> DXF/DWG Mapping Tables.
Figure 4 Open Mapping Tables

The dialog CADConvert Mapping Tables opens. The first tab you see is DXF -> MED Line (see “Mapping
Lines, DXF to MEDUSA” on page 40).

Buttons of the Mapping Tables Dialog

Figure 5 Dialog Mapping Tables, Buttons

Save
stores the settings into the corresponding mapping files. In the next session of
MEDUSA these settings are used.
Cancel
closes the dialog without applying the parameters of the mapping tables.
Reset
restores the current data to the last saved data in the corresponding mapping file.

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

Mapping Lines, DXF to MEDUSA

For details on the parameters see “Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed”, “Line Style Mapping”
on page 21.

Mapping Texts, DXF to MEDUSA

For details on the parameters see “Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed”, “Text Style Mapping”
on page 25.

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Default Mapping - Graphical User Interface

Mapping Special Texts, DXF to MEDUSA

For details on the parameters see “Default Mapping DXFMed/DWGMed”, “Text Style Mapping”,
“Special Text” on page 28.

Mapping Lines, MEDUSA to DXF

For details on the parameters see “Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG”, “Line Style Mapping”
on page 31.

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

Mapping Text, MEDUSA to DXF

For details on the parameters see “Default Mapping MedDXF/MedDWG”, “Text Mapping” on
page 35.

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Medstyle

Medstyle

The presentation of broken line styles is fundamental different in MEDUSA and AutoCAD. In
AutoCAD it depends from the zoom factor and resolution but not in MEDUSA.

To make the presentation of these lines in AutoCAD equal to MEDUSA, the user has the
possibility to make an entry in the file cadconvert/cfg/medstyle.cfg. Open the file in an editor and
insert a new style description as given in the example below.

Example:

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

Changing the Configuration via User Interface

It is possible to change the configuration of CADConvert via MEDUSA User Interface. For this,
you need a specific directory structure.

Directory Structure

It is searched for all subdirectories of all cc_custom folders in all directories in the product list.
This folders must contain a cadconvert.cfg file. It is used for the configuration and mapping of
CADConvert.
Figure 6 Directory Structure

custom product

cc_custom

A B C

cadconvert.cfg cadconvert.cfg cadconvert.cfg

mapping tables mapping tables mapping tables

Creating Directory Structure

1. Create a folder named cc_custom within your procuct.

2. Create subdirectories within the cc_custom directory as many as desired
(example: A, B, C).
3. Copy the cadconvert.cfg file and the mapping files from the cfg directory of the english
original product (<medusa>\cadconvert\cfg) into your subdirectory (e.g. cc_custom\A).
4. Change the mapping tables as required and modify the cadconvert.cfg file by giving the
path to the modified mapping files

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Changing the Configuration via User Interface

Figure 7 Example of the modified path in the cadconvert.cfg file

User Interface

In order to switch between different configurations:

1. Choose Options > Interfaces > DXF/DWG Config Path.
Figure 8 The DXF/DWG Config Path Option

The CADConvert Configuration Path dialog is displayed.

Abb. 9 Configuration Path Dialog

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Configuration

By default the input field of the dialog displays the path to the cadconvert.cfg file of the
MEDUSA installation directory, respectively, if the environment variable
CADCONVERT_CUSTOM is set, it is the path to the directory defined by that variable
which is displayed.
Using the arrow, you can display a list of all existing folders of your user product, which
are located within the cc_custom directory and contain a cadconvert.cfg file.
2. Choose the path to the desired cadconvert.cfg file, by selecting the accordant directory.
3. Click on Apply to use the file for the conversion. A click on OK additionally closes the
dialog.

Now, when you open the Options DXF/DWG Interface dialog via Options > Interface >DXF/DWG, the path
to the desired cadconvert.cfg file is displayed on both index cards.
Figure 10 Options Dialog with Path to the used cfg File

When you open the mapping tables via Options > Interfaces > DXF/DWG Mapping Tables, the path
defined in the chosen cadconvert.cfg file is displayed at the top of the tabs.
Figure 11 Example of a Mapping Table with Path to a User defined cadconvert.cfg File

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert

LIST OF COMMANDS

This chapter lists all commands available for DXFMed / DWGMed and MedDXF / MedDWG.

• Common Commands ............................................................... 48

• DXFMed / DWGMed ................................................................ 58

• MedDXF / MedDWG ................................................................ 70

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
List of Commands

Common Commands

The following list contains the common commands valid for both conversion types:
cd Changes the working directory
code Specifies a pathname for a MEDUSA CODE file.
ddl Specifies a pathname for a MEDUSA DDL file.
dir Lists the contents of a directory.
errfile Specifies a pathname for the error file.
errlog Controls whether a ERRLOG-file is written.
go Starts the translation.
help Displays information on the specified command.
helppath Specifies a path to the help files.
in Specifies the pathname of the input file.
linestyle Specifies the pathname of the linestyle mapping file.
list Specifies the pathname of the listing file.
ls Lists the content of an directory.
mapfile Specifies the pathname for the mapfile.
maplog Controls whether a MAPLOG-file is written.
medcode Specifies the MEDUSA Code number for the conversion.
messpath Specifies the pathname of the message file.
overwrite Controls whether or not an already existing output-file with the same name
should be over written.
prim Specifies the pathname for a MEDUSA PRIM-file.
quit Quits the program.
reset Resets the conversion adjustments to standard or to the definitions of a
configuration file.
save Writes the current settings into the cadconvert.cfg file.
show Shows the conversion adjustments.
textstyle Specifies the pathname for the textstyle-mapping-table.
usetruecolor Controls whether True Colors will be fransfered.
! is used to enter commands of the operating system under CADConvert.

