11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad

v8i

Applies To

Product(s): Bentley MXROAD

Version(s): 08.11.07.427, 08.11.07.494, 08.11.07.566, 08.11.09.493

Environment: Standalone

Area: Import

Subarea: CAD Data

Original Author: Jason Walsh, Bentley Technical Support Group

https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 1/8
11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

Background
Many users get surveys provided in CAD formats (AutoCAD DWG,DXF ,DGN, etc) this wiki details
the processs for converting a CAD file to an MX model.

Steps to Accomplish
1. Reference the CAD file into MX (Create a new MX plan display for this). Load the References
tool (Tools>References>References).

From the dialog box select Tool>Attach a reference file or select the Attach a Reference icon .
Browse to the files you require referenced into MX. The following dialog box will appear which
allows the scale to be adjusted if required. Select OK and the drawing will be referenced into the
https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 2/8
11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

MX plan display.

2. Right click on the reference file and select Merge into Master and click in the window to
proceed.

https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 3/8
11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

Click into the View window to accept the Merge to Master.

This will import the data from the reference file into standalone MX as Cad Elements which can
be converted to MX Elements.

3. Load the CAD Import Wizard. Load from the CAD Import Toolbar or via the menu
(MX>File>Import>CAD Data).

4. The first panel is the Cell Mapping Panel.

This panel controls how to deal with cells (AutoCAD Blocks. The Mapping Type options are:

https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 4/8
11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

To Strings: Where a cell in the drawing only has a single instance, this indicates that it may
need to be dropped back from the cell representation for the elements to be correctly stored in
MX.

To Symbol: When a cell has multiple instances in the drawing, the cell should be converted into
an MX symbol.

Not mapped: Manual selection of this method is required to force this cell to be ignored.

Cells mapped to strings must be further broken down into their constituent parts using Drop
String Cells (AutoCAD Explode String Blocks).
5. The next panel is the Drawing Review Panel.

A summary of the current drawing to be converted is displayed. This includes information which
will affect the conversion of the drawing, and suggestions to improve the conversion.

Drawing extents / coordinate base: this may identify the need for a coordinate shift or rescale of
drawing units to match the model MX units.

Number of elements 2D and 3D - It may be preferred to ignore 2D elements in the mapping /

transfer and retain the original graphics of 2D elements as a reference when working in CAD.
6. The next panel is the Style Set Panel

https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 5/8
11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

This panel defines the name of the default model and style set to be created. Both the model
and style set default is the name of the current drawing.

Selecting Use Existing Style Set will set the model to use a style set already associated with
the model (this can be a company specific survey style set). If you leave this unticked a style set
will be created based on the levels in the CAD file.

If you select Use multiple features per level the MX feature levels created by the mapping will
default MX features back to the original level.
7. The next panel is the Feature Details Panel.

If you have selected Use Existing Style Set you will need to select feature names from
the dropdown menu to match levels with features. Do this for all levels.

8. The final panel is the Report panel.

https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 6/8
11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

This displays a report on the features found which will be converted to the MX model. This can
be in feature set format, or a list of the object types.
9. Select Import and the CAD elements will be converted to MX elements in the selected model.

See Also
MX TechNotes And FAQs

Create a 3D Model from a 2D Model

 import  CAD Data  DWG  how to  Bentley MXROAD  SELECTsupport

Created by Jason Walsh

When: Mon, Sep 30 2013 5:59 AM

Last revision by Jason Walsh

When: Mon, Jun 16 2014 8:53 AM
Revisions: 5
Comments: 2

 2 comments  0 members are here

Offline Stephen Addae over 4 years ago

Hi

My new job requires me to use MXRoad V8i Selectseries 2. Importing a CAD survey into MX has
been a bit of a struggle.

1. When importing the survey as dxf directly into MX using ASCII File, error message E1002 (you
have exceeded 300 blocks) appears. After exploding the 3d dxf content to eliminate blocks, the new
error message "an error has occurred whilst reading the dxf file" appears.

https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 7/8
11/16/2018 How to Import a CAD File into MXRoad v8i - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads Wiki - GEOPAK | InRoads | MX | OpenRoads -…

2. When importing via CAD tools>preference>preferences, the "Merge Into Raster" function is greyed
out, and I cannot proceed.

Your help is highly valued.

Cheers.

Offline Maamle Okutu over 3 years ago

I am trying to import a CAD file using Bentley MX V8i SS2. I keep getting an MFM error reading 'Error
with Token 1 on Line 21 no token found' simultaneously with a DIStart Error reading 'An action cannot
be completed MFM is not responding

https://communities.bentley.com/products/road___site_design/w/road_and_site_design__wiki/9524/how-to-import-a-cad-file-into-mxroad-v8i 8/8