DSTV to DXF Converter

Purpose and description

Use DSTV to DXF Converter to convert DSTV files to DXF format files using the UI or CLI mode.

System requirements

Tekla Structures version: 2018÷2022
Environments: All

For Tekla Structures 2023 is available the integrated component only. Find more information on NC files under the Convert DSTV to DXF section.

Installing DSTV to DXF Converter

To install the extension:

1. Download the DSTVtoDXFConverter installer package from Tekla Warehouse. For more information see Downloading an application from Tekla Warehouse.
2. Install the file package.

Using DSTV to DXF Converter

Convert DSTV files using the UI:

1. Open a Tekla model.
2. In the side pane click the
   Image

   
   Applications & components icon to open the Applications & components catalog.
3. Search for
   Image

   
   DSTVtoDXFConverter and then double-click to open it.
4. The DSTV to DXF Converter dialog box will open.
5. Add the DSTV files, set all the desired properties and select the Convert button.

Convert DSTV files using CLI mode:

1. Open a Tekla model.
2. Open the Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt launch the DSTV to DXF Converter dialog box by typing the extension path and the extension settings.

For more information check Available Commands in CLI Mode and Examples for CLI Mode.

Using DSTV to DXF Converter Template

1. Open the template in the default text editor. To do that, in the 
   Image

   
   Applications & components catalog right-click on the 
   Image

   
   DSTVtoDXFConverterTemplate and select Edit... and open the file in a text editor.

2.  In the text editor scroll down to modify the strings to suit local environment and user preferences:

Image

• attribute file name you want to use for conversion
• input folder in which single and batch files are searched for
• output folder where to create the .dxf files
• list of file names each enclosed in quotes or wild card
• option to overwrite or not the existing .dxf files
• option to convert all NC files from all subdirectories of the specified folder

1. To use the template save the text file and then go to the 
   Image

   
   Applications & components catalog and double click on  the 
   Image

   
   DSTVtoDXFConverterTemplate.
2. After the process ends a bottom left corner message will give you information about the conversion.

Note:

You can use multiple templates with different settings. To do that follow the next steps:

1. In the
   Image

   
   Applications & components catalog right-click on the
   Image

   
   DSTVtoDXFConverterTemplate and select Save as... .
2. In the Macro name window type a new template name and then click OK.
   Image

   
3. To use the new template with different settings you will need to edit the template strings in the text editor.

General tab

Image

Environment tab

Image

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Include shop data section - Specify whether to include a special data section in the DXF file to allow the DXF file to be better imported into CNC software written by Shop Data Systems. Including this special data section in the DXF file makes the DXF file unreadable by AutoCAD. Options: Yes No	No
(2)	No input file extension in output file - List to specify whether to use the input file extension in the output file. Options: Yes: Creates the DXF file name using the DSTV file name only: p1001.dxf. No: Creates the DXF file name using the DSTV file name and the DSTV file extension: p1001.nc1.dxf	Yes
(3)	Draw crosshairs - Select whether to draw crosshair for holes and slotted holes. Options: Holes:  Image Long holes: Image Both: Image None: Image	Holes
(4)	Side to convert - List to define which part face is shown in the DXF file.  Options: Front. Top. Back. Below. For plates, if back option is chosen it requires that the NC files are created with the advanced option XS_DSTV_WRITE_BEHIND_FACE_FOR_PLATE set to TRUE, which will include the back side data of a plate in the NC file.	Front
(5)	Output contour as - List to select the convertion of holes contour as polylines or as lines and arcs.  Options: Polylines. Lines and arcs.	Polylines
(6)	Contour direction - List to define the contour direction. This option changes the coordinates of the vertices, and their order in the DXF file.  Options: Reverse (clockwise). Forward (couter-clockwise).	Reverse
(7)	Convert holes to polylines - List to convert or not holes to polylines. Options: Yes. No.	Yes
(8)	Maximum diameter for holes converted to points - Define which holes diameter will convert to points. Holes with a diameter smaller than this value will be converted to points and follow Hole point style (9) and Hole point size (10) settings.	10.00 mm
(9)	Hole point style - Set the style for hole points. Hole point styles values:   Image	33
(10)	Hole point size - Define the hole point size.	1.00 mm
(11)	Scale DSTV by - Scale the values from DSTV file. 1.00000 for metric units 0.03937 for imperial units Note: For some cases, it doesn't properly convert the elements in the .dxf file due to the small values of Scale DSTV by input value (less than 1.00). By inceasing the Number of decimals and/ or Scale DSTV by input values should properly create the elements in the .dxf file.	1.00000 mm
(12)	Add outer contour roundings - add holes to roundings. This setting only affects the roundings that are created using the Inner corner shape set to 1 in the NC File Settings dialog box from the Holes and Cuts tab. The hole size information is coming to the DSTV file from the Radius value in the NC File Settings dialog box, and it cannot be adjusted in the DSTV to DXF converter dialog box. Options: Yes Image   No Image	No
(13)	Minimum material between holes - Define how close the holes can be to each other in the slotted hole conversion.	2.00 mm
(14)	Hardstamp for contour marking - List to enable or not the conversion of the hard stamp created for the NC Files Settings ⇒ Contour marking settings ⇒ Hard stamp option is set to Yes option. Options: Yes. No.	No
(15)	Number of decimals - Set the number of the decimals for values in the DXF file. Note: For some cases, it doesn't properly convert the elements in the .dxf file due to the small values of Number of decimals input value. By inceasing the Number of decimals and/ or Scale DSTV by input values should properly create the elements in the .dxf file.	3
(16)	Read part mark from NC file header line - List to set the line number of the NC file header for reading the part mark information. Options: 3 - read the part mark information  from the 3rd line of the NC file header 4 - read the part mark information from the 4th line of the NC file header	3
(17)	Draw blind holes - List to include or exclude the blind holes in the NC files.	No