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Common Commands

cd

SYNTAX cd [Pathname]
DESCRIPTION This command will change the working directory.
If Pathname is a backslash (Windows) or slash (Unix) you change
into the root directory.
OPTIONS Pathname
Full pathname of the directory you want to change to.
EXAMPLE cd /
cd /proj

Code

SYNTAX code [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command code specifies the pathname for the MEDUSA
CODE file.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the MEDUSA CODE file.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> code /medusa/proj13b/m2d/bin/code.bin

DDL

SYNTAX ddl [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command ddl specifies the pathname for the MEDUSA DDL-
file to be use during translation.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the desired MEDUSA DDL-file.
EXAMPLE MEDDXF> ddl /medusa/proj13a/m2d/bin/ddl.bin

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
List of Commands

Dir

SYNTAX dir
dir [Pathname]
DESCRIPTION This command lists the content of the working directory, or the
content of the directory pointed to by pathname.
OPTIONS Pathname
Full pathname of the directory, which content will be listed
EXAMPLE dir
dir ddl /medusa/proj13a/m2d/bin

Errfile

SYNTAX errfile [pathname]

DESCRIPTION If errlog is on, the systems creates an error message file
containing any error messages generated during translation.
If errors occur, the program informs you about messages in the error
file. If there are no errors, you will not receive an error message.
The error file is an ASCII file you can read using a text editor.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname for the error message file to be used.
EXAMPLE errfile /medusa/medtemp/errors.err

Errlog

SYNTAX errlog [on/off]

DESCRIPTION on
ERRLOG-file will be written.
off
ERRLOG-file will not be written. Errors are written directly into the
console (DOS box).

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Common Commands

Go

SYNTAX go
DESCRIPTION The command go starts the translation.
EXAMPLE MEDDXF> go

Help

SYNTAX help [command]

DESCRIPTION The command help without a parameter shows a list of all available
commands or on the specified command.
OPTIONS (no option)
Displays a list of all available commands.
command
Displays information about the selected command.
EXAMPLE MEDDXF> help in

Helppath

SYNTAX helppath [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command helppath specifies a path to the help-files. Help files
have the suffix .hlp.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the help files.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> helppath /medusa/cadconvert/help/ger

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
List of Commands

In

SYNTAX in [pathname]
DESCRIPTION The command in specifies the pathname of the input file you want
to translate into the output file format.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the input file to be converted. The length of the
pathname is limited to 256 signs.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> in /data/dxf/D008.dxf
MEDDXF> in /data/sheets/9876543.she

Linestyle

SYNTAX linestyle [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command linestyle specifies the pathname of the linestyle-
mapping-table for the translation.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the linestyle-mapping-table.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> linestyle /custom/cfg/dxf2med_lstyle.map

List

SYNTAX list [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command list indicates the pathname of the list-file containing
the files you need to convert. After list you have to start the process
with go.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the list-file to be processed. The length of the
pathname is limited to 256 signs.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> list /data/dxf/allfiles.list

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 MEDUSA4 CADConvert
Common Commands

Ls

SYNTAX ls
ls [pathname]
DESCIPTION This command lists the content of the working directory, or the
content of the directory pointed to by pathname.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the directory, which content will be listed
EXAMPLE ls
ls ddl /medusa/proj13a/m2d/bin

Mapfile

SYNTAX mapfile [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command mapfile specifies the pathname for the mapfile. If
Maplog is on, the Made-Mapping will be written into this file.
’Made Mappings’ means, that CADConvert analyses the layer, color
and text types of the drawing which has been loaded and makes a
default mapping that depends of the output system.
To make your own mapping, you have to open the mapfile in an
editor. You can change the mapping and than save the file. To use
your own mapping, start CADConvert again.
OPTIONS pathname
Complete pathname of the mapfile.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> mapfile /project/maplogs/defaults.map

Maplog

SYNTAX maplog [ on / off / append ]

DESCRIPTION on
Writes a MAPLOG-file.
off
No MAPLOG-file will be written.
append
existing MAPLOG-file will be extended.

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
List of Commands

Medcode

SYNTAX medcode [ codenummer ]

DESCRIPTION The command medcode sets the MEDUSA codenumber for the
conversion.
OPTIONS 1-10
The Default is code 1
EXAMPLE medcode 5

Messpath

SYNTAX messpath [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command messpath specifies the pathname of the message
files.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the DXFMED message files.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> messpath /medusa/cadconvert/mess/gb

Overwrite

SYNTAX overwrite [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION With overwrite set to on, existing files with the same name as the
current output filename are over written without warning.
overwrite default is ON.
OPTIONS on
If a file by the same name exists, it is over written without warning.
off
A warning is displayed prior to over writing any existing files.

