DXF Import Troubleshooting
This page explains the diagnostic messages that may appear when importing a DXF file into AdSec and how to resolve them.
How DXF import works
During import, AdSec interprets the DXF file as follows:
| Layer | Purpose |
|---|---|
| OUTER | Defines the outer perimeter of the component. Exactly one closed LWPOLYLINE is required. |
| IGNORE | Geometry on this layer is ignored. |
Only the following DXF entity is currently supported:
LWPOLYLINE
All other entity types will be ignored.
DXF import requirements
AdSec supports DXF files that meet the following requirements:
- ASCII DXF files only.
- DXF R15 (2000) or newer.
- Exactly one outer boundary defined by a closed
LWPOLYLINE. - Holes defined by closed
LWPOLYLINEentities. - Layers are correctly named:
OUTERIGNORE
- All geometry must lie in the XY plane (
Z = 0).
Understanding diagnostic messages
DXF import diagnostics are grouped into three severity levels:
| Severity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ERROR | The DXF file contains an issue that prevents AdSec from correctly importing the section |
| WARNING | The import completed, but AdSec detected something that may require your attention |
| INFO | Additional information about how the DXF file was interpreted during import |
Diagnostic references
If your import fails, locate the diagnostic shown in AdSec and use the table below to understand what it means and how to resolve it.
Note The first release of DXF import is intended for importing the perimeter geometry of an individual component. Additional DXF entities may be recognised by the importer, but workflows beyond perimeter import are not currently documented or officially supported.
| Group | Severity | Message | What this means | How to fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITS | Warning | DXF units are missing or unitless | The file does not specify its units, so AdSec assumed the geometry is defined in millimetres. | Verify the drawing units in your CAD software and export the DXF again with the correct units defined. |
| UNITS | Warning | DXF $INSUNITS unit code is not recognised | The DXF contains a unit definition that AdSec does not recognise. | Verify the drawing units in your CAD software and save the DXF using a supported unit definition. |
| UNITS | Warning | Failed to parse $INSUNITS value '<value>' | The DXF unit definition is invalid or corrupted. | Open the file in your CAD software, correct the unit settings and export a new DXF. |
| UNITS | Info | DXF units are <unit_name>. Geometry was converted to millimetres during import. | The file units were recognised and automatically converted to millimetres. | No action required. |
| FILE OPENING | Error | File not found: <file_path> | The selected file could not be located. | Verify that the file still exists at the specified location and select it again. |
| FILE OPENING | Error | Cannot open file: <file_path> | AdSec could not access the selected file. | Ensure the file is not open in another application and that you have permission to access it. |
| ENTITY READER | Warning | Unsupported entity type '<entity.type>' ignored. | The DXF contains entities that are not supported by the importer. Those entities were skipped. | Replace unsupported entities with supported entities (LWPOLYLINE or CIRCLE) before exporting the DXF. |
| CIRCLE | Error | Could not parse <field> value '<value>' as a number. | A circle definition contains invalid numeric data. | Review the circle geometry in your CAD software and export a clean DXF file. |
| CIRCLE | Error | Missing mandatory group-code <group_code_id> | Required information is missing from a circle definition. | Recreate the affected circle in the CAD file and export the DXF again. |
| CIRCLE | Error | Circle has non-positive radius (<radius>). | A circle has a radius of zero or less and cannot be interpreted as valid geometry. | Correct the circle geometry in the CAD file so it has a positive radius. |
| CIRCLE | Error | Non-zero Z coordinate detected on circle center (|Z|={value}) | The circle centre is not located in the XY plane. | Ensure all geometry is in the XY plane (Z=0). |
