DWG Interface - DigiPara

LIFTdesigner DWG Interface 1 

1 LIFTDESIGNER DWG INTERFACE ................................................................................. 3 

1.1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS & INSTALLATION .............................................................................. 3 

1.2 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................. 3 

2 LIFTDESIGNER LAYER MAPPING .................................................................................. 4 

2.1 GENERAL INFORMATION........................................................................................................ 4 

3 CREATE DWG FILES WITH LIFTDESIGNER ................................................................... 5 

3.1 THE “EXPORT DRAWING” DIALOG .......................................................................................... 5 

3.2 DIALOG OPTIONS ................................................................................................................. 6 

3.2.1 Select Output Option ................................................................................................... 6 

3.2.2 Settings Section .......................................................................................................... 7 

3.2.3 Sheets Section ............................................................................................................ 8 

3.2.4 DWG Configuration: .................................................................................................... 8 

4 DWG OUTPUT FORMATS ............................................................................................ 10 

4.1 AUTOCAD MODEL SPACE ONLY: ......................................................................................... 10 

4.2 AUTOCAD MODEL & PAPER SPACE..................................................................................... 12 

4.2.1 Add a new Dimension ................................................................................................ 14 

4.3 AUTOCAD MECHANICAL MODEL & PAPER SPACE ................................................................. 15 

4.3.1 Stretching the view Frames in the Model Space ......................................................... 18 

4.3.2 Moving view Frames.................................................................................................. 21 

4.3.3 Power Dimensions .................................................................................................... 21 

4.3.4 Turn on /off Components by Freezing / Unfreezing the Appropriate Layer .................. 22 

5 AUTOCAD LDDIM.ARX APPLICATION .......................................................................... 24 

5.1 LOAD THE LIFTDESIGNER LDRX.MNU FILE ............................................................................. 24 

5.1.1 Proceed as follows (AutoCAD 2005 and earlier versions): .......................................... 24 

5.1.2 Proceed as follows (AutoCAD 2006 / 2007): .............................................................. 29 

5.2 LOADING THE ARX APPLICATION ......................................................................................... 33 

5.3 LIFTDESIGNER TOOLBARS .................................................................................................. 33 

5.3.1 LD 5.0 Layer Groups Toolbar .................................................................................... 33 

5.3.2 LD 5.0 Operations Toolbar ........................................................................................ 33 

5.3.3 Loading the LIFTdesigner Component tree ................................................................ 34 

5.3.4 Updating Architectural Dimensions ............................................................................ 37 

6 PREPARE THE PROTOTYPE DWG FILES .................................................................... 39 

6.1 STANDARD AUTOCAD DWG PROTOTYPE FILE........................................................................ 39 

6.1.1 Setting up the “Layers” .............................................................................................. 39 

6.1.2 Setting up the “Dimension Styles” .............................................................................. 40 

6.1.3 Setting up the “Text Styles”........................................................................................ 41 

6.1.4 File Save Conditions ................................................................................................. 41 

6.2 AUTOCAD MECHANICAL DWG PROTOTYPE FILE .................................................................... 42 

6.2.1 Text Styles / Dimension Styles .................................................................................. 43 

6.2.2 File Save Conditions ................................................................................................. 43 

7 PREPARE THE LAYER CONFIGURATION TABLES ....................................................... 43 

7.1 SETTING UP THE “L_LAYERGROUPTAB” TABLE ..................................................................... 44 

7.2 SETTING UP THE “L_LAYERGROUPPRODUCTTAB” TABLE ....................................................... 45 

7.3 SETTING UP THE “L_LAYERGROUPCHANGETAB” TABLE ......................................................... 47 

7.4 MAPPING OBJECTS ............................................................................................................. 49 

7.5 LAYER CONFIGURATION HINTS ............................................................................................ 50 

7.5.1 AutoCAD layer configuration:..................................................................................... 50 

7.5.2 AutoCAD Mechanical Layer Configuration: ................................................................ 51 

8 LIFTDESIGNER PLOT STYLES .................................................................................... 53 

8.1 TABLE L_PLOTSTYLEGROUPTAB ....................................................................................... 53 

8.2 TABLE L_PLOTSTYLETAB ................................................................................................... 55 

8.3 CHANGING THE PLOT STYLE GROUP IN LIFTDESIGNER .......................................................... 56 

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LIFTdesigner DWG Interfaces © DigiPara GmbH

2 LIFTdesigner DWG Interface __ 

9 APPENDIX .................................................................................................................. 58 

9.1 SUPPORTED DWG ELEMENTS ............................................................................................ 58 

9.1.1 LINE.......................................................................................................................... 58 

9.1.2 ARC .......................................................................................................................... 58 

9.1.3 CIRCLE..................................................................................................................... 58 

9.1.4 POLYLINE ................................................................................................................ 58 

9.1.5 TEXT ........................................................................................................................ 58 

9.1.6 MTEXT...................................................................................................................... 58 

9.1.7 BLOCKS ................................................................................................................... 59 

9.1.8 HATCHES ................................................................................................................. 59 

9.1.9 DIMENSIONS ........................................................................................................... 59 

9.1.10 OTHER ELEMENTS .............................................................................................. 59 

9.2 SUPPORTED TABLES .......................................................................................................... 59 

9.2.1 LAYER TABLES ........................................................................................................ 59 

9.2.2 DIMSTYLES .............................................................................................................. 59 

9.2.3 TEXTSTYLES ........................................................................................................... 59 

9.3 SUPPORTED DWG VERSIONS ............................................................................................. 59 

9.4 DWG RENDERING PROCESS ............................................................................................... 60 

9.4.1 "The first definition wins":........................................................................................... 60 

9.4.2 Final recommendations ............................................................................................. 60 

LIFTdesigner DWG Interfaces 

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© DigiPara GmbH LIFTdesigner DWG Interfaces

1 LIFTdesigner DWG Interface 

LIFTdesigner Layer Mapping 3 

This document explains the functionality of the LIFTdesigner DWG interface 

program module. Some new features are the extended Export Drawing dialog, new 

dwg output features, the multi-sheet output option and creating AutoCAD 

Mechanical dwg files containing the extended AutoCAD Mechanical functionality. 

