Autodesk AutoCAD 2014

March 2013

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Contents

Chapter 1

DXF Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
About the DXF Format (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . .
About DXF Formatting Conventions . . . . . . . .
About Object and Entity Codes (DXF) . . . . . . .
Group Code Value Types Reference (DXF) . . . . .
DXF Group Codes in Numerical Order Reference .

Chapter 2

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.1
.1
.2
.2
.5

HEADER Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
About the DXF HEADER Section . . . . . . . . .
HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . .
Revised VPORT Header Variables (DXF) . . . . .
Special Handling of Date/Time Variables (DXF) .

Chapter 3

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. 32
. 33

CLASSES Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
About the DXF CLASSES Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
CLASSES Section Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Default Class Values (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 4

TABLES Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
About the DXF TABLES Section (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
About Symbol Table Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Common Symbol Table Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

iii

Common Group Codes

APPID (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
BLOCK_RECORD (DXF) . . .
DIMSTYLE (DXF) . . . . . .
LAYER (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
LTYPE (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
STYLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
UCS (DXF) . . . . . . . . . .
VIEW (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
VPORT (DXF) . . . . . . . .

Chapter 5

for Symbol Table Entries (DXF) .

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. 51
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. 55
. 56
. 60

BLOCKS Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
About the DXF BLOCKS Section . . . . . . .
About BLOCKS Section Group Codes (DXF) .
BLOCK (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ENDBLK (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 6

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. 65
. 65
. 66
. 68

ENTITIES Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
About the DXF ENTITIES Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Common Group Codes for Entities (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
3DFACE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
3DSOLID (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
ACAD_PROXY_ENTITY (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
ARC (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
ATTDEF (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
ATTRIB (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
BODY (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
CIRCLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
DIMENSION (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Common Dimension Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Aligned Dimension Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Angular Dimension Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Linear and Rotated Dimension Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . 93
Ordinate Dimension Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Radial and Diameter Dimension Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . 95
Dimension Style Overrides (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
ELLIPSE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
HATCH (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Boundary Path Data (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Pattern Data (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
HELIX (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
IMAGE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
INSERT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
LEADER (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
LIGHT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

iv | Contents

LINE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LWPOLYLINE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MESH (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MLINE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MLEADER (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Common MLeader Group Codes (DXF) . . .
MLeader Context Data Group Codes (DXF) .
MLeader Leader Node Group Codes (DXF) .
MLeader Leader Line Group Codes (DXF) . .
MLEADERSTYLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MTEXT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OLEFRAME (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OLE2FRAME (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
POINT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
POLYLINE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Polyface Meshes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . .
RAY (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
REGION (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SEQEND (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SHAPE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SOLID (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SPLINE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUN (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SURFACE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extruded Surface (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . .
Lofted Surface (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revolved Surface (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . .
Swept Surface (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TEXT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TOLERANCE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TRACE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNDERLAY (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VERTEX (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VIEWPORT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WIPEOUT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
XLINE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 7

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. 113
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. 127
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. 134
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. 138
. 139
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. 161
. 163
. 164
. 165
. 166
. 168
. 174
. 176

OBJECTS Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

About the DXF OBJECTS Section . . . . . .
About OBJECT Section Group Codes (DXF) .
About Object Ownership (DXF) . . . . . . .
Common Group Codes for Objects (DXF) . .
ACAD_PROXY_OBJECT (DXF) . . . . . . . .
ACDBDICTIONARYWDFLT (DXF) . . . . . .

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. 177
. 177
. 177
. 178
. 179
. 180

Contents | v

ACDBPLACEHOLDER (DXF) . . . . . . . . . .
DATATABLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DICTIONARY (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DICTIONARYVAR (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . .
DIMASSOC (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FIELD (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GEODATA (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GROUP (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IDBUFFER (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IMAGEDEF (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IMAGEDEF_REACTOR (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
LAYER_FILTER (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LAYER_INDEX (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LAYOUT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LIGHTLIST (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MATERIAL (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MLINESTYLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OBJECT_PTR (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PLOTSETTINGS (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RASTERVARIABLES (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . .
About RENDER (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS (DXF) .
RENDERENVIRONMENT (DXF) . . . . .
RENDERGLOBAL (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
About SECTION (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section Manager (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
Section Settings (DXF) . . . . . . . . . .
Section Type Settings (DXF) . . . . . . .
Section Geometry Settings (DXF) . . . .
SORTENTSTABLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . .
SPATIAL_FILTER (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SPATIAL_INDEX (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SUNSTUDY (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLESTYLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNDERLAYDEFINITION (DXF) . . . . . . . .
VBA_PROJECT (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VISUALSTYLE (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WIPEOUTVARIABLES (DXF) . . . . . . . . . .
XRECORD (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 8

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THUMBNAILIMAGE Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241

About the DXF THUMBNAILIMAGE Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
THUMBNAILIMAGE Section Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . 241

Chapter 9

vi | Contents

Drawing Interchange File Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

About Drawing Interchange File Formats (DXF) . . . . .