| POLYLINE | Error | Group-code 10 (X) encountered twice without an intervening group-code 20 (Y). | The polyline definition contains invalid coordinate data. | Recreate the affected polyline in the CAD file and export a new DXF. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Group-code 20 (Y) encountered without a preceding group-code 10 (X). | The polyline definition contains invalid coordinate data. | Recreate the affected polyline in the CAD file and export a new DXF. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Group-code 30 (Z) encountered without a preceding group-code 10 (X). | The polyline definition contains invalid coordinate data. | Recreate the affected polyline in the CAD file and export a new DXF. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Could not parse <field> value '<value>' as a number. | One or more polyline coordinates are invalid. | Review and repair the polyline geometry in the CAD file before exporting. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Bulge value detected (bulge=<value>). Arcs are not supported in v1. | The section profile contains curved segments. DXF import currently supports straight segments only. | Convert arcs to straight line segments in your CAD software and export the DXF again. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Could not parse flags (group-code 70) value '<value>' as an integer. | The polyline definition contains invalid or corrupted flag data. | Recreate the affected polyline and export a fresh DXF file. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Polyline has fewer than 2 vertices. | The polyline definition does not contain enough vertices to define a valid segment. | Ensure the polyline contains at least two vertex coordinate pairs. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Polyline has fewer than 3 vertices ({value} found). | The polyline does not contain enough vertices to define a valid polygon. | Ensure the polyline defines a valid polygon with at least 3 vertices. |
| POLYLINE | Error | Polyline is not closed (closed flag not set and first/last vertices differ). | The polyline is open and cannot be interpreted as a closed boundary. | Close the polyline in your CAD application or set the closed flag. |
| VALIDATOR | Error | No OUTER boundary polygon found. | AdSec cannot identify the perimeter of the section. | Create a single closed LWPOLYLINE on the OUTER layer and export the DXF again. |
| VALIDATOR | Error | Non-zero Z coordinate detected (max |Z|=<value>). | Some geometry is not located in the XY plane. | Move all section geometry onto the XY plane (Z = 0) before exporting. |
| VALIDATOR | Error | Hole polygon has one or more vertices outside the OUTER boundary. | A hole extends beyond the section perimeter. | Modify the hole geometry so it is fully contained within the outer boundary. |
| VALIDATOR | Error | Circular hole is not inside the OUTER boundary. | A circular void extends beyond the section perimeter. | Move or resize the circular void so it is fully contained within the outer boundary. |
| VALIDATOR | Error | Rebar circle is not inside the OUTER boundary. | One or more reinforcement bars are located outside the section perimeter. | Move the reinforcement bars so they are fully contained within the outer boundary. |
| SECTION BUILDER | Error | No OUTER boundary polygon found. | A valid section cannot be created because no perimeter has been identified. | Create a single closed LWPOLYLINE on the OUTER layer and export the DXF again. |
| SECTION BUILDER | Error | Multiple OUTER boundary polygons found (<count>). | More than one section perimeter was found. AdSec requires exactly one. | Remove the extra boundary definitions so only one closed LWPOLYLINE remains on the OUTER layer. |
| LAYER CLASSIFICATION | Warning | Entity on unknown layer '<layer>'. Skipping. | Geometry was found on a layer that AdSec does not recognise. | Move the geometry onto one of the supported layers: OUTER, HOLES, REBAR or IGNORE. |
| LAYER CLASSIFICATION | Warning | LWPOLYLINE on REBAR layer is unexpected. REBAR should use CIRCLE entities. | Reinforcement bars have been defined using polylines instead of circles. | Replace the reinforcement geometry with CIRCLE entities on the REBAR layer. |
| LAYER CLASSIFICATION | Warning | CIRCLE on layer "0" is not supported. OUTER should use LWPOLYLINE. | A circle entity was found on layer "0" where the section perimeter should be defined using a polyline. | Use a LWPOLYLINE to define the outer boundary. |
| LAYER CLASSIFICATION | Warning | CIRCLE on layer "OUTER" is not supported. OUTER should use LWPOLYLINE. | A circle entity was found on the OUTER layer where the section perimeter should be defined using a polyline. | Use a LWPOLYLINE to define the outer boundary. |
Still having problems?
If the import continues to fail after addressing the reported diagnostics:
- Open the DXF file in your CAD application and review the layer assignments.
- Confirm the section contains one valid outer boundary.
- Re-save the file as an ASCII DXF using a supported DXF version.
- Remove unsupported entities and convert arcs to straight line segments.