Topic: [Awaiting Reply] Node Replacement workflow for AutoCAD

[ErgoArchitecture]

Hi guys,

I'm having trouble using nodes from AutoCAD 2017 and getting them to work as replacement nodes in Lumion 7.5 (trial version). 

I have the DWG Bridge and I've tried importing simple boxes (3D solids & 3D faces) which come in fine, but when I select "place current ______ on node" all of the trees/lights are placed on the same spot.  I've also tried exporting as FBX file without any luck. I have attached a screenshot to show the result i'm getting.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks

[peterm]

Hi ErgoArchitecture

Welcome.

Before I reply to your question, are you aware there is also a Pro Trial of the current version 8.3 that you can access to evaluate Lumion?  See our Knowledge Base Article: Is there a Trial version of Lumion?

Unfortunately, Nodes support is not officially supported as a direct import from AutoCAD to Lumion.  See our Knowledge Base Article: How do you replace imported "proxy" objects with trees or lights?.  The Nodes Replacement feature needs to re-evaluate the model data to determine the locations, and there is nothing set up to do that via the DWG to Lumion Bridge.

That said, it might be possible if you use the AutoCAD "exporttoautocad" command which will explode the model.  So save that file out to a separate DWG file then try importing to Lumion.

One other option to try would be to import the DWG nodes file to SketchUp, then export it to Collada DAE, as per the steps in our our Knowledge Base Article above.  Make sure that 'Preserve Component Hierarchies' is turned on in the .DAE options.

Do either of those work?

[kennygarg]

Wasnt aware we can have pro trial of v8.3. Thanks Peter : D

[Morten]

You're welcome, Kenny (on behalf of Peter).

[peterm]

Hi Kenny

Update: checked for nodes, but only in AutoCAD 2018 (sorry know you have 2017 but I don't have it installed).

Results were: Nodes work for Lumion v8.3, import direct DWG with AutoCAD To Lumion Bridge 2019, AutoCAD 2018.
Also works if saveAs or Export to AutoCAD 2013.

[ErgoArchitecture]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for looking into that.  We just got the Lumion 8.3 Trial and unfortunately I'm still having no luck.  In AutoCAD, are you making the objects using 3d solids, 3d Faces, Regions or something else to make them Lumion "nodes"?  I've tried what seems like every type and nothing is working.

[peterm]

Hi ErgoArchitecture

Good to see you have the Pro Trial.   

3D solids.

Did you try the AutoCAD "exporttoautocad" command so that it collapses/explodes the objects?

Also, are you using the latest DWG to Lumion Bridge 2018 for Lumion 8?

[ErgoArchitecture]

Hi Peter,

I just confirmed that I am using the 2018 dwg bridge and tried the exporttoautocad command on the 3d solids boxes.  Still no luck. I have attached a copy of the 3d solid box array, Autocad 2017 DWG  file.  Could you try to bring it in to lumion and see if there is something obvious that I am missing?

Thanks for your help!

[Morten]

Hi ErgoArchitecture, thanks for the update; I can confirm that your DWGs with the box objects don't work.

However, if I create my own boxes in AutoCAD 2018 via Home -> Build -> Box tool (and duplicate them in an array like in your file), it's working as expected in Lumion 8.3.

And if I save my box array as a DWG 2013 file, the 'Place item on nodes' command also works as expected.

Are you also using Home -> Build -> Box tool?

[ErgoArchitecture]

Hi Morten,

Thanks for the suggestions.  I tried building the boxes with the home>build>box method and then importing DWG and importing EXPORTTOAUTOCAD file to lumion.  Still no luck with them being recognized as nodes.  I have attached my Autocad file, if you could take another look to see if any thing looks wrong.  I'm hoping that this isn't a AutoCAD 2017 problem.

Thanks again.

[peterm]

Hi ErgoArchitecture

Hmmm, OK, thanks for the files and tries.

I will have to install AutoCAD 2017 first to test.

[peterm]

  Nothing like having to uninstall newer versions before an older version can be installed.

Anyway, finally there.

In AutoCAD 2017.

I am able to create boxes using the box shape (see Mortens pic of AutoCAD's interface).  It's identified as a Mass Element.  But also if I convert those to 3D Solid the objects (pic 2) it also works OK, and are able to be used as nodes in Lumion.

Your boxes are identified as 3D Solids, so I am not sure why the difference.  Did you do some other method of creating or converting them?

Have attached your original DWG with your boxes, plus the middle 3 boxes are mine as mass elements, the other green boxes are mas elements converted to 3D Solids.

Are you able to use that file and get nodes to work?

[ErgoArchitecture]

Hey Peter!

Thanks for the great support on this issue! 

So,  I was able to open your file in our autocad, import it into lumion and your mass elements worked! (Mine still did not as expected).

The "Mass Element" aspect seems to be the key.  I noticed that you are using AutoCAD Architecture 2017 while we are using regular Autocad2017; which doesn't seem to have the capability of creating Mass Elements. (I even tried copying a set of your mass elements and they did not work, but your original ones did).

Do you have any suggestions for using regular AutoCAD2017 to make an object similar to a mass element, so that it could be recognized as a node in Lumion(I've tried 3D Solids, regions and 3d faces)? Or could you release a hotfix so the dwg bridge recognizes AutoCAD2017 solids as nodes?

Thanks again.

[Morten]

Thanks for the update.

1. So you haven't got the 'Convert to Mass Element' button in your AutoCAD 2017 user interface?

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-architecture/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/AutoCAD-Architecture/files/GUID-5C94013C-2456-4266-8B04-39448EA6F170-htm.html

2. What happens if you type 'MassElement Convert' in the command prompt?

[ErgoArchitecture]

Hi Morten,

Unfortunately regular Autocad2017 does have a Convert to Mass Element button.  This seems to be only in AutoCAD Architecture 2017.

and Masselementconvert is an unknown command in regular autocad 2017.