Text Specifications tab

Image

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Add text - List to select whether to use  the manual text options defined in (8) ÷ (21) or the hardstamp from the NC file. Options:  Manual - Use the text option defined in (8) ÷ (21). From NC file - All the fields from this tab will be disabled and it will use the information defined in the DSTV file. Image	Manual
(2)	Text placing - place the text manually or let the application find out a suitable place for it. Options: Fixed - set the X and Y coordinates of the point that represents the lower-left corner of the last line of text from the origin point (0,0) of the DXF file. Automatic - By selecting this option the text positioning will be placed automatically and take into consideration the collision with outer/internal contours, holes and contour marking. In case no suitable position was found the default value will be used (30,30). This option will disable the X and Y coordinates boxes.	Fixed
(3)	X: - Define the X coordinate for text positioning.	30.000 mm
(4)	Y: - Define the Y coordinate for text positioning.	30.000 mm
(5)	Text height - Define the text height.	10.00 mm
(6)	Text line alignment - Write the text options in separate or in combined lines. Options: Separate lines - Each text option is written on a separate line.  Project number and part mark separate, others combined All into one line - All text options are concatenated on one line. When selecting one of the last two options the prefixes will be automatically removed but they can be added back and work as for the first option.	Separate lines
(7)	Separator symbol - Define the separator used for the Text options for Project number and part mark separate or All into one line options from (6) Text line alignment list. You can use more than one character.	+
(8)	Project number - Enable or disable the project number from converted text options. By switching it off it will disable the (9) Project number prefix box.	Image
(9)	Project number prefix - Define the prefix for project number. The whitespaces will be taken into consideration too.	Project number:
(10)	Part mark - Enable or disable the part mark from converted text options. By switching it off it will disable the (11) Part mark prefix box.	Image
(11)	Part mark prefix - Define the prefix for part mark. The whitespaces will be taken into consideration too.	Part:
(12)	Side mark - Enable or disable the side mark from converted text options. By switching it off it will disable the (13) Side mark prefix box.	Image
(13)	Side mark prefix - Define the prefix for the side mark. The whitespaces will be taken into consideration too.	Side:
(14)	Material - enables/disables the material from converted text options. By switching it off it will disable the (15) Material prefix box.	Image
(15)	Material prefix - Define the prefix for the material. The whitespaces will be taken into consideration too.	Material:
(16)	Quantity - Enable or disable the quantity from converted text options. By switching it off it will disable the (17) Quantity prefix box.	Image
(17)	Quantity prefix - Define the prefix for quantity. The whitespaces will be taken into consideration too.	Quantity:
(18)	Thickness - Enable or disable the thickness from converted text options. By switching it off it will disable the (19) Thickness prefix box.	Image
(19)	Thickness prefix - Define the prefix for thickness. The whitespaces will be taken into consideration too.	Thickness:
(20)	Profile description - Enable or disable the profile description from converted text options. By switching it off it will disable the (21) Profile description prefix box.	Image
(21)	Profile description prefix - Define the prefix for profile description. The whitespaces will be taken into consideration too.	Desc:

Misc Layers tab

Image

Field	Description	Default
(1)	Part mark layer name	SCRIBE
(2)	Part mark layer color	3 (green)
(3)	Phantom layer name	LAYOUT
(4)	Phantom layer color	4 (cyan)
(5)	Near side pop-mark layer name	NS_POP_MARK
(6)	Near side pop-mark layer color	5 (blue)
(7)	Near side pop-mark type Options: pop circle pop point	pop circle
(8)	Near side pop-mark diameter	2.00 mm
(9)	Far side pop-mark layer name	FS_POP_MARK
(10)	Far side pop-mark layer color	6 (magenta)
(11)	Far side pop-mark diameter. This value must correspond with Hole diameter field from NC Files ⇒ Pop-Mark Settings ⇒ Pop-marks on the back ⇒ Drill through pop-marks on the back if no other items on the back	1.00 mm
(12)	Far side pop-mark type Options: pop circle pop point	pop cirlce
(13)	Far side pop-mark diameter	2.00 mm
(14)	Text layer name	TEXT
(15)	Text layer color	7 (white)
(16)	Outer contour layer name	CUT
(17)	Outer contour layer color	7 (white)
(18)	Inner contour layer name	CUTOUT
(19)	Inner contour layer color	4 (cyan)
(20)	Punch contour-marking layer name	PUNCH_CONTOUR_MARKING
(21)	Punch contour-marking layer color	5 (blue)
(22)	Powder contour-marking layer name	POWDER_CONTOUR_MARKING
(23)	Powder contour-marking layer color	6 (magenta)
(24)	Bends switch - Enable or disable the creation of bend lines in the DXF file.	Image
(25)	Bends layer name (bend lines and bend information- angle, radius)	BENDS
(26)	Bends layer color	3 (green)

Note:

• The maximum length of the layer name should be 100 characters.
• By input special characters for layer names such as "<", ">", "/", "\", ":", "?", "!", "*", "|", ";" and space " ", the extension will replace them with the '_' underscore character.

 DXF color table:

Color	Specific number	Name
Image	0	black
Image	1	red
Image	2	yellow
Image	3	green
Image	4	cyan
Image	5	blue
Image	6	magenta
Image	7	white
Image	8	dark grey
Image	9	light grey

Hole Layers tab

Image

For the hole layers, to modify the hole layer name, hole minimum diameter, hole maximum diameter, and the layer color, double-click the cell and enter the desired value, or select a new value from the list.

1. The selected row.
2. Add new row - Add a new row by using right-click and select Add a new row option. Any new row will be added at the end of the table and will contain the following default values: 
   Image

   
   A new row can also be added by double-click on the last empty row.
3. Delete selected row - Remove the selected row. First the user needs to select the row, right-click and select Delete selected row option. The selected row can also be removed by pressing Delete button on the keyboard.
4. Clear all rows - Clear all the rows from the table by using the right-click and select the Clear all rows option.

Slotted Hole Layers tab

Image

For the slotted hole layers the layer names, slotted hole minimum diameter, slotted hole maximum diameter, minimum width, maximum width, minimum height, maximum height, type, color and phantom can be defined.
For an explanation of the slotted holes dimensions, see the image below where:

• d is diameter
• b is width
• h is height 
• w is the slotted hole angle

Image

To edit a text or numeric value you have to double-click on it and modify the value with the desired one.
By right-click, a contextual menu will appear containing the following options:

1. Add new row - Add a new row at the end of the table which will contain the default values:

Image

A new row can also be added by double-click on the last empty row.

2. Delete selected row Del - Remove the selected row; the selected row can also be removed by pressing Delete button on the keyboard.
3. Clear all rows - Clear all the rows from the table

Phantom 

Below there are some examples with different phantom types. The other settings used are Slot type = 1 , Hole point style = 33 and Hole point size = 1.

 

Phantom type	Example picture
Phantom arrow	Image
Phantom outline	Image
Phantom arrow + outline	Image
Phantom none	Image

Slotted holes types

The examples presented below use different slotted holes types but have the following common properties:

• Slot layer color is 3 (green).
• Hole layer color is 6 (magenta).
• Phantom layer color is 1 (red).
• Slotted hole layer phantom type is 
  Image

  
  (outline)
• Hole point style is 35
• Hole point size is 10

Slot type	Example picture	Description
1	Image	One hole symbol to the center of slot. The hole symbol follows the hole point style and hole point size settings. The slot symbol is created according to the selected phantom setting (outline in this example). The circle color follows the slot layer color, and the slot color follows the phantom layer color.
2	Image	Two hole symbols to the slot. The hole symbol follows the hole point style and hole point size settings. The slot symbol is created according to the selected phantom setting (outline in this example). The hole symbol color follows the hole layer color, and the slot color follows the phantom layer color.
3	Image	One circle to the center of slot. The size of the circle corresponds to the real hole size. The circle color follows the slot layer color, and the slot color follows the phantom layer color. The slot symbol is created according to the selected phantom setting (outline in this example).
4	Image	Two circles to the slot. The size of the circle corresponds to the real hole size. If the circles would be touching each other, only one circle in the middle of slot is created. The slot symbol is created according to the selected phantom setting (outline in this example). The circle color follows the hole layer color, and the slot color follows the phantom layer color.
5	Image	Hole symbol to the first slot center point. The hole symbol follows the hole point style and hole point size settings. The slot symbol is created according to the selected phantom setting (outline in this example). The hole symbol color follows the hole layer color, and the slot symbol color follows the phantom layer.
6	Image	One circle to the first slot center point. The slot symbol is created according to the selected phantom setting (outline in this example). The circle color follows the hole layer color, and the slot symbol color follows the phantom layer color.
7	Image	No hole symbol is created. The slot symbol is created according to the selected phantom setting (outline in this example). The slot color follows the slot layer color.