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Common Commands

EXAMPLE In the following example overwrite is set to off. The output-file

exists.
conversion of drawings MEDDXF> in D008
MEDDXF> out D008-940314.dxf
MEDDXF> go
File exists, overwrite? ( Y / N )
MEDDXF
conversion of lists this question is asked:
File exists, overwrite?

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
List of Commands

Prim

SYNTAX prim [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command prim specifies the pathname of a MEDUSA PRIMS
file for the translation.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the PRIM file.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> prim /medusa/proj13b/bin/prims.bin

Quit

SYNTAX quit
DESCRIPTION Use quit to exit from the utility.
If you are running the utility from within MEDUTIL, for example, you
will return to the MEDUTIL prompt.

Reset

SYNTAX reset
reset [filenam ]
DESCRIPTION The command reset without filename resets the conversion
relevant settings to the values of the default file cadconvert.cfg. This
file is in the product path below the directory cfg.
This command with filename sets the settings to the values of the
named file.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> reset projects/userproj/cadconvert_usr.cfg

Save

SYNTAX save [filename]

DESCRIPTION Saves the current settings of CADConvert in a named file.
EXAMPLE save cadconvert_usr.cfg

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Common Commands

Show

SYNTAX show
DESCRIPTION The command show displays relevant settings of the program.

Textstyle

SYNTAX textstyle [pathname]

DESCRIPTION The command textstyle specifies the pathname for the textstyle
mapping table.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname for the textstyle mapping table.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> textstyle /custom/cfg/dxf2med_tstyle.map
MEDDXF> textstyle /custom/cfg/med2dxf_tstyle.map

Usetruecolor

SYNTAX usetruecolor [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION With usetruecolor set to on, True Color RGB values will be
transferred, if defined.
usetruecolor default is off.
Note that True Color RGB values can be defined in AutoCAD since
version 2004.

!
SYNTAX ! [command]
DESCRIPTION To enter a command of the operating system under CADConvert,
you have to write ! in front of the command.
OPTIONS command
command of the operating system
EXAMPLE ! chmod ...

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MEDUSA4 CADConvert
List of Commands

DXFMed / DWGMed

Commands for the conversion from DXF/DWG to MEDUSA:

blockname Controls whether the name of the individual block should be appended to the
corresponding clump (group).
clumps Controls whether the entire block depth should be undertaken during the
translation.
convspace Defines how paper / model spaces from AutoCAD are translated
dxfin_charset Specifies the code of the text transfer, if no CODEPAGE is set within the DXF/
DWG file.
dxfmed_dimension Specifies the handling of dimensions during the translation.
force_dxfin_cs Controls whether the dxfin_charset entry shall be used as code definition
with the text transfer, even if a CODEPAGE definition exists within the DXF/DWG
file.
fillgap Influences the distance of the cross-hatching for special imported elements
hiddenlayer Handles the translation of layers with status off or frozen.
limit_maxsize Limit the maximum size to four times of the size of the sheet.
lineweight_default Defines the line weight for default lines.
medprecision Specifies the precision of the MEDUSA-drawing.
move Controls whether the variable EXTMIN should be used as (0,0).
out Specifies the pathname of the MEDUSA output-file.
papspace Defines the paper space of the DXF/DWG
project Specifies the pathname for a MEDUSA PROJECT-file.
proxy Controls whether Proxy-elements, which contain graphical elements, should be
transferred to MEDUSA and should be associated to a clump.
read_papspace Lists all paper spaces of a DXF/DWG input file.
scale Specifies a scale multiplier.
sheetsize The size of the sheet is either determined by entries of the DW/DWG file or of the
geometry size.
spatialfilter Specifies to display only a certain area of a block cut in AutoCAD or the complete
block.
spectstyle Specifies the pathname for the spectstyle-mapping-table.
splineapprox Controls the way of approximation of splines in MEDUSA

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DXFMed / DWGMed

subclump_type Defines the group type used for a nested structure

units Sets the sheet-units to mm or inch.
xref Controls whether external refences are processed during conversion or not.

The following list contains the common commands valid for both conversion types:
cd Changes the working directory
code Specifies a pathname for a MEDUSA CODE file.
ddl Specifies a pathname for a MEDUSA DDL file.
dir Lists the contents of a directory.
errfile Specifies a pathname for the error file.
errlog Controls whether a ERRLOG-file is written.
go Starts the translation.
help Displays information on the specified command.
helppath Specifies a path to the help files.
in Specifies the pathname of the input file.
linestyle Specifies the pathname of the linestyle mapping file.
list Specifies the pathname of the listing file.
ls Lists the content of an directory.
mapfile Specifies the pathname for the mapfile.
maplog Controls whether a MAPLOG-file is written.
medcode Specifies the MEDUSA Code number for the conversion.
messpath Specifies the pathname of the message file.
overwrite Controls whether or not an already existing output-file with the same name
should be over written.
prim Specifies the pathname for a MEDUSA PRIM-file.
quit Quits the program.
reset Resets the conversion adjustments to standard or to the definitions of a
configuration file.
save Writes the current settings into the cadconvert.cfg file.
show Shows the conversion adjustments.
textstyle Specifies the pathname for the textstyle-mapping-table.
usetruecolor Controls whether True Colors will be fransfered.
! is used to enter commands of the operating system under CADConvert.

