Expertcad to autocad conversion.

[TwistedE]

Hi,

 

Does anyone know of a software that can convert expertcad drawings to autocad. It has to convert about 5000 drawings.

 

There are about 10 drawings in each folder and about 500 folders on our network. It has to be able to open the drawing in that folder and put the converted drawing back into that same folder and continue on to the next folder.

 

I know my requirements might sound steep but if there's a software that can even do a few of those things, please let me know.

 

Thank you.

[Cad64]

Do you have Expertcad?

They state, on their website, that Expertcad has "Outstanding import/export of Autocad dwg and dxf".

[TwistedE]

Yes, but I found that process takes a good 45 seconds (start to finish) per drawing on our machines. With 5000 drawings, I just don't have the time or patience to do that.

 

A stand alone converter that can do batch file conversions and smartly put things back into their appropriate folders is what I'm after.

 

If nothing, I would even settle for a software that converts the 10 or so drawings per folder that we have without actually opening them and just puts the autocad drawings in the same folder. That way I'd have to go and do 500 folders but thats still ok if this project was alloted 2 months (do 10 or so folders everyday).

[Cad64]

Well, I tried Googling " Convert Expertcad to Autocad" but I didn't get any hits, so you may be out of luck.

 

Is this something that has to be done right now or can it be done over time?

 

Have you considered hiring a Temp for a week to just sit there and convert the files? Or get a high school kid to come in part time after school. It's a pretty simple procedure that anyone could do.

[ScribbleJ]

Have you thought about writing a DOS batch file to open up the files in Expertcad then execute the command to do the export? Its been a while but I had a batch file that did something similar with AutoCad that would xref image files. There were a couple hundred that needed to have this done. I'm not familiar with Expertcad but I would think that this is probable. If you don't have DOS batch file knowledge maybe someone on the Autolisp thread can whip one out for you. The DOS commands are very simple and it would be a very short code. Once it is done you simply put it in the folder where the files are and execute it and let it run till its done.

 

In the mean time I will see if I can find the one I had so it can be modified for your particular use.

[TwistedE]

Cad64: Funny you should mention that because I am an intern myself and that's why this job got dumped on me. But I'm trying to find an efficient method to get this done because I've got quite a bit of actual work to do as well.

 

ScribbleJ: I am pretty good at coding, but I have never had the chance to use DOS batch files. I will check out the Autolisp thread and see what I can figure out. If you can find that file, it would be a great help.

 

Thanks everyone.

[ScribbleJ]

Funny you should mention that because I am an intern myself and that's why this job got dumped on me. But I'm trying to find an efficient method to get this done because I've got quite a bit of actual work to do as well.

 

Thanks everyone.

 

Ahh I remember the days when I was just starting out. Of course I was working on board at that time using pencil, pen & ink (going to college at night for AutoCad) but when I got a CAD position I got all of the crap work. But you have to start out somewhere and learn to walk before you run.

 

This will be a great learning experience for you. The shortcuts you learn in the process of getting the bottom feeder projects will be priceless later on down the line and will only make you more valuable and the interns at that point will look up to you as a CAD guru.