1.1 System Requirements & Installation 

1.2 Software Requirements 

The DWG Interface is tested and validated for the following AutoCAD applications / 

revisions: 

AutoCAD 2000 - 2011 

AutoCAD Mechanical 2004 - 2011 

The following LIFTdesigner components must be installed to run and to configure 

the LIFTdesigner DWG Interface application: 

DigiPara Premium Suite or Enterprise Suite 

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4 LIFTdesigner Layer Mapping __ 

2 LIFTdesigner Layer Mapping 

2.1 General information 

The mapping of the component layers in LIFTdesigner works according to the 

illustration shown below. 

LIFTdesigner component layer mapping: 

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Create DWG Files with LIFTdesigner 5 

In this case, it doesn’t make a difference if the drawing is exported as a PDF, EMF 

file or if it is displayed in the LIFTdesigner user interface as the mapping behavior 

for these output formats is equal. The destination layer settings for the DWG and 

DXF output are taken directly from the prototype DWG file, as shown above. 

3 Create DWG Files with LIFTdesigner 

3.1 The “Export Drawing” Dialog 

To create a .dwg file from a LIFTdesigner project, please proceed as follows: 

Start LIFTdesigner and open any project that you want to convert to a .dwg file. 

After you have opened the project, click on the “Export DWG” item in the “File” 

menu. 

The following dialog appears: 

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6 Create DWG Files with LIFTdesigner __ 

3.2 Dialog Options 

This chapter explains the functionality of the Export Drawing dialog. 

3.2.1 Select Output Option 

In the “Select Output” section, you can choose between 3 different .dwg output 

formats. 

AutoCAD Model Space only: 

Choose this option, if you want to create a standard AutoCAD dwg file including a 

model space only. 

Multi-page model space: 

If you select more than one sheet with the AutoCAD model space output option, 

the selected sheets will be arranged in the AutoCAD model space automatically 

and according to an internal algorithm. 

The global scale in the created .dwg file always is 1:1, independent from the 

original view frame scales in the LIFTdesigner drawing. 

If the view frames in the selected LIFTdesigner sheet all have the same scale 

factor (e.g. 1:20), you can overwrite the global 1:1 .dwg scale with the view frame 

scale factor. Select the overwrite factor from the “Scale Factor” combo-box in the 

dialogs “Settings” section. 

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If you select the Factor 20, for example, the whole AutoCAD drawing will be scaled 

1:20. This option is available for the AutoCAD Model space only option, for the 

other options the “Scale Factor” combo-box is disabled. 

AutoCAD Model & Paper Space: 

Choose this option to create a standard AutoCAD dwg file including the model 

space and paper spaces according to the selected LIFTdesigner sheets. For each 

selected sheet, one paper space with the appropriate sheet name will be created. 

The paper space’s scale factors are according to the scale factors used in the 

appropriate LIFTdesigner sheets. 

AutoCAD Mechanical Model & Paper Space: 

This option allows you to create an AutoCAD mechanical dwg file including 

extended AutoCAD mechanical functionality for the model and the paper space. 

3.2.2 Settings Section 

In this section you can configure the following settings: 

Target Filename: 

Click on the right button to change the target dwg filename/ file location. 

Scale Factor: 

This selection is only available for the “AutoCAD Model space only” dwg output 

option. If all view frames of the selected sheet/sheets have the same scale factor, 

you can overwrite the global 1:1 dwg scale with the view frame’s scale factor. As a 

result, the AutoCAD drawing will be scaled down to the selected factor. 

Prototype DWG: 

This field is for information purposes only. It displays the path to the selected 

prototype dwg file. The dwg files must be located in the LIFTdesigner data pool 

dwg folder (e.g. C:\DP\MyDataPool\dwg\proto_dwg.dwg), otherwise the file will not 

be found and a standard LIFTdesigner dwg file will be selected. 

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8 Create DWG Files with LIFTdesigner __ 

If the .dwg prototype filename is not applied to the appropriate LIFTdesigner DWG 

Configuration Set, the standard LIFTdesigner .dwg prototype file will be used. 

3.2.3 Sheets Section 

In this table, all the sheets of the currently opened project are displayed. Select the 

sheets you want to include in the .dwg file by enabling the checkmark in front of the 

sheet name. 

3.2.4 DWG Configuration: 

The layer configuration for the representation of the shaft, components and 

dimensions in LIFTdesigner is configured in so called AutoCAD prototype dwg 

files. These files contain the layer as well as the text and dimension configuration 

for the representation of the drawing in LIFTdesigner. The prototype dwg files are 

concatenated with a corresponding Layer Group configuration. To select a different 

prototype dwg file, you must select a different layer configuration. Proceed as 

follows: 

Right click in the sheet area and select “Sheet properties” from the context menu 

or click on “Sheet” -> “Sheet properties” in the menu bar. 