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List of Commands

Blockname

SYNTAX blockname [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION With the command blockname, you can decide if the individual
block should be appended to the corresponding clump.
OPTIONS on
The clumps made during the translation are appended to the names
of the corresponding blocks as an attribute.
off
The clumps made during the translation are not appended the
names of the corresponding blocks as an attribute.

Clumps

SYNTAX clumps [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION With AutoCAD you can organize the clumps very accurate.
The command clumps sets how the entire block depth should be
used the translation.
OPTIONS on
The entire depth of block structure is used for translation to
MEDUSA file format.
off
The block structure is lost completely.

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DXFMed / DWGMed

Convspace

SYNTAX convspace [ paper / all_paper / model ]

DESCRIPTION Different paper and model spaces of AutoCAD can be written to single
MEDUSA files.
With this function you can switch between the different types of translation.
OPTIONS paper
MEDUSA checks whether several paper spaces are available. If more than one
layout is found, a dialog appears which lists all paper spaces and you can
choose the required one.
In MEDUTIL the available paper spaces are listed by the read_papspace
command. The required one can be defined using the
papspace [number]command (see page 67).
If only one paper space exists, it is directly transferred from AUTOCAD to
MEDUSA.
If the switch is set to convspace paper only DXF/DWG files with a paper
space are imported.
If no paper space exists, no MEDUSA drawing is created!
convspace paper is available in the MEDUSA UI, in MEDUTIL and offline,
but not with the list conversion.
all_paper
All paper spaces of a DXF/DWG file are converted into MEDUSA at once.
During the process single MEDUSA files are created from each paper space of
the DXF/DWG file as part of a working set (.wsd file). Then, all files belonging to
that working set can be opened at once.
The files are automatically stored in the directory of the DXF/DWG file using the
following naming convention:
IN: <path>/<DXF filename>.dxf
OUT: <path>/<DXF- filename>_<layout name>.she
<path>/<DXF filename>.wsd
It is also possible to define another path and filename. The naming of the .wsd
file is created accordingly.
Example:
OUT: E:\abc
E:\abc.wsd
convspace all_paper is only available at MEDUTIL command line
prompt, not in the UI.
model
Only the model space of AutoCAD will be converted to a MEDUSA sheet.

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List of Commands

dxfin_charset

SYNTAX dxfin_charset [ Code ]

DESCRIPTION Usually a DXF/DWG file contains a text code entry.
For default the entry within the DXF/DWG file is
DWGCODEPAGE ANSI_1252.
Via dxf_charset you can specify different codes.
If CODEPAGE is not set within the DXF/DWG file, the dxf_charset-
entry is used.
EXAMPLE ANSI_932 (Code of Japanese Shift-JIS)

Please note: The following codes are possible:

ANSI 932 - japanese Microsoft Shift-JIS

ANSI 936 - GBK simplified chinese
ANSI 950 - BIG5 traditional chinese
ANSI 1250 - east european latin
ANSI 1251 - cyrillic
ANSI 1252 - west european latin
ANSI 1253 - greek
ANSI 1255 - hebrew
EUC-JP - UNIX japanese encoding

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DXFMed / DWGMed

dxfmed_dimension

SYNTAX dxfmed_dimension [ geo / dim / com ]

DESCRIPTION Using the command dimension, you can convert the dimension
geometrically (geo), as genuine dimensioning (dim) or in a
combined manner (com).
With the geometrical conversion (geo), the geometrical copy of
dimensioning is received. However, all functionality is lost.
With a genuine dimensioning conversion (dim), functionality
survives. However, because AutoCAD and MEDUSA take different
approaches to dimensioning, there may be some differences.
With the combined conversion (com), the genuine dimensioning is
also maintained, however, a geometrical copy is first deposited.
Case differences exist between the converted dimensioning and the
geometrical representation of the original dimensioning. These
become visible at the next UNDIM / REDIM.
OPTIONS geo
During the conversion, dimensioning as a geometrical copy is
created according to MEDUSA. The functionality is lost.
dim
The conversion translates the genuine dimensioning according to
MEDUSA and functionality is kept.
com
The conversion transmits the genuine dimensioning, however, it first
creates a geometrical copy. The functionality is preserved.
Differences occur only after the first UNDIM / REDIM.

force_dxfin_cs

SYNTAX force_dxfin_cs [ on/off ]

DESCRIPTION The switch is directly associated with the dxf_charset entry
(see above).
It controls whether the dxf_charset entry is used, even if a
CODEPAGE is given within the DXF/DWG file.
OPTIONS on
In any case the dxf_charset entry is used, even if a CODEPAGE
entry exists within the DXF/DWG file.
off
The code entry of the DXF/DWG file is used.
off is default setting.