Available Commands in CLI Mode

DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe [-cfg attributeFile] [-out outputFolder] [-in inputFolder] [-overwrite] [-f files]

 -cfg attributeFile

• Supports only the new attribute files.
• 'standard' attribute file is used if not specified.
• Supports both full and relative path conventions.
• Relative paths are relative to the model folder.
• If no path is specified the configuration file is read from the standard attribute file locations.
• If there are no attribute files, a warning message will appear: "Please specify a configuration file! Create an attribute file in DSTV to DXF Converter interface! For more information, see the help page on Tekla User Assistance!"

 -out outputFolder

• Defines the output folder.
• Supports both full and relative path conventions.
• Relative paths are relative to the model folder.
• If not specified the output directory is read from the attribute file.
• If not specified in the attribute file, the output directory is the same as the input directory.
• Output directory is created if it does not exist.
• Output directory should be enclosed in quotation marks to support folders with spaces in the name (“”).

 -in inputFolder

• The directory in which single and batch files are searched for.
• Supports full and relative path conventions.
• The default is the model folder if the input directory is not specified.
• Input directory should be enclosed in quotation marks to support folders with spaces in the name (“”).

 -overwrite

• For this Template:
  • Set to True if you want to overwrite.
  • Set to False if you do not want to overwrite.
• For CLI use: no_over_write:
  • When included, existing files should not be overwritten.
  • When not specified, existing files are overwritten.

 -f  files

• A list of 1 to n file names each enclosed in quotes or wild card
• If not specified, “*.nc1” is used as default
• Examples :
  1. -f “P1.nc1”
  2. -f “*.nc1”
  3. -f "P1.nc1, F2.nc1, P3.nc1, P5.nc1, P7.nc1"
  4. -f “PL*.nc1, BPL*.nc1, FLT*.nc1”

Examples for CLI Mode

DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe

• start the DSTV to DXF Converter dialog box

DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe -in “./NC Plates”

• configuration with the name standard is used
• the input folder is [ModelFolder]\NC Plates
• the output folder is read from "standard" configuration file
• all files with .nc1 extension are converted
• existing .dxf files for selected .nc1 files will be overwritten

DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe -cfg myPlateSettings -out “./Plate DXF” -in “./NC Plates” -f “P1.nc1”

• configuration with the name myPlateSettings is used
• the input folder is [ModelFolder]\NC Plates
• the output folder is [ModelFolder]\Plate DXF
• the file P1.nc1 is converted
• existing .dxf files for selected .nc1 files will be overwritten

DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe -cfg myPlateSettings -out "./Plate DXF" -in "./NC Plates" -f "P1.nc1, F 2.nc1, P3.nc1, P5.nc1, P7.nc1"

• configuration with the name myPlateSettings is used
• the input folder is [ModelFolder]\NC Plates
• the output folder is [ModelFolder]\Plate DXF
• the files P1.nc1, F2.nc1, P3.nc1, P5.nc1, P7.nc1 are converted
• existing .dxf files for selected .nc1 files will be overwritten

DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe -cfg myPlateSettings  -in “./NC Plates” -no_over_write -out “./Plate DXF” -f “*.nc1”

• configuration with the name myPlateSettings is used
• the input folder is [ModelFolder]\NC Plates
• the output folder is [ModelFolder]\Plate DXF
• all files with .nc1 extension are converted
• existing .dxf files for selected .nc1 files will not be overwritten

DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe -cfg myPlateSettings  -in “./NC Plates” -no_over_write -out “./Plate DXF” -f “PL*.nc1, BPL*.nc1, FLT*.nc1”

• configuration with the name myPlateSettings is used
• the input folder is [ModelFolder]\NC Plates
• the output folder is at [ModelFolder]\Plate DXF
• all the files that have PL, BPL, FLT as a prefix and .nc1 extension are converted
• existing .dxf files for selected .nc1 files will not be overwritten

You can also use the following parameters with DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe:

• DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe -! - to find out the version number of the application.
• DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe -? - to see all the options and commands.
• DSTVtoDXFConverter.exe examples - to list examples that use correct templates.