Exporting in 3ds Format

Different portions of the drawing can be selected for export to a 3ds file.

To export a 3ds file:

1.	To export a few specific objects, select them first.

2.	Select File > Export > Export 3DS (3D only).

3.	The Export 3DS Options dialog box opens; the options available on the lower part of the dialog box depend on which group of items were selected for export.

 

Parameter	Description
Export Selected Objects Only	Creates a 3ds file that contains only the 3D objects that are currently selected in VectorWorks
Export All Objects in Current Layer	Creates a 3ds file that can include all 3D objects in the current layer in VectorWorks. Exclude or include specific types of objects using the dialog checkboxes; for example, export walls but not 3D symbols.
Export Quality (Number of Polygons)	Controls the conversion quality of 3D objects that have rounded sides. Move the slider bar left to convert rounded objects using fewer large polygons (thus lower quality). Move the bar right to create rounded objects of higher quality. Exporting more polygons slows down the export and increases the size of the output file.
Export Objects	Exports all kinds of VectorWorks 3D objects except walls, 3D loci, symbols, lights, and plug-in objects
Export 3D Locuses	Exports each 3D locus as a one-vertex 3ds mesh
Export Walls	Exports walls
Export 3D Symbols	Exports each 3D symbol as a group of 3D meshes
Export Plug-in Objects	Exports each plug-in object as a group of 3D meshes
Export Lights	Exports VectorWorks light objects as 3ds light objects. VectorWorks point lights are exported as 3ds omni lights, and VectorWorks directional and spot lights are exported as 3ds spot lights.
Export Current View as Camera	If the current view was set with one of VectorWorks’ Perspective commands (Narrow, Normal, Wide, or a custom perspective), this option exports the view as a 3ds camera object
Scale	Opens the Export 3DS Scale dialog box, for specifying a scale to apply to all exported objects; see Scaling 3ds Objects
Export Materials	Exports colors that are attached to the exported objects as 3ds materials; this includes colors both from the Attributes palette and from RenderWorks textures
Export Textures as	If Export Materials is selected, this option exports each RenderWorks texture to a texture image file (disabled if RenderWorks is not installed). Select the export file format from the list. VectorWorks automatically names exported image files with sequential numbers starting at zero. For example, a VectorWorks drawing with two textures would export two image files named Textr0.jpg and Textr1.jpg. When exporting multiple drawings with textures, be sure to save them to different folders—otherwise, VectorWorks will overwrite existing exported textures with new textures.

4.	Select the types of objects to export, and then click OK.

5.	Specify the file name and destination, and then click Save.

VectorWorks exports to a new file, leaving the original file intact.