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The properties of the active sheet are displayed in the LIFTdesigner properties 

docking window. 

Now click on the parent “Sheets” item in the Quick Component Link box to display 

the global sheet settings. 

The global sheet settings are displayed. 

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10 DWG Output Formats __ 

Now you can select a different LIFTdesigner layer group configuration 

(concatenated with a different prototype DWG file) from the “Layer group name” list 

box. The Layer Groups are filtered according to the LIFTdesigner project’s unit 

system. LIFTdesigner provides standard layer groups including the prototype dwg 

files for all possible project configurations and dwg output formats. 

If you want to use your own Layer Group and prototype dwg file, you will need to 

create a layer group configuration in LIFTdatamanager 5 and your own dwg 

prototype file including the dwg target layers that you have previously configured in 

the layer configuration. After you have created your own dwg layer configuration 

set (e.g. for metric drawings, standard AutoCAD), you will be able to select this 

layer configuration in the properties of the Sheets object. The configuration of the 

prototype dwg files will be explained later on. 

4 DWG Output Formats 

In this chapter, one example per dwg output option will be explained. 

4.1 AutoCAD Model Space only: 

Open an existing or create a new project. Open the Export drawing dialog as it is 

explained in chapter 3.1. 

Select the appropriate output option and select the sheet you want to save as a 

dwg file. Customize the target file name and path if necessary. Select the 

appropriate Layer Group for the Sheets object in the properties docking window. 

If all the view frames in the selected sheet have the same scale factor, you can 

optionally change the global scale factor too. 

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Now click on the dialog’s Create Drawing button. 

DWG Output Formats 11 

After the dwg file has been created, start your AutoCAD application and open the 

file. 

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As you can see, the dwg file was created with the correct layer and prototype dwg 

(LIFTdesigner standard) information. 

4.2 AutoCAD Model & Paper Space 

Proceed as described in chapter 4.1 but select the AutoCAD Model & Paper space 

option and select the sheets you want to include in the dwg file. 

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Click on the Create Drawing button. After the dwg file has been created 

successfully, open it with your AutoCAD application. 

As you can see, the model space contains all LIFTdesigner views included in the 

selected Sheets, rescaled to 1:1. 

The configuration of the paper spaces is equivalent to the configuration of the 

LIFTdesigner sheets (view port arrangement, view port scale). One paper space is 

created per selected LIFTdesigner sheet. 

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4.2.1 Add a new Dimension 

Add a new dimension to one of the views, e.g. the diagonal distance between the 

car CP and the CP of the counterweight in the model space. 

Set the new dimension’s dim scale to the view’s overall scale (e.g. 20, 50 etc.). 

Now switch to the appropriate paper space containing the edited view. 

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As you can see, the view port in the appropriate paper space was updated 

automatically and the new dimension was automatically rescaled with the view 

port’s scale factor. 

4.3 AutoCAD Mechanical Model & Paper Space 

Proceed as described in chapter 4.2 but select the “AutoCAD Mechanical Model & 

Paper space” option. 

You can also select the AutoCAD Mechanical Layer Group configuration for the 

“Sheets” object in the properties docking window to set the layers and dimension 

similar to the default layer configuration in AutoCAD Mechanical. 

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After the .dwg file has been created successfully, open it with your AutoCAD 

Mechanical application. 

As you can see, all views in the model space are embedded in frames, similar to 

an AutoCAD mechanical frame. This frame contains more functionality. Each 

frame is concatenated to the appropriate view port in the according paper space. 

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4.3.1 Stretching the view Frames in the Model Space 

Pick one of the corners of the view frame and drag it. 

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Draw a circle or something else in the upper right corner. 


Switch to the appropriate paper space containing the view port that the edited 

frame is concatenated to. 

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As you can see, the concatenated view port in the appropriate paper space still 

has its original shape. Now double click on the view port’s border. The following 

message appears. 

Click on the Yes button to allow the update of the concatenated view port. Click on 

the Return key to keep the view ports original position and confirm the View dialog 

with OK. 

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The concatenated paper space view port is updated. 

4.3.2 Moving view Frames 


The view port update function also works when you move the model space frames. 

After moving the frame, just switch to the appropriate paper space and then update 

the concatenated view port (the view port will display the wrong content after 

moving the concatenated view frame in the model space). 

4.3.3 Power Dimensions 

Add a new dimension to one of the view frames in the model space. The new 

dimension will be added with the correct dimension scale and style. 

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4.3.4 Turn on /off Components by Freezing / Unfreezing the Appropriate Layer 

Click on the Layer Functions button in the AM:Main toolbar to open the Layer 

Control dialog. Switch to the Layer Group Control tab and freeze one of the 

present layer groups. For example, the LDCar layer group and confirm with OK. 

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Now take a look at the drawing. All components / dimensions that have been 

assigned to this layer group are switched off. 

Re-open the Layer Control dialog and unfreeze the LDCar layer group. The car 

components and the associated dimensions are switch on again. 

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24 AutoCAD LDDIM.arx Application __ 

The configuration of the layer groups is equivalent to the function of the 

components & dimensions toolbar in LIFTdesigner. 

5 AutoCAD LDDIM.arx Application 

The LDDIM.arx application implements a LIFTdesigner component tree. This tree 

displays the LIFTdesigner shaft components in a hierarchical order and it is much 

easier to select concatenated shaft component groups. 

LIFTdesigner Menu and ARX Application files based on the supported AutoCAD 

version: 

LDDim.arx (e.g. 