About ASCII DXF Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About the General DXF File Structure (DXF) . . . .
About Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF) . . . . . . .
About ASCII Control Characters in DXF Files .
Header Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF) . . . . . .
Class Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF) . . . . . . .
Symbol Table Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF) . . .
Symbol Table Example (DXF) . . . . . . . . .
Blocks Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF) . . . . . . .
Entity Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF) . . . . . . .
Object Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF) . . . . . .
About Writing a DXF Interface Program . . . . . .
Reading a DXF File (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . .
Writing a DXF File (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . .
About Binary DXF Files (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Slide Files (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Old Slide Header (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About Slide Library Files (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 10

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Advanced DXF Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

About Advanced DXF Issues (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About Database Objects (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Persistent Inter-Object Reference Handles (DXF) . . . . . .
Pointer and Ownership References (DXF) . . . . . . .
About Hard and Soft References (DXF) . . . . . . . .
About Arbitrary Handles (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . .
About 1005 Group Codes (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subclass Markers (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About Extension Dictionary and Persistent Reactors (DXF) .
About Extended Data (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Object Coordinate Systems (OCS) in DXF . . . . . . . . . .
About Arbitrary Axis Algorithm (DXF) . . . . . . . . . . .

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Contents | vii

viii

DXF Format

About the DXF Format (DXF)

The DXF format is a tagged data representation of all the information contained

in an AutoCAD drawing file. Tagged data means that each data element in the
file is preceded by an integer number that is called a group code. A group code's
value indicates what type of data element follows. This value also indicates the
meaning of a data element for a given object (or record) type. Virtually all
user-specified information in a drawing file can be represented in DXF format.

About DXF Formatting Conventions

Each group code listed in the DXF reference topics is presented by a numeric
group code value and a description. All group codes can apply to DXF files,
applications (AutoLISP or ObjectARX), or both. When the description of a code
is different for applications and DXF files (or applies to only one or the other),
the description is preceded by the following indicators:
APP. Application-specific description.

DXF. DXF file-specific description.

If the description is common to both DXF files and applications, no indicator

is provided.
Optional codes are indicated as optional in the description.

About Object and Entity Codes (DXF)

In the DXF format, the definition of objects differs from entities: objects
have no graphical representation and entities do. For example, dictionaries
are objects, and not entities. Entities are also referred to as graphical objects
while objects are referred to as nongraphical objects.
Entities appear in both the BLOCK and ENTITIES sections of the DXF file. The
use of group codes in the two sections is identical.
Some group codes that define an entity always appear; others are optional
and appear only if their values differ from the defaults.
Do not write programs that rely on the order given here. The end of an entity
is indicated by the next 0 group, which begins the next entity or indicates the
end of the section.

NOTE Accommodating DXF files from future releases of AutoCAD will be easier
if you write your DXF processing program in a table-driven way, ignore undefined
group codes, and make no assumptions about the order of group codes in an
entity. With each new AutoCAD release, new group codes will be added to entities
to accommodate additional features.

Group Code Value Types Reference (DXF)

Group codes define the type of the associated value as an integer, a
floating-point number, or a string, according to the following table of group
code ranges.
Group code value types
Code range

Group value type

0-9

String (with the introduction of extended symbol names in AutoCAD 2000, the 255-character
limit has been increased to 2049 single-byte characters not including the newline at the end of
the line)

10-39

Double precision 3D point value

40-59

Double-precision floating-point value

2 | Chapter 1 DXF Format

Group code value types

Code range

Group value type

60-79

16-bit integer value

90-99

32-bit integer value

100

String (255-character maximum; less for Unicode strings)

102

String (255-character maximum; less for Unicode strings)

105

String representing hexadecimal (hex) handle value

110-119

Double precision floating-point value

120-129

Double precision floating-point value

130-139

Double precision floating-point value

140-149

Double precision scalar floating-point value

160-169

64-bit integer value

170-179

16-bit integer value

210-239

Double-precision floating-point value

270-279

16-bit integer value

280-289

16-bit integer value

290-299

Boolean flag value

300-309

Arbitrary text string

310-319

String representing hex value of binary chunk

Group Code Value Types Reference (DXF) | 3

Group code value types

Code range

Group value type

320-329

String representing hex handle value

330-369

String representing hex object IDs

370-379

16-bit integer value

380-389

16-bit integer value

390-399

String representing hex handle value

400-409

16-bit integer value

410-419

String

420-429

32-bit integer value

430-439

String

440-449

32-bit integer value

450-459

Long

460-469

Double-precision floating-point value

470-479

String

480-481

String representing hex handle value

999

Comment (string)

1000-1009

String (same limits as indicated with 0-9 code range)

1010-1059

Double-precision floating-point value

4 | Chapter 1 DXF Format

Group code value types

Code range

Group value type

1060-1070

16-bit integer value

1071

32-bit integer value

DXF Group Codes in Numerical Order Reference

The following table gives the group code or group code range accompanied
by an explanation of the group code value. In the table, fixed indicates that
the group code always has the same purpose. If a group code isn't fixed, its
purpose depends on the context.
Group codes by number
Group code

Description

-5

APP: persistent reactor chain

-4

APP: conditional operator (used only with ssget)

-3

APP: extended data (XDATA) sentinel (fixed)

-2

APP: entity name reference (fixed)

-1

APP: entity name. The name changes each time a drawing is opened. It is never saved (fixed)

Text string indicating the entity type (fixed)

Primary text value for an entity

Name (attribute tag, block name, and so on)

3-4

Other text or name values

DXF Group Codes in Numerical Order Reference | 5

Group codes by number

Group code

Description

Entity handle; text string of up to 16 hexadecimal digits (fixed)

Linetype name (fixed)

Text style name (fixed)

Layer name (fixed)

DXF: variable name identifier (used only in HEADER section of the DXF file)

