Save As DWG/DXF Options Dialog, General Tab, Basic

Setting	Description
Open DWG Settings File (icon)	Opens the Open DWG Settings File dialog, which lets you select and load a DWG settings file (*.dws). The DWG settings file contains settings for opening and saving DWG files. The default directory for the settings file is the DWG settings directory as specified by the configuration variable MS_DWGDATA. `DWG` `SETTINGS` `OPEN` [ `filename` ]
Save DWG Settings File (icon)	Opens the Save DWG Settings File dialog, which lets you save the DWG Open and Save As options to a DWG settings file (*.dws). The default directory for the settings file is the DWG settings directory as specified by the configuration variable MS_DWGDATA. `DWG` `SETTINGS` `SAVEAS` [ `FILENAME` ]
DWG Version	Sets the AutoCAD release version that corresponds to the version of DWG file that will be saved. Each version of AutoCAD reads and writes DWG files only from that version or a prior version. MicroStation can save DWG files for versions AutoCAD v14 and higher, and DXF files for versions 11/12 and higher. Usually you should save files in the most recent version because older versions may not support all data constructs necessary for optimum conversion. Versions include: 11/12 (DXF only) 14 2000/2000i/2002 2004/2005/2006 2007/2008/2009 2010/2011/2012 2013/2014/2015/2016/2017 2018/2019/2020/2021/2022/2023
Source of Level Display	Controls how levels are displayed in the DWG file. If set to Global, the AutoCAD layers visibility is controlled from the global setting, and the levels that are turned off on a per-view basis are turned on in the AutoCAD file. If set to one of the eight views, the AutoCAD layers are not visible if they are turned off either globally or in that view. Although MicroStation allows you to turn on and turn off levels either globally or on a per-view basis, AutoCAD allows only global control.
Viewport Freeze per View Level Display	(Active only when "Source of Level Display" setting has a view selected) Sets how a sheet model is saved to DWG with the desired level display state. When the default design model is attached to a sheet model, it is saved as a viewport in DWG. While DWG does not support per view based level display, in addition to globally frozen layers such viewport can have a list of frozen layers. When a source view is selected for DWG save, the view level display may be applied to Viewport Freeze, with following options: Viewports & Global Layers Applies overall source view's level display to output DWG layers, including global display and global frozen levels. Following is the impact of the setting on different DWG features: Global layers - level state may change as a result of applying view level display. Specifically, levels that are turned off in the selected source view are globally turned off when saved to DWG. In effect, levels globally turned off stay as globally turned off, and levels globally turned on may also be globally turned off. Viewport entities - levels that are turned off per selected source view are frozen in the output viewport. Layout viewports - no frozen levels are added to layout viewports. Layout viewport display is completely controlled by global level state. xRef attachments - because levels of an xRef are essentially global levels, they are generally controlled by global level display state. However, if an xRef is nested in a viewport, its levels can also be controlled via viewport freeze. This option allows the design model as well as external reference attachments to have correct level display when saved to DWG. However, sheet models with mixed level display will result in incorrect display, generally more levels than desired get turned off. For example, if "Level 1" is globally turned on, but is turned off in source View 1 in the active sheet model, "Level 1" will be globally turned off after a DGN file is saved as DWG. On the other hand, if "Level 1" is globally turned off, but is turned on in the sheet model view, it will remain turned off in DWG. Viewport Only Applies source view level display to viewport freeze only. Following is the impact of the setting on different DWG features: Global layers - view level display does not change global level state. Global level state remains the same after DGN file is saved as DWG. Viewport entities - levels that are turned off per selected source view are frozen in the output viewport. Layout viewports - levels that are turned off in a sheet model per view level display become frozen layers in a layout viewport. xRef attachments - level display is generally controlled via global level display state. However, if an xRef is nested in a viewport, its levels can also be controlled via viewport freeze. For sheet model display, this option outputs better result than Viewports & Global Layers. However, external reference attachments may not display correctly, as view level display has no impact on these levels. Force Global Layer Display This option applies source view level display to viewport freeze. Additionally, it also globally thaws all the levels. Following is the impact of the setting on different DWG features: Global layers - all levels are unconditionally turned on. Viewport entities - levels that are turned off in the selected source view are frozen in the output viewport. Layout viewports - levels that are turned off in a sheet model per view level display become frozen layers in the layout viewport. xRef attachments - global display state of all levels is unconditionally turned on. However, those nested in a viewport may be turned off via viewport freeze. This option provides a WYSIWYG level display for a sheet model. However, the fact that levels globally turned off get globally turned on may not be desirable for other cases. In particular, when level display of the default model is required, this may not be the right choice. For the same reason, external reference attachment will not display correctly.
Units	Sets the linear units of measurement used in the AutoCAD file. Although MicroStation allows you to select a different unit system at any time without changing the actual size of the model geometry, AutoCAD does not provide a convenient method for altering units. Therefore, it is important that you select the correct output units. If you select Master Units or Sub Units, MicroStation uses the Master or Sub units from the default model of the current file. Otherwise, you can select a specific unit system. The Arch./Engineering (Feet/Inches) setting uses the readout setting to determine whether the file is saved as "Architectural" or "Engineering". Master Units Sub Units Inches Feet Miles Millimeters Centimeters Meters Kilometers Microinches Mils Yards Arch./Engineering (Feet/Inches) — Specifies that the file be saved with either "Architectural" or "Engineering" units, based on whether fraction or decimal readout is used. When this option is selected, the file will be saved with these units even if the current units do not match this criteria.
Line Code Scale (Design Units/Cycle)	Sets the scale value for MicroStation line codes. MicroStation's line codes (standard line styles 1–7) are defined in screen units and are independent of the view zoom factor. AutoCAD linetype definitions are always defined in drawing units and are therefore not compatible with the MicroStation line codes. If Line Code Scale is set to the default value of 0.0, the lines will be scaled based on the size of the line codes in the first visible view. If the Line Code Scale is set to a non-zero value, this value represents the length (in DWG file units) of a single cycle of the line code pattern.
Use Level Symbology Overrides	If on, saves the DGN file level symbology to the DWG file. The AutoCAD layers use the override colors and the DWG entity properties are By Level. The resulting DWG file appears exactly as the DGN file appears when it uses level symbology overrides.
Preserve MicroStation Settings	If on, preserves MicroStation-specific settings in the DWG file. Many MicroStation settings do not exist in AutoCAD, and therefore cannot be saved as settings in the DWG file. These settings include the active angle, active scale, and default tool settings. Some elements may also have MicroStation-specific data, such as a graphic group number, that does not exist in the DWG format. Use this setting if the DWG output file will be edited with MicroStation, and you want to preserve the settings and element data between editing sessions. MicroStation-specific settings are saved to an XRECORD entity, and MicroStation-specific element data is saved as XDATA on each entity. If the output file will not be edited with MicroStation, then this data is not required, and is ignored by other applications.
Export Empty ItemType Properties	If ON exports the empty ItemType properties to the DWG or DXF files. The default is OFF. Note: Define the Configuration Variable MS_DWG_EXPORT_EMPTYITEMTYPEPROPERTIES = 1 to keep this setting ON by default. Note: This functionality is available only for Graphic cells and Shared cells.
DWG Seed File	Sets the path and the file name of the seed DWG file from which settings not present in the DGN file are extracted. To select another file to be used as the DWG Seed file, click on the current file name to open the Browse DWG Seed/Prototype File dialog.