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List of Commands

Fillgap

SYNTAX fillgap [ value ]

DESCRIPTION AutoCad creates (for example) arrows with an element, which is
unknown in MEDUSA.
This element will be imitated by creating a contour which will be
cross hatched. If the drawing is very large, the range of the hatching
may become very small, this causes a big number of line-elements.
By using fillgap the range can be controlled and there are less
elements in MEDUSA
OPTIONS value
Value of range of cross hatching.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> fillgap 0.002

Hiddenlayer

SYNTAX hiddenlayer [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION This switch defines wether layers with the status frozen or off are
translated to MEDUSA or not.
If the switch is not set, on is default.
OPTIONS on
Layers with the status frozen or off are translated
off
Layers with the status frozen or off are not translated

limit_maxsize

SYNTAX limit_maxsize [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION Very large arcs can be the reason for a very large maximum size of a
MEDUSA sheet. This might cause problems for MEDUSA to handle
the sheet. With this command you can limit the maximum size to four
times of the size of the sheet.
If limitation is on it can happen that some warnings are given when
loading the sheet into MEDUSA.
EXAMPLE limit_maxsize on

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DXFMed / DWGMed

lineweight_default

SYNTAX lineweight_default [ value ]

DESCRIPTION In AutoCAD there is the possibility to control the line weight not only
directly but also by defining a default value. The value for the default
is defined in the AutoCAD installation file and is not part of the DXF
format. With lineweight_default you can assign a value to the
default line weight as it will be used in MEDUSA.
Default value is 0.0.
EXAMPLE lineweight_default 0.5

medprecision

SYNTAX medprecision [ low / medium / high ]

DESCRIPTION The command medprecision specifies the amount of precision for
the MEDUSA-drawing.
OPTIONS low
MEDUSA-sheet with low precision is generated (6 digits).
medium
MEDUSA-sheet with medium precision is generated (9 digits).
high
MEDUSA-sheet with high precision is generated (12 digits)

Move

SYNTAX move [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION With the command move you set the variable EXTMIN be used or
not be used as ( 0,0 ).
OPTIONS on
EXTMIN will be used as ( 0,0 ).
off
EXTMIN will not be used as ( 0,0 ).

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List of Commands

Out

SYNTAX out [ pathname ]

DESCRIPTION The command out specifies the pathname for the output MEDUSA
sheet.
If you do not specify an output pathname, the output sheet is created
in the current directory.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the output sheet file. The length of the pathname
must not exceed 256 characters.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> out /data/sheets/9876543.she

Project

SYNTAX project [ pathname ]

DESCRIPTION Specifies the pathname of a MEDUSA project. This must be a valid
MEDUSA project.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the project file.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> project /projects/proj_jeb14

Proxy

SYNTAX proxy [ block / entity / off ]

DESCRIPTION Controls whether Proxy-elements, which contain graphical elements,
should be transferred to MEDUSA and should be combined to a
clump.
OPTIONS block
is the default setting. Proxy-elements are combined to clumps
entity
Graphical elements are transferred as simple elements
off
Proxy-elements are ignored, i.e., they are not transferred to
MEDUSA.

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DXFMed / DWGMed

Read_papspace / Papspace

SYNTAX read_papspace/papspace [number]

DESCRIPTION The command relates to the convspace command (see page 61).
read_papspace causes the listing of all available paper spaces of
the DXF/DWG input file.
The following papspace [nummer]command defines the paper
space, which shall be converted into MEDUSA.

Scale

SYNTAX scale [ factor / auto ]

DESCRIPTION The MEDUSA scale factor is different from the AutoCAD scale
factor.
The command scale indicates which scale factor is written into the
MEDUSA file during the conversion.
OPTIONS factor
Value for the sheet scale ( > 0.0 ).
auto
The DXF-File usually contains a value for DIMSCALE. If it does
contain a value, it is taken for the sheet scale, if not 1.0 is set.

Sheetsize

SYNTAX sheetsize [ byDXFfile / byGeometry ]

DESCRIPTION The size of a MEDUSA sheet may either be determined by a size
entry in the DXW/DWG file (extmin, extmax), or it is calculated
according to min., max. of the geometry.
Reading the value out of the file can resolve problems, because not
every system writes this entry correctly.
OPTIONS byDXFfile
Sheet size is selected out of the DXF/DWG file.
byGeometry
Sheet size is calculated from geometry.

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List of Commands

Spatialfilter

SYNTAX spatialfilter [on / off]

DESCRIPTION The command spatialfilter specifies to display only a certain
area of a block cut in AutoCAD or the complete block.
OPTIONS on
Only the part of the cut block which is visible in AutoCAD will be
displayed in MEDUSA.
off
The complete block will be displayed in MEDUSA.
off is default setting.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> spatialfilter ON

Spectstyle

SYNTAX spectstyle [ pathname ]

DESCRIPTION The command spectstyle specifies the pathname of the
spectstyle mapping table.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the spectstyle mapping table.
EXAMPLE DXFMED> spectstyle /custom/cfg/med2med_tstyle.map

Splineapprox

SYNTAX splineapprox [linear / conic]

DESCRIPTION Controls the way how splines are approximated at curves.
OPTIONS linear
Approximation of curves is carried out by line segments.
conic
Approximation of curves is carried out by conic arcs.

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Subclump_type

SYNTAX subclump_type [ type ]

DESCRIPTION Usually CADCONVERT creates a nested group structure using the
element type named group (with the old type SET it would look like
this: SET > SET > SET...). In some cases it might be useful to define
a different sub-group, in order to create structures like SET > UCL >
SET > UCL..., for example.
OPTIONS type
Valid group type, e.g. UCL.

