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When exporting a file to .dwg, one of the options is to select if you would like to use the 'DEFAULT.TBL' for colours. Any idea where this is and how I edit it. Same for importing a .dwg file.

Thanks
Pierre Jordaan
Shaftesbury UK

'If you don't have a DEFAULT.TBL, go to Tools/DXFDWG Color Map.
Make the color translations that you want and say ok, save file.
this is on v12.'

Thanks for this. I've had a look at the color map in the menu of my V12. Not sure what to do with it thought ... one side is DCAD and the other DWG ... so how do you relate them to one another, or am I being dim here?

There seems to be a selection tool - circle in color block - does this mean you change them one at a time ..?
Thanks
Pierre

The engineers I work with, frustrated by their inability to change colors in the blocks written by DataCAD, insisted that I explode all the blocks I use before exporting. Instead, I mapped all the export colors to LtGrey for their screened bases and now they are happy campers even with unexploded blocks.

However, sometimes I need to export to other consultants that would be impaired by everything being one color. In those cases, I switch to the DXFDWG.rgb file or the export.rgb file and then switch back when I'm done. Did you know that the color mappings for the export are saved in your .rgb file?

What would be better yet is for us to be able to specify different export tables instead of default or not.

DXF/DWG Color Index Mapping Table

If you're reading this post, it's probably because you've determined that DataCAD colors do not equal AutoCAD colors. So when you transfer one way or the other, your drawings do not display or print as you intended. One solution is to load (i.e., use) the DXFDWG.RGB color palette in any drawing you might export to DXF/DWG. If you don't want to do that, please read on.

When you export your drawing to DXF/DWG, DataCAD evaluates the current drawing color palette and tries to make mathematical matches to AutoCAD's default color palette. Based on these matches, DataCAD creates a color index mapping table. So DataCAD's White (color index 1) is mapped to AutoCAD's White (color index 7).

Note: (Assuming DEFAULT.RGB is the current color palette). If DEFAULT.TBL does not exist in the Support Files folder, then DataCAD creates a temporary table in memory. Otherwise, DEFAULT.TBL is used.

When you import (or open) a DXF/DWG file, DataCAD maps AutoCAD's default colors to best matches in the current drawing color palette. So AutoCAD's Red (color index 1) is mapped to DataCAD's Red (color index 2).

All is well for White, Red, Green, and Blue. By default, these color indexes round-trip consistently. However, Light Grey (color index 8) becomes color #253 on the way out, and color #253 becomes color #26 on the way in.

So, it's possible for color indexes to get 'scrambled'. To prevent this, you have to make sure the color index mapping from DataCAD to AutoCAD is reversed when mapping from AutoCAD to DataCAD.

Note: If you open DEFAULT.TBL in a text editor you'll notice the values are stored in an INI file format. There are two sections; [Export] and [Import].

All of this occurs automatically if 'Translate colors using color table file' is checked in the 'Import / Export Color Translation' section on the DXF/DWG tab in Program Preferences. The state of this option is the default 'program' state.


Figure 1 - Option on DXF/DWG tab in Program Preferences

You can override this setting during export by changing the status of 'Translate colors using color table file -> DEFAULT.TBL' on the Export file dialog.


Figure 2 - Option on Export File dialog

The same option is available on the DWG Import Assignments dialog if 'Interactively assign fonts and line types during import' is enabled in the 'Import Method' section on the DXF/DWG tab in Program Preferences.


Figure 3 - Option on DXF/DWG tab in Program Preferences

If you select DXF/DWG Color Map from the Tools pull-down menu, DataCAD will display a dialog with the current drawing color palette on the left, and AutoCAD's default color palette on the right. If you select a color on the left, a dot will appear on the right indicating the 'map to' color. If you select a color on the right, you are setting the 'map to' color for the color that is selected on the left (which is not readily apparent).

When you click OK, DataCAD writes out a .TBL file to the Support Files directory using the same name as the currently selected palette. Typically, this name is DEFAULT.TBL which corresponds to DEFAULT.RGB. If PRIZMA.RGB was the current palette, then PRIZMA.TBL would be created. So it is possible to use multiple mapping tables, but requires using multiple (or uniquely-named) palettes.


Figure 4 - DXF/DWG Color Index Mapping Table

DataCAD Default Colors

Figure 5 - First 15 DataCAD Colors
White/Black, Red, Green, Blue, Cyan, Magenta, Brown

AutoCAD Default Colors

Figure 6 - First 15 AutoCAD Colors
Red, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Magenta, White/Black

Default DataCAD Palette

Figure 7 - Default DataCAD Palette (DEFAULT.RGB)

Default AutoCAD Palette

Figure 8 - Default AutoCAD Palette as displayed in R14 and in DataCAD (DXFDWG.RGB)

Default DataCAD to AutoCAD Color Mapping
(First 15 Colors)
(1) White/Black = (7) White/Black
(2) Red = (1) Red
(3) Green = (3) Green
(4) Blue = (5) Blue
(5) Cyan = (134)
(6) Magenta = (214)
(7) Brown = (30)
(8) Light Grey = (253)
(9) Dark Grey = (250)
(10) Light Red = (13)
(11) Light Green = (93)
(12) Light Blue = (173)
(13) Light Cyan = (131)
(14) Light Magenta = (211)
(15) Yellow = (51)


Figure 9 - Illustration of Default DataCAD to AutoCAD Color Mapping

Default AutoCAD to DataCAD Color Mapping
(First 15 Colors)
(1) Red = (2) Red
(2) Yellow = (239)
(3) Green = (3) Green
(4) Cyan = (209)
(5) Blue = (4) Blue
(6) Magenta = (224)
(7) White/Black = (1) White/Black
(8) = (131)
(9) = (28)
(10) = (2) Red
(11) = (10) Light Red
(12) = (43)
(13) = (164)
(14) = (41)
(15) = (162)


Figure 10 - Illustration of Default AutoCAD to DataCAD Color Mapping

Default Color Palette
DataCAD 11 and later versions store the name of the Color Palette (i.e., RGB) file in the drawing. So the default color palette is determined by your default drawing. If you create a new, non-default drawing, then DataCAD tries to use the RGB file specified in the [PaletteFile] section of DCADWIN.INI (RGBFile=DEFAULT.RGB).

You can force DataCAD to load a specific color palette temporarily (the drawing palette name will be restored when you close the file) by adding the following entry to the [PaletteFile] section of DCADWIN.INI.

Store In Drawing=TRUE
; If FALSE, DataCAD will always read the external (.RGB) color palette instead of the embedded one.