“C:\Program 

Files\LD50\bin”) 

ldrx.mnu (e.g. 

“C:\Program 

Files\LD50\bin”) 

LDDim07.arx (e.g. 

“C:\Datapool\dwg”) 

ldrx07.mnu (e.g. 

“C:\Datapool\dwg”) 

AutoCAD 2004 

AutoCAD 2005 

AutoCAD 2006 

AutoCAD 2004 Mechanical 



AutoCAD 2007 


5.1 Load the LIFTdesigner ldrx.mnu file 

To be able to load the LDDim.arx application and use its further functionalities for 

AutoCAD and AutoCAD Mechanical, we recommend that you to load the 

LIFTdesigner menu file “ldrx.mnu” into your AutoCAD application (for AutoCAD 

2007, AutoCAD 2007 Mechanical, load the menu file “ldrx07.mnu”). 

5.1.1 Proceed as follows (AutoCAD 2005 and earlier versions): 

In AutoCAD, select the “Options” item from the “Tools” menu. Now switch to the 

“Files” register and add a new “Support Files Search Path”. In AutoCAD 

Mechanical select the “Options” item from the “Assist” menu. 

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AutoCAD LDDIM.arx Application 25 

Browse in your LIFTdesigner data pool directory and select the “dwg” subdirectory. 

The path to this directory will become a new search path for AutoCAD. 

The directory contains the LIFTdesigner menu files (“ldrx.mnu”). 

The new search path will be displayed. 

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Repeat this procedure to add the path to the LIFTdesigner “bin” directory as the 

second search path, since the LDDim.arx application is located in this directory 

(e.g. “C:\Program Files\LD50\bin”). 

Now to activate the LIFTdesigner menu bar item and toolbars, you will need to 

customize your AutoCAD toolbars. Select the “Customize -> Menus…” item from 

the “Tools” menu. In AutoCAD Mechanical versions, this item can be found in the 

“Assist” menu (Assist -> Customize -> -Menus… / Interface…). 

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In the appearing dialog, click on the “Browse” button in the register “Menu Group“ 

to browse in the LIFTdesigner ldrx.mnu file. The file is located in the data pool’s 

“dwg”-directory as it was mentioned above. 

Select the ldrx.mnu file and click on the “Open” button. Then click on the Load 

button in the “Menu Customization” dialog. 

Confirm the appearing warning message with Yes. An additional menu group item 

is displayed in the “Menu Groups” window. 

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Switch to the “Menu Bar” register and select the LIFTdesigner menu group item. 

Click on the “Insert” button to add the LIFTdesigner menu item into the AutoCAD 

menu bar. 

Now take a look at your AutoCAD menu bar, it now contains an additional 

LIFTdesigner menu entry. 

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To load the LIFTdesigner toolbars, right click into an empty area in the toolbar 

area… 

…and activate the LIFTdesigner toolbars via the context menu. 

5.1.2 Proceed as follows (AutoCAD 2006 / 2007): 

In AutoCAD, select the “Options” item from the “Tools” menu. Now switch to the 

“Files” register and add a new “Support Files Search Path”. In AutoCAD 

Mechanical select the “Options” item from the “Assist” menu. 

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Browse in your LIFTdesigner data pool directory and select the “dwg” subdirectory. 

The path to this directory will become a new search path for AutoCAD. 

The directory contains the LIFTdesigner menu files “ldrx.mnu” (“ldrx07.mnu” for 

AutoCAD 2007). 

The new search path will be displayed. 

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Repeat this procedure to add the path to the LIFTdesigner “bin” directory as the 

second search path, since the LDDim.arx (LDDim07.arx for AutoCAD 2007) 

application is located in this directory (e.g. “C:\Program Files\LD50\bin”). 

Now to activate the LIFTdesigner menu bar item and toolbars, you will need to 

customize your AutoCAD toolbars. Select the “Customize -> Interface…” item from 

the “Tools” menu. In AutoCAD Mechanical versions, this item can be found in the 

“Assist” menu (Assist -> Customize -> Interface…). 

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In the appearing dialog, click on the “Load partial customization file” button in the 

“Customize” tab to browse for the LIFTdesigner “ldrx07.mnu“ menu file. The file is 

located in the LIFTdesigner dwg directory of the current data pool. 

Hint: Switch the Files of type option to “Menu files”. 

Select the file ldrx.mnu (ldrx07.mnu for AutoCAD 2007) and click on the Open 

button. 

Now click on the Apply button in the Customize User Interface dialog to finish the 

process. Take a look at your AutoCAD menu bar, it now contains an additional 

LIFTdesigner menu entry. 

To load the LIFTdesigner toolbars, right click into an empty area in the toolbar 

area… 

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…and activate the LIFTdesigner toolbars via the context menu. 

5.2 Loading the ARX Application 


Load the application from the LIFTdesigner menu. Click on the “Load Application…” 

menu item to load the “LDDim.arx” (“LDDim07.arx”) application. 

5.3 LIFTdesigner Toolbars 

5.3.1 LD 5.0 Layer Groups Toolbar 

The functionality of the “LD 5.0 Layer Groups” toolbar is only available in AutoCAD 

Mechanical versions (AutoCAD Mechanical 2004 / 2005). 

Click on one of the buttons in the “LD 5.0 Layer Groups” toolbar to activate the 

concatenated, predefined LIFTdesigner layer group. 

Each toolbar button is concatenated to a predefined LIFTdesigner layer group. 

