How to Flatten a 3d Autocad Drawing

Issue:

An AutoCAD drawing or some objects within it need to be flattened because one or more of the following is not working correctly:

• Selecting objects.
• Using OSNAPs (the marker jumps to the wrong place).
• Using commands such as TRIM, EXTEND, HATCH, FILLET, JOIN.
• Measurements or dimensioning for distance and angles.

Causes:

Objects are at a z value other than 0.

Solution:

To flatten a drawing automatically in AutoCAD:

Use the FLATTEN command to change the Z values of all lines, arcs, and polylines to 0.

1. Turn off or freeze any hatch layers with hatch patterns so they are not included in the selection.
2. Type FLATTEN at the command line.
3. Select all objects and press the Enter key.
4. Type N for No when prompted to remove hidden lines.

Notes:

• FLATTEN requires Express Tools to be loaded.
• Although it is possible to select and flatten everything in a drawing all at once, it might be necessary to use the QSELECT command to select each group of object types and then run the FLATTEN command on them.

For 3D objects, use the FLATSHOT or SOLPROF command to create 2D views.

• Replace the Z value For 3D objects in layout viewports.

  1. EnterOPTIONS in the command line.

  2. On the Drafting tab > Object snap options, check Replace Z value with current elevation.

To flatten a drawing manually or in AutoCAD LT:

1. Open the Properties Palette in AutoCAD.
2. Use Quick Select or theQSELECT command to select objects by type (see Use Quick Select to select objects in your AutoCAD drawing).
3. In the Properties Palette, find the values for Start Z, End Z and Center Z (for certain shapes), change to any whole number other than0 (Zero) for each.
4. Do the same except change the value of each to 0 (Zero). (This fixes any values that are more than 8 decimal places and not visible in the Properties Palette).
   Note: To use this method with certain objects such as blocks and groups, they must first be exploded.

Alternative to change the Z value of objects to zero:

Use the CHANGE command:

1. Type in theCHANGE command.
2. Type ALL to select all objects and then Enter.
3. Type P for Properties.
4. Type E for Elevation.
5. Type 0 and then a final Enter to end the command.

Note: This will not work on complex objects such as 3D objects.

To flatten a drawing using LISPs, macros, and scripts:

One or both of the following LISP routines, pasted into the command line in AutoCAD, will flatten a drawing.

• This command changes the elevation of all objects to zero:

            (command "_change""_all""""p""e""0""")          

• This command moves objects very high and then back down to zero:

            (command "_move""_all""""""0,0,1e99""_move""_all""""""0,0,-1e99")          

Macros may be assigned to CUI buttons AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

• To flatten selected objects:

            ^C^C_UCS;;_select;\_move;_p;;0,0,1e99;;_move;_p;;0,0,-1e99;;          

• To flatten the entire drawing:

            ^C^C_UCS;;_move;_all;;0,0,1e99;;_move;_all;;0,0,-1e99;;          

The ZIP file attached to this article is a script file that can be run in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. It will remove the elevation of all objects in the drawing.

How to use the SCRIPT (Command)

1. Launch AutoCAD LT
2. Open any working drawing
3. At the command prompt type Script
4. In the 'Select script file' dialog browse to and select the saved script file
5. Select 'Open'
6. The script will run through the commands.
7. Save the drawing.

To flatten a drawing via PDF or DXB export:

Do the following:

1. Plot a PDF or DXB file.
2. Import this file into a new or existing drawing with PDFIMPORT. The geometry will be flattened.

Notes:

• To create a DXB file, a DXB PC3 printer must first be created using the Add-A-Plotter Wizard. Enter the PLOTTERMANAGER command to open the folder that contains the wizard.
• AutoCAD 2017 and above have the PDFIMPORT command.
• The DXB plotter converts all color data to black and white and places all drawing geometry on layer 0.
• A PDF will retain color and layers as long as a color plot style is selected and the PDF layers options is selected when creating the PDF.

If objects are far from the origin (0,0,0), move objects closer to the origin.

Products:

AutoCAD for Mac; AutoCAD LT for Mac; AutoCAD; AutoCAD LT;

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Source: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/how-to-flatten-a-drawing-in-autocad.html

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