Migrating Drawing Files

Before version 14, you could use the Access TDM Database command to open TDM assembly and part documents, but you could not open drawing files. With the I-DEAS Data Migration executable, you can migrate I-DEAS drawing files to Solid Edge.

Because there is no direct data translator from I-DEAS drawing format to Solid Edge Draft format, Solid Edge uses a neutral or intermediate file format. The format that Solid Edge uses is DXF.

Because the migration process uses the Solid Edge DXF translator, you may want to use the AutoCAD Import Translation Wizard to configure such things as the mapping of line types, colors, and fonts.

Multiple drawing sheets in the same I-DEAS drawing file

Multiple drawing sheets within the same I-DEAS file are migrated to separate Solid Edge Draft files. For example, if drawing1.mdf contains 3 sheets, Solid Edge creates the following three separate draft files:

Drawing1.dft
Drawing1 Sheet2.dft
Drawing1 Sheet3.dft

Solid Edge then translates these .DXF files Solid Edge Draft files:

Drawing1.dft
Drawing1 Sheet2.dft
Drawing1 Sheet3.dft

Displaying Symbols

To enable the display of symbols when importing I-DEAS files to Solid Edge Draft you must add the UseIdeasLayering parameter to the SEACAD.ini file. The following describes how to use the parameter:

Parameter	Description
UseIdeasLayering=0	The display of symbols is disabled in Solid Edge.
UseIdeasLayering=1	The display of symbols is enabled in Solid Edge.

Controlling Line Thickness

To prevent problems with line thickness during I-DEAS data migration, you should set the Map Polyline Width to Solid Edge Line Width in the Solid Edge Import Wizard.