These layer groups are loaded with the created LIFTdesigner AutoCAD 

Mechanical .dwg file. The buttons in the toolbar will not work with non 

LIFTdesigner AutoCAD Mechanical ”.dwg” files since they usually do not contain 

the necessary layer groups. 

5.3.2 LD 5.0 Operations Toolbar 

The LIFTdesigner “LD 5.0 Operations” toolbar has further functionalities for all 

supported AutoCAD versions (AutoCAD 2000 – AutoCAD Mechanical 2007). 

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1. Select the current component 

only: 

2. Select the current, parent and 

child components: 

3. Select the current and child 

components: 

Selects the last selected component. All other, 

selected components will be deselected. 

Selects the current as well as all parent and all 

child components. 

Selects the current as well as all child 

components. 

4. Show the component tree: Loads the LIFTdesigner component tree. 

5. Update dimensions: Changes the dimension appearance to the 

architectural dimension style. 

5.3.3 Loading the LIFTdesigner Component tree 

After you have loaded the LDDIM.arx application, open the LIFTdesigner 

component tree by clicking on the “Tree” button in the LIFTdesigner “LD5.0 

Operations” toolbar. 

Alternatively, you can open the component tree by using the following commands: 

LD >> Tree >> On 

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The LIFTdesigner component tree will be displayed on the screen. 

Tree layout: 

The tree layout is similar to the hierarchical tree structure in LIFTdesigner. 

LDSheet: The sheet currently loaded (in this example, the model 

space) 

LdvSheet*: The LIFTdesigner sheet displayed in the current AutoCAD 

Mechanical sheet (it is possible to display multiple 

LIFTdesigner sheets in one AutoCAD sheet). 

LdvFrame*: Represents one frame, displayed on the current sheet 

Shaft: Represents the shaft, displayed in the mechanical frame. 

Car, Entries, etc.: All objects in the tree represent the appropriate objects 

including the corresponding object dimensions displayed in 

the corresponding mechanical frame. 

Click on a tree entry once, to select only the concatenated parent frame object and 

dimensions. Click on the tree entry twice, to select the parent as well as all the 

child frame objects and dimensions. 

Example: Click once on the Car tree entry. As you will see, only the car object in 

the concatenated frame is selected. 

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Click twice on the car entry, to select all Car sub-components. 

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5.3.4 Updating Architectural Dimensions 


When you create a LIFTdesigner project with the (cm/m) architectural dimension 

style in LIFTdesigner and you create an AutoCAD .dwg file, the dimension style 

information is also stored in the .dwg file. When you load the created .dwg file you 

will see that the dimensions are not displayed according to the architectural 

dimension style configured in LIFTdesigner. 

To display the correct dimension style, you will need to update the dimensions 

manually by using the ”Update dimensions” button in the AutoCAD “LD 5.0 

Operations” toolbar. 

Update dimensions button: 

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Architectural dimension style (cm/m) in 

LIFTdesigner: 

Architectural dimension style in the 

created .dwg file after the dimension 

update: 

Dimension style in the created .dwg file 

before the dimension update: 

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6 Prepare the Prototype DWG Files 

6.1 Standard AutoCAD dwg prototype file 

Prepare the Prototype DWG Files 39 

First you will need to modify the .dwg prototype drawing according to your needs. 

In this case, it makes sense to use the default LIFTdesigner prototype files 

Tables2000.dwg, TablesAM.dwg. As a basis, they already contain predefined 

Dimension Style and Text Style configurations as well as the default layers 

(Tables2000.dwg). The AutoCAD Mechanical prototype drawing contains a default 

set of LIFTdesigner specific layer groups (TablesAM.dwg). These files can be 

found in the LIFTdesigner data pool “dwg” directory (e.g. C:\LD\DP\dwg). 

The prototype dwg files for imperial .dwg output have the same names as the 

metric files plus the extension “_imp”. 

6.1.1 Setting up the “Layers” 

Open the predefined Tables2000.dwg prototype drawing or open a new drawing. 

Select the Layer option from the Format menu bar or type layer into the AutoCAD 

command line to show the layer configuration window. 

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40 Prepare the Prototype DWG Files __ 

Add a new or modify the existing layers in this dialog. 

6.1.2 Setting up the “Dimension Styles” 

Select the Style… option from the Dimension menu bar to show the dimension style 

configuration window, alternatively enter dim style in the AutoCAD command line. 

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Prepare the Prototype DWG Files 41 

Use the Modify button inside the dialog to edit the existing (LIFTdesigner) 

dimension styles or add a new dimension style. 

Recommendation: You should always make sure that your prototype .dwg file 

includes a "STANDARD" dimension style. In case of incorrect mapping in your 

layer mapping tables, the “STANDARD” dimension style is used instead of the 

incorrect / non-existing mapped LIFTdesigner dimension style. 

6.1.3 Setting up the “Text Styles” 

Select Text Style… from the Format menu bar to edit the predefined or add a new 

Text style. 

6.1.4 File Save Conditions 

When you have finished setting up the prototype drawing file, you will need to save 

it in the AutoCAD2000.dwg file format. Save the file under a new name like 

“CustomerPrototype.dwg” in the data pool’s dwg folder. 

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42 Prepare the Prototype DWG Files __ 

6.2 AutoCAD Mechanical dwg Prototype file 

Open the predefined TablesAM.dwg prototype drawing or open a new drawing. 

Select the Layer / Layer Group option from the Assist menu or click on the Layer 

Functions button in the AutoCAD Mechanical main toolbar (AM:Main). 

