Issue description
You export a file from Archicad to DWG format after modifying objects or blocks within the project. Upon exporting, the objects in the resulting DWG file revert to their original unmodified appearance instead of retaining the changes you made in Archicad.
Solution
This occurs because the Store as original Blocks option in the DWG Translator is enabled during the export process. When this option is checked, the translator preserves the original block definitions from Archicad files. This means that modified blocks are stored in their original state and exported without alteration. This behavior applies to any modifications you have made to those blocks within Archicad, causing them to revert to their original appearance upon export.
Disable the Store as Original Blocks option during export
- Open the file you wish to export to DWG format.
- Go to File > Save as and select DWG or DXF as the file type.
- Click the Settings button next to the Translator field to open the DXF-DWG Translation Setup dialog.
- Navigate to the Custom Functions > Save Extras section in the translator settings panel.
- Locate the Store original Blocks checkbox under the DWG-PLN-DWG Roundtrip Support
- Uncheck the Store original Blocks checkbox to disable this function.
- Click OK to apply the changes.
- Click Save to export the file. Your modified blocks will now be exported in their modified state.
Understanding the Store as original Blocks function: This feature is beneficial when performing collaborative workflows where multiple team members work on the same DWG file in AutoCAD and then merge changes back into Archicad. It preserves the integrity of the original block structure, making round-trip workflows more efficient. However, if you have intentionally modified blocks or objects in Archicad and want to export those changes, you must disable this option.
Tip: If you frequently work with modified blocks, consider creating a custom DWG Translator with the Store as original Blocks option disabled. This allows you to save your preferred export settings and reuse them for multiple export operations without having to reconfigure the settings each time.
For detailed information on DXF-DWG Translator settings, refer to the DXF/DWG Translation Setup.