10

Primary point; this is the start point of a line or text entity, center of a circle, and so on
DXF: X value of the primary point (followed by Y and Z value codes 20 and 30)
APP: 3D point (list of three reals)

11-18

Other points
DXF: X value of other points (followed by Y value codes 21-28 and Z value codes 31-38)
APP: 3D point (list of three reals)

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of the primary point

21-28, 31-37

DXF: Y and Z values of other points

38

DXF: entity's elevation if nonzero

39

Entity's thickness if nonzero (fixed)

40-48

Double-precision floating-point values (text height, scale factors, and so on)

48

Linetype scale; double precision floating point scalar value; default value is defined for all entity
types

49

Repeated double-precision floating-point value. Multiple 49 groups may appear in one entity
for variable-length tables (such as the dash lengths in the LTYPE table). A 7x group always appears
before the first 49 group to specify the table length

6 | Chapter 1 DXF Format

Group codes by number

Group code

Description

50-58

Angles (output in degrees to DXF files and radians through AutoLISP and ObjectARX applications)

60

Entity visibility; integer value; absence or 0 indicates visibility; 1 indicates invisibility

62

Color number (fixed)

66

Entities follow flag (fixed)

67

Spacethat is, model or paper space (fixed)

68

APP: identifies whether viewport is on but fully off screen; is not active or is off

69

APP: viewport identification number

70-78

Integer values, such as repeat counts, flag bits, or modes

90-99

32-bit integer values

100

Subclass data marker (with derived class name as a string). Required for all objects and entity
classes that are derived from another concrete class. The subclass data marker segregates data
defined by different classes in the inheritance chain for the same object.
This is in addition to the requirement for DXF names for each distinct concrete class derived
from ObjectARX (see Subclass Markers)

102

Control string, followed by {<arbitrary name> or }. Similar to the xdata 1002 group code,
except that when the string begins with {, it can be followed by an arbitrary string whose interpretation is up to the application. The only other control string allowed is } as a group
terminator. AutoCAD does not interpret these strings except during drawing audit operations.
They are for application use

105

Object handle for DIMVAR symbol table entry

110

UCS origin (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

DXF Group Codes in Numerical Order Reference | 7

Group codes by number

Group code

Description

111

UCS X-axis (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

112

UCS Y-axis (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

120-122

DXF: Y value of UCS origin, UCS X-axis, and UCS Y-axis

130-132

DXF: Z value of UCS origin, UCS X-axis, and UCS Y-axis

140-149

Double-precision floating-point values (points, elevation, and DIMSTYLE settings, for example)

170-179

16-bit integer values, such as flag bits representing DIMSTYLE settings

210

Extrusion direction (fixed)

DXF: X value of extrusion direction
APP: 3D extrusion direction vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of the extrusion direction

270-279

16-bit integer values

280-289

16-bit integer value

290-299

Boolean flag value

300-309

Arbitrary text strings

310-319

Arbitrary binary chunks with same representation and limits as 1004 group codes: hexadecimal
strings of up to 254 characters represent data chunks of up to 127 bytes

320-329

Arbitrary object handles; handle values that are taken as is. They are not translated during
INSERT and XREF operations

8 | Chapter 1 DXF Format

Group codes by number

Group code

Description

330-339

Soft-pointer handle; arbitrary soft pointers to other objects within same DXF file or drawing.
Translated during INSERT and XREF operations

340-349

Hard-pointer handle; arbitrary hard pointers to other objects within same DXF file or drawing.
Translated during INSERT and XREF operations

350-359

Soft-owner handle; arbitrary soft ownership links to other objects within same DXF file or
drawing. Translated during INSERT and XREF operations

360-369

Hard-owner handle; arbitrary hard ownership links to other objects within same DXF file or
drawing. Translated during INSERT and XREF operations

370-379

Lineweight enum value (AcDb::LineWeight). Stored and moved around as a 16-bit integer.
Custom non-entity objects may use the full range, but entity classes only use 371-379 DXF
group codes in their representation, because AutoCAD and AutoLISP both always assume a 370
group code is the entity's lineweight. This allows 370 to behave like other common entity
fields

380-389

PlotStyleName type enum (AcDb::PlotStyleNameType). Stored and moved around as a 16-bit

integer. Custom non-entity objects may use the full range, but entity classes only use 381-389
DXF group codes in their representation, for the same reason as the Lineweight range above

390-399

String representing handle value of the PlotStyleName object, basically a hard pointer, but has
a different range to make backward compatibility easier to deal with. Stored and moved around
as an object ID (a handle in DXF files) and a special type in AutoLISP. Custom non-entity objects
may use the full range, but entity classes only use 391-399 DXF group codes in their representation, for the same reason as the lineweight range above

400-409

16-bit integers

410-419

String

420-427

32-bit integer value. When used with True Color; a 32-bit integer representing a 24-bit color
value. The high-order byte (8 bits) is 0, the low-order byte an unsigned char holding the Blue
value (0-255), then the Green value, and the next-to-high order byte is the Red Value. Converting

DXF Group Codes in Numerical Order Reference | 9

Group codes by number

Group code

Description
this integer value to hexadecimal yields the following bit mask: 0x00RRGGBB. For example, a
true color with Red==200, Green==100 and Blue==50 is 0x00C86432, and in DXF, in decimal,
13132850