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Prepare the Layer Configuration Tables 43 

Add a new or modify / rename the existing layers / layer groups in this dialog. 

6.2.1 Text Styles / Dimension Styles 

See chapter 6.1.2 and 6.1.3. The LIFTdesigner default AutoCAD Mechanical 

configuration uses a standard LIFTdesigner dimension style (LIFT) as well as a 

standard LIFTdesigner text style (LD) for the .dwg output. You can add your own 

text dimension styles, if necessary, or modify the standard styles (LIFT dimension 

styles, LD text style) according to your needs. 

AutoCAD mechanical menu bar >> Assist >> Format >> Dimension style / Text 

style. 

6.2.2 File Save Conditions 

When you have finished customizing your prototype dwg file, you will need to save 

it as an AutoCAD Mechanical 2004 .dwg file. 

7 Prepare the Layer Configuration Tables 

Open the LIFTdatamanager to configure the DWG Mapping / Layer tables. First 

select the proper manufacturer in the Default toolbar. 

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44 Prepare the Layer Configuration Tables __ 

In this example, we will use the LIFTdesigner DWG Interfaces manufacturer area, 

since it already contains the default LIFTdesigner layer configurations for AutoCAD 

/ AutoCAD Mechanical. Then click on General Data -> Drawing Related -> Layer 

Configuration in the Table View docking window. If you can’t see the Table View 

docking window, activate it via the Window menu. 

7.1 Setting up the “L_LayerGroupTab” Table 

Click on the L_LayereGroupTab button located at the bottom of the dialog to add a 

new record to the L_LayerGroupTab table. In this table the LYRG_RID, 

LYGR_DESC, LYGR_MODE and the LYGR_PROT_DWG fields are displayed 

according to the manufacturer selected in the default toolbar. 

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Column description: 


LYGR_RID: Automatically filled in by LIFTdatamanager 

LYGR_DESC: Global description of the layer configuration 

LYGR_MODE: Choose the appropriate AutoCAD output format for the 

new layer configuration. 

LYGR_PROTO_DWG: Enter the name of the corresponding prototype Dwg 

file. The file must be located in the LIFTdesigner “dwg” 

folder (e.g. C:\Program 

Files\LD40\dwg\AcadTest.dwg). 

LYGR_PROJECT_UNIT Unit System the “CustomerPrototype.dwg” is 

configured for (metric or imperial). 

7.2 Setting up the “L_LayerGroupProductTab” Table 

Click on the L_LayerGroupProductTab button to add a new record in the table. 

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Column description: 

LYGPRPR_RID: This column contains the LayerGroupProduct RID 

No., which is automatically filled in by 

LIFTdatamanager. 

LYGRPR_LYGR_RID: This column contains the RID no. of the 

corresponding L_LayerGroupTab table, which is 

automatically filled in. 

LYGRPR_IX: Index for the L_LayerGroupProductTab table 

records. 

LYGRPR_DESC: L_LayerGroupProductTab description field. It usually 

makes sense to use a description that refers to the 

object that you configure the layers for. 

LYGRPPR_LDX_RID: This list box field contains all LDX-specific objects 

that are available in LIFTdesigner. You can select 

the LDXCar object, for example, if you only want to 

configure car specific layers, select the 

LDXLandingDoor object if you want to configure 

landing door specific layers only, etc. 

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7.3 Setting up the “L_LayerGroupChangeTab” Table 


To configure the global LIFTdesigner layer settings, 

select 999 (Default) LDXNone from the list box. 

When you configure additional object layers for the 

LDXCar object for example, the default layer settings 

for this object. 

Click on the L_LayerGroupChangeTab button to add new records to the table. 

Recommendation for the AutoCAD metric / imperial layer configuration: 

We recommend that you configure at least the global LIFTdesigner LDXNone 

object layers. This means that you should pass the global LIFTdesigner layers, 

dimension styles and text styles to the appropriate AutoCAD layers, as we did it for 

the default “AutoCAD Metric” and “AutoCAD Imperial” layer group configuration. 

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Column Description: 

LYCHG_RID: This column contains the LayerGroupChange RID 

No., it is automatically filled in by LIFTdatamanager. 

LYCHG_LYGRPPR_RID: This column contains the RID no. of the corresponding 

L_LayerGroupTab table, which is automatically filled 

in. 

LYCHG_IX: Index for the L_LayerGroupProductTab table records 

LYCHG_LYRSRC_ID: In this field you can select between all the default 

source layers, dimension, text styles and Blocks that 

are being used by LIFTdesigner. Select the source 

layers, dimension styles, text styles and blocks from 

the list that you want to apply to the different AutoCAD 

destination layers, dimension styles, text styles and 

blocks. 

For example: If you want to apply the car’s Solid Lines 

source layer to a specific AutoCAD destination layer, 

select the appropriate layer from the list and apply it to 

the destination layer in the LYCHG_LYRDEST 

column. 

LYCHG_LYRDEST: Enter the AutoCAD destination layers, Dimension and 

Text Styles (configured in the prototype dwg files) that 

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should be applied to the pre-selected LIFTdesigner 

source layers. For example, set the destination layer 

of the LDXCar component’s solid lines to the 

AutoCAD destination layer 2. 

LYCHG_COLOR: If the value is set to a value less than “256” (to any 

value between 0 and 255), this value will be used as 

overwrite color for the selected destination layer in the 

prototype DWG file. If e.g. the car destination solid line 

layer 2 (yellow) in the prototype DWG file is 

overwritten by the color index 1, set in this field, the 

car’s solid lines will be displayed red instead of yellow 

in the exported DWG file. 

