DXF/DWG File Mapping

You can map selected SOLIDWORKS entities or colors to different layers or colors when exporting a SOLIDWORKS drawing to a .dxf or .dwg file. You create map files in the SOLIDWORKS software to assign selected items to designated layers or colors in the .dxf or .dwg file.

To create a map file:

  1. Click File > Save As.
  2. Optional: 3DEXPERIENCE Users: If the Save As New dialog box appears, click Save to This PC.
  3. In the Save As dialog box, set Save as type to Dxf (*.dxf) or Dwg (*.dwg) files, then click Options.
  4. In the Export Options dialog box, under Custom Map SOLIDWORKS to DXF/DWG:
    1. Select Enable.
    2. Clear Don’t show mapping on each save.
    3. Click OK to close the Export Options dialog box.
  5. Type a name for the drawing file in File name, then click Save.
  6. In the SOLIDWORKS To DXF/DWG Mapping dialog box, define layers, map entities, and map colors.
    • Select Only map entities that are not in SOLIDWORKS layers to apply the mapping file settings only to those entities whose layers are not defined and to preserve existing SOLIDWORKS drawing file layers in the exported file. If you do not select this option, the mapping file definitions overwrite all the current SOLIDWORKS drawing file layers.
    • Load an existing map file with Load Map File or save the current settings with Save Map File.
  7. Click OK to save the SOLIDWORKS drawing with mapping applied to the document.