430-437

String; when used for True Color, a string representing the name of the color

440-447

32-bit integer value. When used for True Color, the transparency value

450-459

Long

460-469

Double-precision floating-point value

470-479

String

480-481

Hard-pointer handle; arbitrary hard pointers to other objects within same DXF file or drawing.
Translated during INSERT and XREF operations

999

DXF: The 999 group code indicates that the line following it is a comment string. SAVEAS does
not include such groups in a DXF output file, but OPEN honors them and ignores the comments.
You can use the 999 group to include comments in a DXF file that you have edited

1000

ASCII string (up to 255 bytes long) in extended data

1001

Registered application name (ASCII string up to 31 bytes long) for extended data

1002

Extended data control string ({ or })

1003

Extended data layer name

1004

Chunk of bytes (up to 127 bytes long) in extended data

1005

Entity handle in extended data; text string of up to 16 hexadecimal digits

1010

A point in extended data

10 | Chapter 1 DXF Format

Group codes by number

Group code

Description
DXF: X value (followed by 1020 and 1030 groups)
APP: 3D point

1020, 1030

DXF: Y and Z values of a point

1011

A 3D world space position in extended data

DXF: X value (followed by 1021 and 1031 groups)
APP: 3D point

1021, 1031

DXF: Y and Z values of a world space position

1012

A 3D world space displacement in extended data

DXF: X value (followed by 1022 and 1032 groups)
APP: 3D vector

1022, 1032

DXF: Y and Z values of a world space displacement

1013

A 3D world space direction in extended data

DXF: X value (followed by 1022 and 1032 groups)
APP: 3D vector

1023, 1033

DXF: Y and Z values of a world space direction

1040

Extended data double-precision floating-point value

1041

Extended data distance value

1042

Extended data scale factor

1070

Extended data 16-bit signed integer

1071

Extended data 32-bit signed long

DXF Group Codes in Numerical Order Reference | 11

12

HEADER Section

About the DXF HEADER Section

The HEADER section of a DXF file contains the settings of variables associated
with the drawing. Each variable is specified by a 9 group code giving the
variable's name, followed by groups that supply the variable's value. Only the
variables that are saved in the drawing file are listed.

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF)

The following table lists the variables that are represented in the HEADER section
of a DXF file.
DXF header variables
Variable

Group code Description

$ACADMAINTVER

70

Maintenance version number (should be ignored)

$ACADVER

The AutoCAD drawing database version number:

AC1006 = R10
AC1009 = R11 and R12
AC1012 = R13
AC1014 = R14
AC1015 = AutoCAD 2000
AC1018 = AutoCAD 2004
AC1021 = AutoCAD 2007
AC1024 = AutoCAD 2010
AC1027 = AutoCAD 2013

13

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$ANGBASE

50

Angle 0 direction

$ANGDIR

70

1 = Clockwise angles
0 = Counterclockwise angles

$ATTMODE

70

Attribute visibility:
0 = None
1 = Normal
2 = All

$AUNITS

70

Units format for angles

$AUPREC

70

Units precision for angles

$CECOLOR

62

Current entity color number:

0 = BYBLOCK; 256 = BYLAYER

$CELTSCALE

40

Current entity linetype scale

$CELTYPE

Entity linetype name, or BYBLOCK or BYLAYER

$CELWEIGHT

370

Lineweight of new objects

$CEPSNID

390

Plotstyle handle of new objects; if CEPSNTYPE is 3, then this

value indicates the handle

$CEPSNTYPE

380

Plot style type of new objects:

0 = Plot style by layer
1 = Plot style by block
2 = Plot style by dictionary default
3 = Plot style by object ID/handle

$CHAMFERA

40

First chamfer distance

14 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$CHAMFERB

40

Second chamfer distance

$CHAMFERC

40

Chamfer length

$CHAMFERD

40

Chamfer angle

$CLAYER

Current layer name

$CMLJUST

70

Current multiline justification:

0 = Top; 1 = Middle; 2 = Bottom

$CMLSCALE

40

Current multiline scale

$CMLSTYLE

Current multiline style name

$CSHADOW

280

Shadow mode for a 3D object:

0 = Casts and receives shadows
1 = Casts shadows
2 = Receives shadows
3 = Ignores shadows

$DIMADEC

70

Number of precision places displayed in angular dimensions

$DIMALT

70

Alternate unit dimensioning performed if nonzero

$DIMALTD

70

Alternate unit decimal places

$DIMALTF

40

Alternate unit scale factor

$DIMALTRND

40

Determines rounding of alternate units

$DIMALTTD

70

Number of decimal places for tolerance values of an alternate units dimension

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 15

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$DIMALTTZ

70

Controls suppression of zeros for alternate tolerance values:

0 = Suppresses zero feet and precisely zero inches
1 = Includes zero feet and precisely zero inches
2 = Includes zero feet and suppresses zero inches
3 = Includes zero inches and suppresses zero feet

$DIMALTU

70

Units format for alternate units of all dimension style family

members except angular:
1 = Scientific
2 = Decimal
3 = Engineering
4 = Architectural (stacked)
5 = Fractional (stacked)
6 = Architectural
7 = Fractional

$DIMALTZ

70

Controls suppression of zeros for alternate unit dimension

values:
0 = Suppresses zero feet and precisely zero inches
1 = Includes zero feet and precisely zero inches
2 = Includes zero feet and suppresses zero inches
3 = Includes zero inches and suppresses zero feet