7.4 Mapping objects 

There are 4 different types of LIFTdesigner objects that can be mapped to different 

target objects in the AutoCAD prototype DWG file, as you can see in the column 

LYCHG_LYRSRC_ID in the table L_LayerGroupChangeTab. 

Layer x The layer objects refer to the LIFTdesigner components e.g. the 

shaft, the car, the car door, etc. The LIFTdesigner object layers can 

either be configured globally (only for the LDXNone object) or for 

each single LDX object. 

Dimstyle Each LIFTdesigner internal dimension style can be mapped to any 

target dimension style in the corresponding prototype DWG file. The 

mapping can be configured globally (only for the LDXNone object) or 

component wise for each single LDX object. 

Textstyle The LIFTdesigner internal text style can be mapped to any target text 

style in the corresponding prototype DWG file. 

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Block Each LIFTdesigner internal static drawing block (e.g. the floor level 

symbol, mouse cursors, etc.) can be mapped to a predefined drawing 

block (insert) and defined in the corresponding prototype DWG file. 

Floor entry symbol: Floor level symbol: 

Hint for the configuration of the destination blocks in the prototype 

DWG file: 

The cursor symbols (Block_LD_CURSOR_*) must have a scale of 

1:1, the scale factor for all other blocks must be adjusted individually. 

7.5 Layer Configuration Hints 

In general, it is possible to configure the layers, dimension styles and text styles for 

all available LIFTdesigner LDX-components (see chapter 7.2 

LYGRPPR_LDX_RID descriptions). 

7.5.1 AutoCAD layer configuration: 

In this context, you need to decide whether you really need to configure the layers 

separately for each single LDX-Component (the LDX-components represent the 

LIFTdesigner components e.g. the LDXCar component represents the 

LIFTdesigner car geometry, etc.). Each LIFTdesigner component has its own 

AutoCAD layer configuration or you can use a global layer configuration for all the 

LIFTdesigner components (all LIFTdesigner components use the global LDXNone 

layer configuration). 

If each LIFTdesigner component has its own layer configuration, it means the 

target AutoCAD layers for each LIFTdesigner component are different and you will 

need to ensure that the target AutoCAD layers are also configured in the prototype 

dwg file. 

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7.5.2 AutoCAD Mechanical Layer Configuration: 


As you can see on the basis of the standard LIFTdesigner AutoCAD Mechanical 

layer configuration, we configured (opposite of the standard AutoCAD dwg 

configuration) the layers for each single LIFTdesigner component. The reason for 

this is that AutoCAD Mechanical provides the possibility to govern the layers in 

layer groups. For this reason, we have customized the LDX components according 

to the following rule: 

The LIFTdesigner LDX components are configured according to the buttons in the 

LIFTdesigner Components toolbar. This means that all the components enabled or 

disabled by switching the appropriate button in the Components toolbar represents 

a Layer Group in AutoCAD Mechanical. 

All components that are switched on and off via the corresponding button are 

present as LIFTdesigner LDX components. 

The shaft components that are switched on and off by the appropriate button in the 

Components toolbar are passed to a specified layer group. 

Example: The LIFTdesigner car frame as well as the car door is referring to the 

Car component button in LIFTdesigner. Similar to this logic, the LDXCar as well as 

the LDXCarDoor component are referring to the AutoCAD Mechanical LDCar 

target layer group. 

Equal AutoCAD 

Mechanical 

target Layers 

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52 LIFTdesigner Plot Styles __ 

As you can see in the image above, the target AutoCAD layers for the LDXCar as 

well as for the LDXCarDoor component are identical. The target layer syntax in the 

LYCHG_LYRDEST field is according to the layer name syntax in AutoCAD 

Mechanical: 

LDCar: Layer group name 

AM_*: Name of the group layer 

LIFTdesigner layer group configuration in AutoCAD Mechanical: 

AutoCAD Mechanical 

Layer Group name 

AutoCAD Mechanical layers applied to the LDCar layer group: 

Layers applied to the 

LDCar Layer Group 

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8 LIFTdesigner Plot Styles 

LIFTdesigner Plot Styles 53 

As the illustration on page 3 shows, the line weight and screen color settings in the 

LIFTdesigner prototype DWG file can be overwritten by the settings in the 

L_PLotStyleTab table for the PDF, EMF and the LIFTdesigner output. 

This behavior doesn’t affect the DWG output so far, but to get a general knowledge 

about the plot style configuration, it will be explained to this point. 

The LIFTdesigner plot style groups can be configured in the LIFTdatamanager 

under General Data -> Drawing Related -> Plot Styles, manufacturer 1:Common 

components: 

8.1 Table L_PlotStyleGroupTab 

The L_PlotStyleGroupTab table contains 8 plot style groups, as shown below. 

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These are the LIFTdesigner standard Plot Style Groups. The predefined groups 

can either be modified or they can be taken as a basis for the configuration of user 

defined Plot Style Groups. 

L_PlotStyleGroupTab column description: 

Column Description 

PLSTYGRP_DESC Contains the description of the Plot 

Style Group 

PLSTYGRP_VIEW_BG_COLOR Defines the background color for the 

plot style group that will be used for 

the display in LIFTdesigner and for 

the PDF and EMF output. 