Units

SYNTAX units [ mm / inch ]

DESCRIPTION MEDUSA works unlike AutoCAD with units. The command sets the
sheet-units to mm or inch.
OPTIONS mm
The unit mm will be used during translation.
inch
The unit inch will be used during translation.

xref

SYNTAX xref [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION The switch controls whether external references, which are content
of a DWG sheet, are processed and transferred to MEDUSA or not.
OPTIONS on
References within the DWG file are processed during conversion
and appear as SET (Clump) in the MEDUSA sheet.
off
References within the DWG file are not processed during
conversion, i.e. they do not appear within the MEDUSA sheet.
off is default setting.

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List of Commands

MedDXF / MedDWG

Commands for the conversion from MEDUSA to DXF/DWG:

acadversion Specifies the ACAD version to which you want to convert the MEDUSA sheet.
bigfont Supports text fonts with more than 255 characters.
blocks Controls whether or not MEDDXF should take over the complete clump-
structure.
clumpname Controls whether the group name should be taken over as block name or not.
colors Controls whether or not MEDDXF should take over the attachment between
colors and pens.
contextcheck A MEDUSA sheet is opened either considering or regardless of code and DDL.
dxfout_charset Specifies the text code within the DXF/DWG file.
dxfprecision Specifies the number of digits in the DXF-file.
ltscale Defines the proportion of drawing units to line definition units for broken lines.
meddxf_dimension Specifies the handling of dimensions during the translation.
medtext Specifies the pathname of the text definition-file.
medtext_gdt Optimizes the representation of bordered text.
PM5 Controls wether PM5 elements are transferred to ACAD or not
out Specifies the pathname of the DXF output-file.
polyline Controls whether or not a complex, drawn by polylines, should be saved to the
DXF-file as a polyline or a complex of lines.
project Specifies the pathname for a MEDUSA PROJECT-file.
spectext_as_pic Special text types are transferred as a block, including text and graphic.
elements.
superlinemode Supports the translation of Superlines as graphic.
textbox Optimizes the text representation in DXF/DWG.
textheight_zero Determines whether text with height zero is transferred or not.
unscale Sets the sheet scale and the drawing to 1:1

The following list contains the common commands valid for both conversion types:
cd Changes the working directory
code Specifies a pathname for a MEDUSA CODE file.
ddl Specifies a pathname for a MEDUSA DDL file.
dir Lists the contents of a directory.
errfile Specifies a pathname for the error file.

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errlog Controls whether a ERRLOG-file is written.

go Starts the translation.
help Displays information on the specified command.
helppath Specifies a path to the help files.
in Specifies the pathname of the input file.
linestyle Specifies the pathname of the linestyle mapping file.
list Specifies the pathname of the listing file.
ls Lists the content of an directory.
mapfile Specifies the pathname for the mapfile.
maplog Controls whether a MAPLOG-file is written.
medcode Specifies the MEDUSA Code number for the conversion.
messpath Specifies the pathname of the message file.
overwrite Controls whether or not an already existing output-file with the same name
should be over written.
prim Specifies the pathname for a MEDUSA PRIM-file.
quit Quits the program.
reset Resets the conversion adjustments to standard or to the definitions of a
configuration file.
save Writes the current settings into the cadconvert.cfg file.
show Shows the conversion adjustments.
textstyle Specifies the pathname for the textstyle-mapping-table.
usetruecolor Controls whether True Colors will be fransfered.
! is used to enter commands of the operating system under CADConvert.

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List of Commands

acadversion

SYNTAX acadver [ version ]

DESCRIPTION This switch is used to specify the ACAD version to which you want to
convert the MEDUSA sheet.
OPTIONS version
ACAD version from Rev 12 up to 2007 is possible.
EXAMPLE acadver acad2006

Bigfont

SYNTAX bigfont [ filename ]

DESCRIPTION This switch is used for text fonts with more than 255 characters. (e.g.
Japanese text)
OPTIONS filename
If the switch is set text fonts with more than 255 characters can be
used.
EXAMPLE bigfont bigfont.shx

Blocks

SYNTAX blocks [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION In MEDUSA you can organize the clumps very complex.
The command blocks controls how the translator builds the clump-
structure.
OPTIONS on
The whole clump-structure is build.
off
The clump-structure is lost.

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Clumpname

SYNTAX clumpname [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION Controls whether the group name should be taken over as block
name or not. Off is default setting.
OPTIONS on
Groupnames from MEDUSA are transferred as blocknames to DXF.
Equal groupnames in MEDUSA receive automatically a sequential
number added to the blockname in DXF.
(blockname = grouplabel_sheet_no)
off
Groupnames from MEDUSA are not transferred as blocknames to
DXF. A standardname is used,
MEDUSA_SET_<element_number>_

Colors

SYNTAX colors [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION MEDUSA cannot handle colored lines but it can attach colors to
pens. This attachment is saved in the file CODE.BIN.
The command colors controls whether or not MEDDXF uses this
attachment for the translation.
OPTIONS on
The attachment colors to pens is used.
off
The attachment colors to pens is not used.