$DIMAPOST

Alternate dimensioning suffix

$DIMASO

70

1 = Create associative dimensioning

0 = Draw individual entities

$DIMASSOC

280

Controls the associativity of dimension objects

0 = Creates exploded dimensions; there is no association
between elements of the dimension, and the lines, arcs,
arrowheads, and text of a dimension are drawn as separate
objects
1 = Creates non-associative dimension objects; the elements
of the dimension are formed into a single object, and if the
definition point on the object moves, then the dimension
value is updated

16 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

2 = Creates associative dimension objects; the elements of
the dimension are formed into a single object and one or
more definition points of the dimension are coupled with
association points on geometric objects

$DIMASZ

40

Dimensioning arrow size

$DIMATFIT

70

Controls dimension text and arrow placement when space

is not sufficient to place both within the extension lines:
0 = Places both text and arrows outside extension lines
1 = Moves arrows first, then text
2 = Moves text first, then arrows
3 = Moves either text or arrows, whichever fits best
AutoCAD adds a leader to moved dimension text when
DIMTMOVE is set to 1

$DIMAUNIT

70

Angle format for angular dimensions:

0 = Decimal degrees
1 = Degrees/minutes/seconds;
2 = Gradians
3 = Radians
4 = Surveyor's units

$DIMAZIN

70

Controls suppression of zeros for angular dimensions:

0 = Displays all leading and trailing zeros
1 = Suppresses leading zeros in decimal dimensions
2 = Suppresses trailing zeros in decimal dimensions
3 = Suppresses leading and trailing zeros

$DIMBLK

Arrow block name

$DIMBLK1

First arrow block name

$DIMBLK2

Second arrow block name

$DIMCEN

40

Size of center mark/lines

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 17

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$DIMCLRD

70

Dimension line color:

range is 0 = BYBLOCK; 256 = BYLAYER

$DIMCLRE

70

Dimension extension line color:

range is 0 = BYBLOCK; 256 = BYLAYER

$DIMCLRT

70

Dimension text color:

range is 0 = BYBLOCK; 256 = BYLAYER

$DIMDEC

70

Number of decimal places for the tolerance values of a

primary units dimension

$DIMDLE

40

Dimension line extension

$DIMDLI

40

Dimension line increment

$DIMDSEP

70

Single-character decimal separator used when creating dimensions whose unit format is decimal

$DIMEXE

40

Extension line extension

$DIMEXO

40

Extension line offset

$DIMFAC

40

Scale factor used to calculate the height of text for dimension fractions and tolerances. AutoCAD multiplies DIMTXT
by DIMTFAC to set the fractional or tolerance text height

$DIMGAP

40

Dimension line gap

$DIMJUST

70

Horizontal dimension text position:

0 = Above dimension line and center-justified between extension lines
1 = Above dimension line and next to first extension line
2 = Above dimension line and next to second extension line
3 = Above and center-justified to first extension line

18 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

4 = Above and center-justified to second extension line

$DIMLDRBLK

Arrow block name for leaders

$DIMLFAC

40

Linear measurements scale factor

$DIMLIM

70

Dimension limits generated if nonzero

$DIMLUNIT

70

Sets units for all dimension types except Angular:

1 = Scientific; 2 = Decimal; 3 = Engineering;
4 = Architectural; 5 = Fractional; 6 = Windows desktop

$DIMLWD

70

Dimension line lineweight:

-3 = Standard
-2 = ByLayer
-1 = ByBlock
0-211 = an integer representing 100th of mm

$DIMLWE

70

Extension line lineweight:

-3 = Standard
-2 = ByLayer
-1 = ByBlock
0-211 = an integer representing 100th of mm

$DIMPOST

General dimensioning suffix

$DIMRND

40

Rounding value for dimension distances

$DIMSAH

70

Use separate arrow blocks if nonzero

$DIMSCALE

40

Overall dimensioning scale factor

$DIMSD1

70

Suppression of first extension line:

0 = Not suppressed; 1 = Suppressed

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 19

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$DIMSD2

70

Suppression of second extension line:

0 = Not suppressed; 1 = Suppressed

$DIMSE1

70

First extension line suppressed if nonzero

$DIMSE2

70

Second extension line suppressed if nonzero

$DIMSHO

70

1 = Recompute dimensions while dragging

0 = Drag original image

$DIMSOXD

70

Suppress outside-extensions dimension lines if nonzero

$DIMSTYLE

Dimension style name

$DIMTAD

70

Text above dimension line if nonzero

$DIMTDEC

70

Number of decimal places to display the tolerance values

$DIMTFAC

40

Dimension tolerance display scale factor

$DIMTIH

70

Text inside horizontal if nonzero

$DIMTIX

70

Force text inside extensions if nonzero

$DIMTM

40

Minus tolerance

$DIMTMOVE

70

Dimension text movement rules:

0 = Moves the dimension line with dimension text
1 = Adds a leader when dimension text is moved
2 = Allows text to be moved freely without a leader

$DIMTOFL

70

If text is outside extensions, force line extensions between

extensions if nonzero

20 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$DIMTOH

70

Text outside horizontal if nonzero

$DIMTOL

70

Dimension tolerances generated if nonzero

$DIMTOLJ

70

Vertical justification for tolerance values:

0 = Top; 1 = Middle; 2 = Bottom

$DIMTP

40

Plus tolerance

$DIMTSZ

40

Dimensioning tick size:

0 = No ticks

$DIMTVP

40

Text vertical position

$DIMTXSTY

Dimension text style

$DIMTXT

40

Dimensioning text height

$DIMTZIN

70

Controls suppression of zeros for tolerance values:

0 = Suppresses zero feet and precisely zero inches
1 = Includes zero feet and precisely zero inches
2 = Includes zero feet and suppresses zero inches
3 = Includes zero inches and suppresses zero feet

$DIMUPT

70

Cursor functionality for user-positioned text:

0 = Controls only the dimension line location
1 = Controls the text position as well as the dimension line
location

$DIMZIN

70

Controls suppression of zeros for primary unit values:

0 = Suppresses zero feet and precisely zero inches
1 = Includes zero feet and precisely zero inches
2 = Includes zero feet and suppresses zero inches
3 = Includes zero inches and suppresses zero feet

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 21

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$DISPSILH

70

Controls the display of silhouette curves of body objects in

Wireframe mode:
0 = Off; 1 = On

$DRAGVS

349

Hard-pointer ID to visual style while creating 3D solid

primitives. The defualt value is NULL

$DWGCODEPAGE

Drawing code page; set to the system code page when a

new drawing is created, but not otherwise maintained by
AutoCAD

$ELEVATION

40

Current elevation set by ELEV command

$ENDCAPS

280

Lineweight endcaps setting for new objects:

0 = none; 1 = round; 2 = angle; 3 = square

$EXTMAX

10, 20, 30

X, Y, and Z drawing extents upper-right corner (in WCS)

$EXTMIN

10, 20, 30

X, Y, and Z drawing extents lower-left corner (in WCS)

$EXTNAMES

290

Controls symbol table naming:

0 = Release 14 compatibility. Limits names to 31 characters
in length. Names can include the letters A to Z, the numerals
0 to 9, and the special characters dollar sign ($), underscore
(_), and hyphen (-).
1 = AutoCAD 2000. Names can be up to 255 characters in
length, and can include the letters A to Z, the numerals 0
to 9, spaces, and any special characters not used for other
purposes by Microsoft Windows and AutoCAD

$FILLETRAD

40

Fillet radius

$FILLMODE

70

Fill mode on if nonzero

$FINGERPRINTGUID

Set at creation time, uniquely identifies a particular drawing

22 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$HALOGAP

280

Specifies a gap to be displayed where an object is hidden

by another object; the value is specified as a percent of one
unit and is independent of the zoom level. A haloed line is
shortened at the point where it is hidden when HIDE or the
Hidden option of SHADEMODE is used

$HANDSEED

Next available handle

$HIDETEXT

290

Specifies HIDETEXT system variable:

0 = HIDE ignores text objects when producing the hidden
view
1 = HIDE does not ignore text objects

$HYPERLINKBASE

Path for all relative hyperlinks in the drawing. If null, the

drawing path is used

$INDEXCTL

280

Controls whether layer and spatial indexes are created and

saved in drawing files:
0 = No indexes are created
1 = Layer index is created
2 = Spatial index is created
3 = Layer and spatial indexes are created

$INSBASE

10, 20, 30

Insertion base set by BASE command (in WCS)

$INSUNITS

70

Default drawing units for AutoCAD DesignCenter blocks:

0 = Unitless; 1 = Inches; 2 = Feet; 3 = Miles; 4 = Millimeters;
5 = Centimeters; 6 = Meters; 7 = Kilometers; 8 = Microinches;
9 = Mils; 10 = Yards; 11 = Angstroms; 12 = Nanometers;
13 = Microns; 14 = Decimeters; 15 = Decameters;
16 = Hectometers; 17 = Gigameters; 18 = Astronomical
units;
19 = Light years; 20 = Parsecs

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 23

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$INTERFERECOLOR

62

Represents the ACI color index of the "interference objects"

created during the interfere command.Default value is 1

$INTERFEREOBJVS

345

Hard-pointer ID to the visual style for interference objects.

Default visual style is Conceptual.

$INTERFEREVPVS

346

Hard-pointer ID to the visual style for the viewport during

interference checking. Default visual style is 3d Wireframe.

$INTERSECTIONCOLOR

70

Specifies the entity color of intersection polylines:

Values 1-255 designate an AutoCAD color index (ACI)
0 = Color BYBLOCK
256 = Color BYLAYER
257 = Color BYENTITY

$INTERSECTIONDISPLAY

290

Specifies the display of intersection polylines:

0 = Turns off the display of intersection polylines
1 = Turns on the display of intersection polylines

$JOINSTYLE

280

Lineweight joint setting for new objects:

0=none; 1= round; 2 = angle; 3 = flat

$LIMCHECK

70

Nonzero if limits checking is on

$LIMMAX

10, 20

XY drawing limits upper-right corner (in WCS)

$LIMMIN

10, 20

XY drawing limits lower-left corner (in WCS)