Open DWG Settings File (icon)

Opens the Open DWG Settings File dialog, which lets you select and load a DWG settings file (*.dws). The DWG settings file contains settings for opening and saving DWG files.

The default directory for the settings file is the DWG settings directory as specified by the configuration variable MS_DWGDATA.

DWG SETTINGS OPEN [

 
					 filename

]

Save DWG Settings File (icon)

Opens the Save DWG Settings File dialog, which lets you save the DWG Open and Save As options to a DWG settings file (*.dws).

The default directory for the settings file is the DWG settings directory as specified by the configuration variable MS_DWGDATA.

DWG SETTINGS SAVEAS [

 
					 FILENAME

]

DWG Version

Sets the AutoCAD release version that corresponds to the version of DWG file that will be saved. Each version of AutoCAD reads and writes DWG files only from that version or a prior version. MicroStation can save DWG files for versions AutoCAD v14 and higher, and DXF files for versions 11/12 and higher. Usually you should save files in the most recent version because older versions may not support all data constructs necessary for optimum conversion. Versions include:

11/12 (DXF only)
14
2000/2000i/2002
2004/2005/2006
2007/2008/2009
2010/2011/2012
2013/2014/2015/2016/2017
2018/2019/2020/2021/2022/2023

Source of Level Display

Controls how levels are displayed in the DWG file.

If set to Global, the AutoCAD layers visibility is controlled from the global setting, and the levels that are turned off on a per-view basis are turned on in the AutoCAD file.

If set to one of the eight views, the AutoCAD layers are not visible if they are turned off either globally or in that view. Although MicroStation allows you to turn on and turn off levels either globally or on a per-view basis, AutoCAD allows only global control.

Viewport Freeze per View Level Display

(Active only when "Source of Level Display" setting has a view selected) Sets how a sheet model is saved to DWG with the desired level display state. When the default design model is attached to a sheet model, it is saved as a viewport in DWG. While DWG does not support per view based level display, in addition to globally frozen layers such viewport can have a list of frozen layers. When a source view is selected for DWG save, the view level display may be applied to Viewport Freeze, with following options:

Viewports & Global Layers
Applies overall source view's level display to output DWG layers, including global display and global frozen levels. Following is the impact of the setting on different DWG features:
- Global layers - level state may change as a result of applying view level display. Specifically, levels that are turned off in the selected source view are globally turned off when saved to DWG. In effect, levels globally turned off stay as globally turned off, and levels globally turned on may also be globally turned off.
- Viewport entities - levels that are turned off per selected source view are frozen in the output viewport.
- Layout viewports - no frozen levels are added to layout viewports. Layout viewport display is completely controlled by global level state.
- xRef attachments - because levels of an xRef are essentially global levels, they are generally controlled by global level display state. However, if an xRef is nested in a viewport, its levels can also be controlled via viewport freeze.
This option allows the design model as well as external reference attachments to have correct level display when saved to DWG. However, sheet models with mixed level display will result in incorrect display, generally more levels than desired get turned off. For example, if "Level 1" is globally turned on, but is turned off in source View 1 in the active sheet model, "Level 1" will be globally turned off after a DGN file is saved as DWG. On the other hand, if "Level 1" is globally turned off, but is turned on in the sheet model view, it will remain turned off in DWG.
Viewport Only
Applies source view level display to viewport freeze only. Following is the impact of the setting on different DWG features:
- Global layers - view level display does not change global level state. Global level state remains the same after DGN file is saved as DWG.
- Viewport entities - levels that are turned off per selected source view are frozen in the output viewport.
- Layout viewports - levels that are turned off in a sheet model per view level display become frozen layers in a layout viewport.
- xRef attachments - level display is generally controlled via global level display state. However, if an xRef is nested in a viewport, its levels can also be controlled via viewport freeze.
For sheet model display, this option outputs better result than Viewports & Global Layers. However, external reference attachments may not display correctly, as view level display has no impact on these levels.
Force Global Layer Display
This option applies source view level display to viewport freeze. Additionally, it also globally thaws all the levels. Following is the impact of the setting on different DWG features:
- Global layers - all levels are unconditionally turned on.
- Viewport entities - levels that are turned off in the selected source view are frozen in the output viewport.
- Layout viewports - levels that are turned off in a sheet model per view level display become frozen layers in the layout viewport.
- xRef attachments - global display state of all levels is unconditionally turned on. However, those nested in a viewport may be turned off via viewport freeze.
This option provides a WYSIWYG level display for a sheet model. However, the fact that levels globally turned off get globally turned on may not be desirable for other cases. In particular, when level display of the default model is required, this may not be the right choice. For the same reason, external reference attachment will not display correctly.

Units

Sets the linear units of measurement used in the AutoCAD file. Although MicroStation allows you to select a different unit system at any time without changing the actual size of the model geometry, AutoCAD does not provide a convenient method for altering units. Therefore, it is important that you select the correct output units. If you select Master Units or Sub Units, MicroStation uses the Master or Sub units from the default model of the current file. Otherwise, you can select a specific unit system. The Arch./Engineering (Feet/Inches) setting uses the readout setting to determine whether the file is saved as "Architectural" or "Engineering".

Master Units
Sub Units
Inches
Feet
Miles
Millimeters
Centimeters
Meters
Kilometers
Microinches
Mils
Yards
Arch./Engineering (Feet/Inches) — Specifies that the file be saved with either "Architectural" or "Engineering" units, based on whether fraction or decimal readout is used. When this option is selected, the file will be saved with these units even if the current units do not match this criteria.

Line Code Scale (Design Units/Cycle)

Sets the scale value for MicroStation line codes.

MicroStation's line codes (standard line styles 1–7) are defined in screen units and are independent of the view zoom factor. AutoCAD linetype definitions are always defined in drawing units and are therefore not compatible with the MicroStation line codes.

If Line Code Scale is set to the default value of 0.0, the lines will be scaled based on the size of the line codes in the first visible view. If the Line Code Scale is set to a non-zero value, this value represents the length (in DWG file units) of a single cycle of the line code pattern.

Use Level Symbology Overrides

If on, saves the DGN file level symbology to the DWG file. The AutoCAD layers use the override colors and the DWG entity properties are By Level. The resulting DWG file appears exactly as the DGN file appears when it uses level symbology overrides.

Preserve MicroStation Settings

If on, preserves MicroStation-specific settings in the DWG file.

Many MicroStation settings do not exist in AutoCAD, and therefore cannot be saved as settings in the DWG file. These settings include the active angle, active scale, and default tool settings. Some elements may also have MicroStation-specific data, such as a graphic group number, that does not exist in the DWG format.

Use this setting if the DWG output file will be edited with MicroStation, and you want to preserve the settings and element data between editing sessions. MicroStation-specific settings are saved to an XRECORD entity, and MicroStation-specific element data is saved as XDATA on each entity.

If the output file will not be edited with MicroStation, then this data is not required, and is ignored by other applications.

Export Empty ItemType Properties

If ON exports the empty ItemType properties to the DWG or DXF files. The default is OFF.

Note: Define the Configuration Variable MS_DWG_EXPORT_EMPTYITEMTYPEPROPERTIES = 1 to keep this setting ON by default.

Note: This functionality is available only for Graphic cells and Shared cells.

DWG Seed File

Sets the path and the file name of the seed DWG file from which settings not present in the DGN file are extracted. To select another file to be used as the DWG Seed file, click on the current file name to open the Browse DWG Seed/Prototype File dialog.

MicroStation CONNECT Edition Help

Save As DWG/DXF Options Dialog, General Tab, Basic

Save As DWG/DXF Options, General tab, Basic options