PLSTYGRP_MODE The following modes can be set: 

Mode 

1: 

Mode 

2: 

Mode 

4: 

This mode is set if the 

plot styles, configured in 

the plot style group, have 

an individual line weight. 

This mode is set if the 

plot styles, configured in 

the plot style group, are 

colored. 

This mode is set if a 

colored background is 

used ( White). 

PLSTYGRP_MSGNO_RID This column contains the message 

no. for the translation of the Plot 

Style name. 

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8.2 Table L_PlotStyleTab 

LIFTdesigner Plot Styles 55 

The concatenated child records in the L_PlotStyleTab table contain the 

configuration of the 256 colors with an index range from 0 to 255. The color & 

index mapping is equal to the mapping in AutoCAD e.g. color “Red” in column 

PLSTY_DESC is concatenated to the index “1”, set in column PLSTY_IX.. 

Now if e.g. the car outline is mapped to the AutoCAD destination layer “1” in the 

Layer Configuration (table L_LayerGroupChangeTab, column 

LYCHG_LYRDEST), the destination layer information will be taken from the 

corresponding prototype DWG file e.g. Tables2000.dwg (screen color = red, line 

weight = default, line type = default). 

After all necessary information is taken from the prototype DWG file, the color 

index (“1” for red) of the destination layer “1” is searching in the L_PlotStyleTab 

table records of the used parent plot style group. 

Finally, the destination color taken from the prototype DWG file is replaced with the 

color configured in the column PLSTY_SCREEN_COLOR of the table record 

containing the index “1” in the column PLSTY_IX. The overwrite color in this 

column can be configured individually. 

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The line weight is overwritten in the same way. The line weight of the destination 

layer taken from the prototype DWG file will be replaced with the value set in the 

column PLSTY_PLLW_RID. If the line weight shall not be set for this plot style 

group, a “-1” must be entered into the field. 

As an additional option, the line end style and the line join style of the destination 

layers can be overwritten via the columns PLSTY_LINE_END_STYLE and 

PLSTY_LINE_JOIN as well. 

8.3 Changing the plot Style Group in LIFTdesigner 

In LIFTdesigner, the plot style group can be changed via the LIFTdesigner Project 

toolbar, or via 

the menu entry: Project -> Plotstyles. 

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Appendix 57 

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58 Appendix __ 

9 Appendix 

9.1 Supported DWG Elements 

In general all operations are in the XY plane only and all supported elements are 

displayed as 2D. There is no support for 3D DWG files. 

9.1.1 LINE 

No known limitations. 

9.1.2 ARC 


9.1.3 CIRCLE 


9.1.4 POLYLINE 


9.1.5 TEXT 

Text is displayed according to the assigned text style. In particular the text option 

"fit" is not supported. 

9.1.6 MTEXT 

Same limitations as text. MText is a very complex display language. For that 

reason we cannot guarantee all options working perfect. 

The following commands are implemented: 

\O (overline), \L (underline), \P (paragraph), \~ (no break space), 

\S (stacking) including \S..^... and \S...#... 

\A (Alignment), \C (color), \T (Space), \W (Width), \Q (Oblique) 

\Hx (heihgt factor, \HX (absolute height) 

\F, \f (font) 

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%%c 

In particular not supported: 

- Tables and columns 

9.1.7 BLOCKS 

Dynamic blocks are not supported 

9.1.8 HATCHES 

Hatches can be displayed when the hatch was shown in AutoCAD. Exported 

hatches are shown in the correct hatch style, but are exported as block. 

9.1.9 DIMENSIONS 

Appendix 59 

Limitations with regard to rarely used dimension style like ordinate, etc. In most 

cases these styles can be displayed in LIFTdesigner nevertheless, because the 

dimension is stored in the DWG file as block, and can be rendered by this option. 

9.1.10 OTHER ELEMENTS 

All other objects are not supported. 

In particular OLE objects and bitmaps are not supported. 

9.2 Supported Tables 

9.2.1 LAYER TABLES 

No know limitations. 

9.2.2 DIMSTYLES 

Dimension styles are read be LIFTdesigner and are taken to render the layout of 

9.2.3 TEXTSTYLES 

Text styles are supported. 

9.3 Supported DWG Versions 

All DWG versions up to the 2011 DWG format are supported. 

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9.4 DWG rendering process 

If the displayed results are wrong this may have several reasons. 

It is important to understand the drawing generation process. 

When a drawing is generated in LIFTdesigner, the drawing is assembled by many 

DWG files, 

1. The prototype drawings 

2. Blocks that are displayed in selections and annotations are added in particular 

step 2 can deliver unpredictable results, because the sequence of the drawing 

generation is important. 

9.4.1 "The first definition wins": 

This is correct for all tables. 

Example: 

If you have 2 DWG files with a layer "BORDERDEMO". If the layer is red in one 

DWG and blue in the other DWG file, the result may be red or blue inside 

LIFTdesigner, depending on the generation sequence. 

If you want to be sure that the layer is red, please add the layer to your prototype 

drawing, and define it as red. 

The same is similar for blocks. If you have the same block name in 2 DWG files 

that are displayed on your drawing, the first definition is used in both cases. 

9.4.2 Final recommendations 

- If you have problems with MTEXT, explode it in AutoCAD and try again 

- It is always a good idea to PURGE (German: "BEREINIG") all DWGs that needs 

to be shown in LIFTdesigner 

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Appendix 61 

© 2010 DigiPara CAD/CAM Hard and Software Service GmbH, Augustinusstr. 11 d, 50226 Frechen, Germany. 

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DWG Interface - DigiPara

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