$LTSCALE

40

Global linetype scale

$LUNITS

70

Units format for coordinates and distances

$LUPREC

70

Units precision for coordinates and distances

24 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$LWDISPLAY

290

Controls the display of lineweights on the Model or Layout

tab:
0 = Lineweight is not displayed
1 = Lineweight is displayed

$MAXACTVP

70

Sets maximum number of viewports to be regenerated

$MEASUREMENT

70

Sets drawing units: 0 = English; 1 = Metric

$MENU

Name of menu file

$MIRRTEXT

70

Mirror text if nonzero

$OBSCOLOR

70

Specifies the color of obscured lines. An obscured line is a

hidden line made visible by changing its color and linetype
and is visible only when the HIDE or SHADEMODE command is used. The OBSCUREDCOLOR setting is visible only
if the OBSCUREDLTYPE is turned ON by setting it to a value
other than 0.
0 and 256 = Entity color
1-255 = An AutoCAD color index (ACI)

$OBSLTYPE

280

Specifies the linetype of obscured lines. Obscured linetypes

are independent of zoom level, unlike regular AutoCAD
linetypes. Value 0 turns off display of obscured lines and is
the default. Linetype values are defined as follows:
0 = Off
1 = Solid
2 = Dashed
3 = Dotted
4 = Short Dash
5 = Medium Dash
6 = Long Dash
7 = Double Short Dash
8 = Double Medium Dash
9 = Double Long Dash

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 25

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

10 = Medium Long Dash
11 = Sparse Dot

$ORTHOMODE

70

Ortho mode on if nonzero

$PDMODE

70

Point display mode

$PDSIZE

40

Point display size

$PELEVATION

40

Current paper space elevation

$PEXTMAX

10, 20, 30

Maximum X, Y, and Z extents for paper space

$PEXTMIN

10, 20, 30

Minimum X, Y, and Z extents for paper space

$PINSBASE

10, 20, 30

Paper space insertion base point

$PLIMCHECK

70

Limits checking in paper space when nonzero

$PLIMMAX

10, 20

Maximum X and Y limits in paper space

$PLIMMIN

10, 20

Minimum X and Y limits in paper space

$PLINEGEN

70

Governs the generation of linetype patterns around the

vertices of a 2D polyline:
1 = Linetype is generated in a continuous pattern around
vertices of the polyline
0 = Each segment of the polyline starts and ends with a
dash

$PLINEWID

40

Default polyline width

$PROJECTNAME

Assigns a project name to the current drawing. Used when

an external reference or image is not found on its original

26 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

path. The project name points to a section in the registry
that can contain one or more search paths for each project
name defined. Project names and their search directories
are created from the Files tab of the Options dialog box

$PROXYGRAPHICS

70

Controls the saving of proxy object images

$PSLTSCALE

70

Controls paper space linetype scaling:

1 = No special linetype scaling
0 = Viewport scaling governs linetype scaling

$PSTYLEMODE

290

Indicates whether the current drawing is in a Color-Dependent or Named Plot Style mode:
0 = Uses named plot style tables in the current drawing
1 = Uses color-dependent plot style tables in the current
drawing

$PSVPSCALE

40

View scale factor for new viewports:

0 = Scaled to fit
>0 = Scale factor (a positive real value)

$PUCSBASE

Name of the UCS that defines the origin and orientation of

orthographic UCS settings (paper space only)

$PUCSNAME

Current paper space UCS name

$PUCSORG

10, 20, 30

Current paper space UCS origin

$PUCSORGBACK

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

paper space UCS to BACK when PUCSBASE is set to WORLD

$PUCSORGBOTTOM

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

paper space UCS to BOTTOM when PUCSBASE is set to
WORLD

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 27

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$PUCSORGFRONT

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

paper space UCS to FRONT when PUCSBASE is set to
WORLD

$PUCSORGLEFT

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

paper space UCS to LEFT when PUCSBASE is set to WORLD

$PUCSORGRIGHT

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

paper space UCS to RIGHT when PUCSBASE is set to WORLD

$PUCSORGTOP

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

paper space UCS to TOP when PUCSBASE is set to WORLD

$PUCSORTHOREF

If paper space UCS is orthographic (PUCSORTHOVIEW not

equal to 0), this is the name of the UCS that the orthographic UCS is relative to. If blank, UCS is relative to WORLD

$PUCSORTHOVIEW

70

Orthographic view type of paper space UCS:

0 = UCS is not orthographic;
1 = Top; 2 = Bottom;
3 = Front; 4 = Back;
5 = Left; 6 = Right

$PUCSXDIR

10, 20, 30

Current paper space UCS X axis

$PUCSYDIR

10, 20, 30

Current paper space UCS Y axis

$QTEXTMODE

70

Quick Text mode on if nonzero

$REGENMODE

70

REGENAUTO mode on if nonzero

$SHADEDGE

70

0 = Faces shaded, edges not highlighted

1 = Faces shaded, edges highlighted in black
2 = Faces not filled, edges in entity color
3 = Faces in entity color, edges in black

28 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$SHADEDIF

70

Percent ambient/diffuse light; range 1-100; default 70

$SHADOWPLANELOCATION

40

Location of the ground shadow plane. This is a Z axis ordinate.

