QUICK STEPS:
1. Select new project and select import DWG/DXF. Select the file and then OK.
2. A new window will open (with a black background), select OK without making any changes.
3. Click "Got it!" to close the pop-up window that explains the new Layer.
4. Check and modify the scale factor. If necessary: right click -> apply scale -> select reference line.
5. Explode the drawing to eliminate CAD entities that are not needed.
6. If you exploded the drawing, place all CAD entities in a specific layer and lock it.
7. Modify the origin of the drawing.
8. Draw your project using Trace Rooms or New Wall.
STEP BY STEP:
1. Select new project and select import DWG/DXF. Select the file and then OK.
The module for importing DWG/DXF files has been redesigned, allowing you to work with updated versions of these file formats. You can import this type of file with a floorplan that is already open by clicking on File -> Import/Export -> Import floorplan from DWG/DXF, or you can create a new project by clicking on New -> Import DWG/DXF, and then, in the same window, select the DWG/DXF file to import by clicking on the "Select" button.
2. A new window will open (with a black background), select OK without making any changes.
Once you've imported the DWG/DXF file, the layout window will appear without any floorplan, wait a few seconds without clicking anything until a pop-up window appears with a black background that shows the preview of the floorplan and the dimensions of the project, as shown in the below image.
At this stage, we recommend leaving the automatic scale set by the program and clicking OK.
3. Click "Got it!" to close the pop-up window that explains the new Layer.
Once you've confirmed the dimensions of the project in the above window, another pop-up will appear that explains that this drawing has been assigned to its own layer called "Cad Import" (you can disable this pop-up once the concept is clear by clicking on "do not show again"). This allows you to more easily manage the CAD drawing within your workspace: for example, if you no longer need to see the graphic elements that make up this imported file, you can hide the entire layer that contains them.
From the CAD section of the main Ribbon, you can select the Layer Management button to view or lock the Cad Import layer. (For more information on how to use layers within your project, see this article).
4.Check and modify the scale factor. If necessary: right click -> apply scale -> select reference line.
At this point, you have the layout window open with the imported CAD file visible.
Now, you can check the scale factor of the project and modify it if necessary:
Right click on the CAD drawing, select the "Apply scale -> select reference line" command.
Select a line in the drawing for which you know its real dimension (for example, a window) and insert the correct value.
The drawing will adapt its size based on the dimension entered here. To verify that the drawing has the right dimensions, check the dimensions of your project using the "dimensions" tool or the "distance info" tool found in the main Ribbon.
5. Explode the drawing to eliminate CAD entities that are not needed.
Now we can proceed with deleting superflous parts of our CAD drawing, if needed (for example, if we only want to build out a bathroom from an entire appartment floorplan; if there are many CAD elements that you don't need, we recommend eliminating them so as to not weigh down the project).
The imported floorplan, in this phase, is still a "single block" and to be able to manage each of its entities individually, you'll need to explode the drawing. Right click on the CAD drawing and select the "Explode" command.
Now, when you click on the drawing, you'll notice that each element is its own individual CAD entity (eg. Line, Polyline, etc.) and in the Layer Management window you'll see new Layers (created in the original program of the file and imported by DomuS3D).
Proceed using multiple selection with the mouse (left click hold and drag - standard Windows) then hit the DEL key to delete.
The result will be more organized and the file will be smaller.
6. If you exploded the drawing, place all CAD entities in a specific layer and lock it.
After you've exploded the floorplan, we recommend grouping all the CAD entities in the original layer "Cad Import", to avoid them getting in the way of your subsequent designing.
There are multiple ways to do this, let's see the first: you must first activate the layer from the CAD Ribbon -> Layer Management -> search for the layer in the list and set it as the "Current Layer" by clicking on the double square icon to the left. The current layer will have a green check mark next to its name.
Now that the desired layer has been set as active, click OK and close this window.
Now, select all the entities of the design -> then select the "Move to Current Layer" command.
To "lock" the layer, its necessary to reactivate a different layer as the Current layer.
Head back to the Layer Management window and left click on the double square icon next to a different layer until it has the green check mark. Then, click on the lock icon next to the "Cad Import" layer. Once it turns red, it is LOCKED.
For reference, the lamp icon turns "on/off" the layer, meaning you can hide it or make it visible in the floorplan.
If everything has been done correctly, the CAD floorplan will turn black and will no longer be able to be selected. NB. during subsequent drawing phases of your project, the snaps will remain active even if the layer is locked.
7.Modify the origin of your drawing
The "Set origin" command allows you to move the DWG/DXF or the room by specifying how to line it up with the origin: right click on any point in your project and select Set Origin -> select the desired point on your drawing with a left click (for example, the bottom left corner of a room).
You'll see a set of cartesian axes appear in the point specified as the origin.
(You can hide the cartesian axes in the Options window of the program -> Layout -> Show Cartesian Axes").
8. Draw your project using Trace Rooms or New Wall.
You can design your room by using the "Trace Rooms" command (recommended if you have a multi-room layout or more complex walls) or the "New Wall" command. Learn more about this function in this article or see this video tutorial!
This article is valid for the 2023 version and later.