Attach CAD converted Neutral File

V-Suite Neutral Files (VNF) can be converted from CAD and attached via the Neutral File Tool Window.

The following criteria must be met to convert a CAD file and attach the converted neutral file:

The user is a member of a role with the "Customization" access right
The user has activated a Task which includes the "Attachments" scope
One of the following licenses is activated:

V-Suite CORE Base License
Any V-Suite Base License with CAD Converter Add on

The "Attachments" scope category is new to V-Suite CORE 2021. The "Attachments" scope is not default not included in existing tasks. Administrators should add the "Attachments" scope category to the appropriate (standing) tasks via Task Center.

Convert and Attach CAD File

In the Neutral File Tool Window toolbar, click the "Attach Neutral File" icon

The 'Attach Neutral File' command will prompt the user to select one or more neutral files. The file selection form will by default list files with file extension .VNF. To convert and attach CAD files change the file extension to the appropriate CAD Format and locate and select the CAD files you want to convert and attach.

V-Suite CORE 2021 supports DWF (Autodesk Design Web Format) only but it is the intent to support additional CAD formats in a future release.

You will be presented with the "Attach Files" form which lists the files you selected.

Before you proceed converting the selected CAD files you first must enter a "Namespace Suffix".

The Namespace Suffix can be any string and is a means to further classify the CAD File's Schema. For example if you have a set of "Equipment" CAD files and set of "Piping" CAD Files you could decide to first convert and attach the "Equipment" CAD files with a namespace suffix "Equipment" and then convert and attach the "Piping" CAD files with a namespace suffix "Piping". For more information how the namespace suffix can help you further classify the schema refer to the Neutral File Schema, Assign Alias and Filter Attached Assets help topics.

Once you have specified the Namespace Suffix, press "Attach" to proceed with conversion of the selected CAD Files. The application will first convert to VNF and then attach the resultant Neutral File to the Asset Database. The form will present the progress status field for each of the selected files. If an error or warning occured the status field can be clicked to view the log file presenting the warnings and/or errors for that file.

The attached asset information can be viewed via the Attached Asset Explorer once the files are converted and attached. The attached neutral files can only be accessed in the current WIP. To make the newly attached Neutral Files availble to the Production View, publish the currently activated task.

Refer to the Neutral File Settings topic if you need to apply a Unit of Measurement conversion or a coordinate Transformation.