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List of Commands

Contextcheck

SYNTAX contextcheck [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION This switch controls, if a drawing without fitting code and DDL can be
opened. If it is opened all line and text elements, which do not fit to
standard, may be displayed wrong.

If the switch is unset, the default is on.

OPTIONS on
MEDUSA sheets without code and DDL are not opened and a
warning is displayed.
off
The drawing is opened without code and DDL. All line and text
elements, not according to standard may be displayed wrong,

dxfout_charset

SYNTAX dxfout_charset [ code ]

DESCRIBPTION Specifies the text code during the conversion from MEDUSA to DXF/
DWG.
The code is entered as text string into the DXF/DWG file.
EXAMPLE DWGCODEPAGE ANSI_1250
(Code of windows east european latin)

Please note: The following codes are possible:

ANSI 932 - japanese Microsoft Shift-JIS

ANSI 936 - GBK simplified chinese
ANSI 950 - BIG5 traditional chinese
ANSI 1250 - east european latin
ANSI 1251 - cyrillic
ANSI 1252 - west european latin
ANSI 1253 - greek
ANSI 1255 - hebrew
EUC-JP - UNIX japanese encoding

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MedDXF / MedDWG

dxfprecision

SYNTAX dxfprecision [decimal points]

DESCRIPTION The command dxfprecision specifies the number of digits in the
DXF-file.
EXAMPLE MEDDXF> dxfprecision 6

LTScale

SYNTAX ltscale [ factor ]

DESCRIPTION This command describes the size factor (the proportion of drawing
units to line type definition units) for broken lines.
OPTIONS factor
Number bigger than 0.
EXAMPLE ltscale 1

meddxf_dimension

SYNTAX meddxf_dimension [ dim / geo ]

DESCRIPTION Using the command meddxf_dimension, you can convert
dimensioning as genuine dimensioning (dim) or as a geometrical
copy (geo).
With genuine dimensioning conversion, functionality survives.
However, because AutoCAD and MEDUSA take different
approaches to dimensioning, there may be some differences.
If you convert dimensioning as a geometrical copy, the functionality
is lost. Dimensioning only exists geometrically.
OPTIONS dim
Dimensioning of the drawing is converted as a genuine
dimensioning. The functionality of dimensioning is preserved.
geo
Dimensioning of the drawing is converted geometrically. The
functionality of dimensioning is lost.

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List of Commands

Medtext

SYNTAX medtext [ filename ]

DESCRIPTION The command specifies the font filename.
OPTIONS filename
Contains the filename of the text font in DXF.
EXAMPLE medtext medtext.shx

Medtext_gdt

SYNTAX medtext_gdt [ filename ]

DESCRIPTION The command specifies the font filename.
The translation to DXF is optimized, so the representation is similar
to MEDUSA representation (for TR texts).
OPTIONS filename
Contains the filename of the text font in DXF.
EXAMPLE medtext_gdt medtext_gdt.shx

PM5

SYNTAX PM5 [on/off]

DESCRIPTION The command specifies, if PM5 elements are transferred from
MEDUSA to ACAD or not.
OPTIONS on:
PM5 elements are transferred from MEDUSA to ACAD
off:
PM5 elements are not transferred from MEDUSA to ACAD.
off is default setting

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MedDXF / MedDWG

Out

SYNTAX out [ pathname ]

DESCRIPTION The command out specifies the pathname of the output AutoCAD
DXF file.
If you do not specify an output pathname, the output DXF file is
created in the current directory with a default filename of
inputsheetname.DXF.
If you specify an output filename that does not end in .DXF a .DXF
suffix is added.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the output DXF file. The length of the pathname
cannot exceed 256 characters.
EXAMPLE MEDDXF> out /usr/sandy/dxf/elec.dxf

Polyline

SYNTAX polyline [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION MEDUSA stores objects drawn from lines fundamentally as
polylines. AutoCAD stores these objects as single lines.
With the command polyline you can determine if objects drawn
from lines are stored as polylines or a complex from single lines.
OPTIONS on
Objects drawn from lines are stored in the DXF file as a polyline.
off
Objects drawn from lines are stored in the DXF file as a complex of
single lines

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List of Commands

Project

SYNTAX project [ pathname ]

DESCRIPTION Specifies the pathname of a MEDUSA project. This must be a valid
MEDUSA project.
The translator uses DDL.BIN, CODE.BIN and PRIMS.BIN files
located in the project. This allows the interface to detect any
customizing you have done to the project and includes the modified
or new elements in the translation process.
OPTIONS pathname
Full pathname of the project file.
EXAMPLE MEDDXF> project /projects/proj_jeb14

Spectext_as_pic

SYNTAX spectext_as_pic [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION Special text types (e.g. texts in boxes) are transferred in a block
including text and graphic elements.
OPTIONS on
Transfer as block with text and graphic elements.
off
Default. Transfer as text element.

superlinemode

SYNTAX superlinemode [ line / graphic / both ]

DESCRIPTION With the help of this switch superlines can be translated as graphic
into a DXF Block.
OPTIONS line
Transfer of the Superline as line.
graphic
Transfer of the Superline as a simple vector graphic into a DXF
Block.
both
Transfer of the Superline as graphic and line.

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MedDXF / MedDWG

Textbox

SYNTAX textbox [ on/off ]

DESCRIPTION You can optimize the text representation in DXF/DWG.
In the DXF/DWG format, you can fit a text between two points.
These two points are calculated inside MEDUSA.
The original justification is lost, so if you convert this DXF/DWG file
back to MEDUSA all texts will have the justification 22 (= baseline
left bottom).
OPTIONS on
Optimizes by fitting.
off
Keeps the justification if possible.The text representation will be
optimized with the texthight.

Textheight_zero

SYNTAX textheight_zero [ on/off ]

DESCRIPTION Determines whether texts with height zero are transferred or not.
OPTIONS on
Texts will be transferred.
off
Texts will be not transferred. This is the default.

Unscale

SYNTAX unscale [ on / off ]

DESCRIPTION The command unscale sets the sheet scale and the drawing to 1:1
OPTIONS on
Converts the drawing by using the original sheet scale.
off
sets the sheet scale and the drawing to 1:1.

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List of Commands

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LIMITATIONS

Since MEDUSA and DXF are in different CAD formats, some information may not be translated
between them. MEDUSA is designed to save as much information as possible from each of the
two formats, but there are some restrictions. The most important restrictions are described
below.

Raster Transfer

Raster transfer is restricted to projects with the MEDCOLRASTER product.

With the conversion of raster images only rectangular clipping of images and rotation by steps
of 90 degrees is possible. Shearing is not transferred.

DXF/DWG -> MEDUSA

In the current CADConvert version the AutoCAD Revision 2000 DXF element multiline is not
processed. Shapes are not processed.

Pattern hatchings are not exactly transferred into MEDUSA, they will be defined as standard
hatchings.

3D Elements are processed with X and Y values only. 3D volume elements and views are not
processed.

Width of start and end segments of poly lines are not evaluated.

convspace[paper] is not available for list conversion.

convspace[all_paper]is only available in MEDUTIL, but not in the MEDUSA UI.

MEDUSA -> DXF/DWG

Parallel dimension-chains and coordinate dimensions are converted to geometry.

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Limitations

In AutoCAD version R12 boldness is still unknown, nevertheless it appears in the settings of
line-style mapping. However this column is not analyzed. It is reseverd for future use.

Elements from AutoCAD Inventor

It is not possible to convert elements from AutoCAD Inventor to MEDUSA. This data can only
be displayed with an AutoCAD internal add-on.

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INDEX

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Symbols errlog 50
! 57 Example
dxf2med_lstyle.map 23
dxf2med_tstyle.map 27
A med2dxf_lstyle.map 33
acadver 72 med2dxf_tstyle.map 37
ACI 18
convspace 81
AutoCAD Inventor 82 F
AutoCAD-Color-Index 18 fillgap 64
Font assignment name to number 19
FROZEN 38
B
bigfont 72
blockname 60 G
blocks 72 go 51
Grouplabel 73
C
cadconvert.cfg 12 H
cd 49 help 51
Clumpname 73 helppath 51
clumps 60 HIDDEN 38
code 49 hiddenlayer 64
colors 73
comment 22
Configuration 11 I
Contextcheck 74 in 52
convspace 58, 61 introduction 7

D L
ddl 49 Layer Status Mapping 38
dir 50 limit_maxsize 64
DWGMED 7 limitations 81
dxf2med_lstyle.map 21 linestyle 52
dxf2med_tstyle.map 25
Linestylemapping 21, 31
DXFMED 7
lineweight_default 65
dxfmed_dimension 63
list 52
dxfmed_symbol.map 28
dxfout_charset 74 List Conversion 9
dxfprecision 75 LOCKED 38
loop-translation 7
ls 53
E LTScale 75
errfil 50 ltscale 75

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

M R
mapfile 53 Raster Images 29
maplog 53 raster images 81
Mapping - Grafical User Interface 39 Read_papspace 67
Mapping Procedure 23 reset 56
med2dxf_lstyle.map 31 Running CADConvert within MEDUTIL 8
med2dxf_tstyle.map 35
med2med_tstyle.map 28
medcode 54 S
MEDDWG 7 save 56
MEDDXF 7 scale 67
meddxf_dimension 75 Settings 12
medprecision 65 sheetsize 67
Medstyle 43 show 57
medtext 76 spatialfilter 68
medtext_gdt 76 Special Mappings 34
messpath 54 specialtext 28, 38
move 65 spectstyle 68
multiline 81 spline 81
splineapprox 68
Starting Offline inside a Console 8
O superlinemode 78
out 66, 77 Symbol Mapping 28
overwrite 54
T
P textbox 79
convspace 81 textheight_zero 79
papspace 67 textstyle 57
PM5 76 textstylemapping 25
polyline 77 Transfer 22, 26, 32, 36
prim 56 True Color 18
Printing documentation from Portable Document Format
(PDF) files 6
project 66, 78 U
Proxy 66 units 69
proxy 66 unscale 79
URL text properties 7
USETRUECOLOR 18
Q usetruecolor 57
quit 56 Using CADConvert within MEDUSA 8

84 © CAD Schroer GmbH