$SKETCHINC

40

Sketch record increment

$SKPOLY

70

0 = Sketch lines; 1 = Sketch polylines

$SORTENTS

280

Controls the object sorting methods; accessible from the

Options dialog box User Preferences tab. SORTENTS uses
the following bitcodes:
0 = Disables SORTENTS
1 = Sorts for object selection
2 = Sorts for object snap
4 = Sorts for redraws
8 = Sorts for MSLIDE command slide creation
16 = Sorts for REGEN commands
32 = Sorts for plotting
64 = Sorts for PostScript output

$SPLINESEGS

70

Number of line segments per spline patch

$SPLINETYPE

70

Spline curve type for PEDIT Spline

$SURFTAB1

70

Number of mesh tabulations in first direction

$SURFTAB2

70

Number of mesh tabulations in second direction

$SURFTYPE

70

Surface type for PEDIT Smooth

$SURFU

70

Surface density (for PEDIT Smooth) in M direction

$SURFV

70

Surface density (for PEDIT Smooth) in N direction

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 29

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$TDCREATE

40

Local date/time of drawing creation (see Special Handling

of Date/Time Variables)

$TDINDWG

40

Cumulative editing time for this drawing (see Special

Handling of Date/Time Variables)

$TDUCREATE

40

Universal date/time the drawing was created (see Special

Handling of Date/Time Variables)

$TDUPDATE

40

Local date/time of last drawing update (see Special Handling

of Date/Time Variables)

$TDUSRTIMER

40

User-elapsed timer

$TDUUPDATE

40

Universal date/time of the last update/save (see Special

Handling of Date/Time Variables)

$TEXTSIZE

40

Default text height

$TEXTSTYLE

Current text style name

$THICKNESS

40

Current thickness set by ELEV command

$TILEMODE

70

1 for previous release compatibility mode; 0 otherwise

$TRACEWID

40

Default trace width

$TREEDEPTH

70

Specifies the maximum depth of the spatial index

$UCSBASE

Name of the UCS that defines the origin and orientation of

orthographic UCS settings

$UCSNAME

Name of current UCS

30 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$UCSORG

10, 20, 30

Origin of current UCS (in WCS)

$UCSORGBACK

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

model space UCS to BACK when UCSBASE is set to WORLD

$UCSORGBOTTOM

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

model space UCS to BOTTOM when UCSBASE is set to
WORLD

$UCSORGFRONT

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

model space UCS to FRONT when UCSBASE is set to WORLD

$UCSORGLEFT

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

model space UCS to LEFT when UCSBASE is set to WORLD

$UCSORGRIGHT

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

model space UCS to RIGHT when UCSBASE is set to WORLD

$UCSORGTOP

10, 20, 30

Point which becomes the new UCS origin after changing

model space UCS to TOP when UCSBASE is set to WORLD

$UCSORTHOREF

If model space UCS is orthographic (UCSORTHOVIEW not

equal to 0), this is the name of the UCS that the orthographic UCS is relative to. If blank, UCS is relative to WORLD

$UCSORTHOVIEW

70

Orthographic view type of model space UCS:

0 = UCS is not orthographic;
1 = Top; 2 = Bottom;
3 = Front; 4 = Back;
5 = Left; 6 = Right

$UCSXDIR

10, 20, 30

Direction of the current UCS X axis (in WCS)

$UCSYDIR

10, 20, 30

Direction of the current UCS Y axis (in WCS)

HEADER Section Group Codes (DXF) | 31

DXF header variables

Variable

Group code Description

$UNITMODE

70

Low bit set = Display fractions, feet-and-inches, and surveyor's angles in input format

$USERI1 - 5

70

Five integer variables intended for use by third-party developers

$USERR1 - 5

40

Five real variables intended for use by third-party developers

$USRTIMER

70

0 = Timer off
1 = Timer on

$VERSIONGUID

Uniquely identifies a particular version of a drawing. Updated when the drawing is modified

$VISRETAIN

70

0 = Don't retain xref-dependent visibility settings

1 = Retain xref-dependent visibility settings

$WORLDVIEW

70

0 = Don't change UCS

1 = Set UCS to WCS during DVIEW/VPOINT

$XCLIPFRAME

290

Controls the visibility of xref clipping boundaries:

0 = Clipping boundary is not visible
1 = Clipping boundary is visible

$XEDIT

290

Controls whether the current drawing can be edited in-place

when being referenced by another drawing.
0 = Can't use in-place reference editing
1 = Can use in-place reference editing

Revised VPORT Header Variables (DXF)

The following header variables existed before AutoCAD Release 11 but now
have independent settings for each active viewport. OPEN honors these
variables when read from DXF files. If a VPORT symbol table with *ACTIVE

32 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

entries is present (as is true for any DXF file produced by Release 11 or later),
the values in the VPORT table entries override the values of these header
variables.
Revised VPORT header variables
Variable

Group code Description

$FASTZOOM

70

Fast zoom enabled if nonzero

$GRIDMODE

70

Grid mode on if nonzero

$GRIDUNIT

10, 20

Grid X and Y spacing

$SNAPANG

50

Snap grid rotation angle

$SNAPBASE

10, 20

Snap/grid base point (in UCS)

$SNAPISOPAIR

70

Isometric plane: 0 = Left; 1 = Top; 2 = Right

$SNAPMODE

70

Snap mode on if nonzero

$SNAPSTYLE

70

Snap style: 0 = Standard; 1 = Isometric

$SNAPUNIT

10, 20

Snap grid X and Y spacing

$VIEWCTR

10, 20

XY center of current view on screen

$VIEWDIR

10, 20, 30

Viewing direction (direction from target in WCS)

$VIEWSIZE

40

Height of view

Special Handling of Date/Time Variables (DXF)

The CDATE and DATE system variables provide access to the current date and
time. The TDCREATE, TDINDWG, TDUPDATE, and TDUSRTIMER system
variables (and the $TDCREATE, $TDUCREATE, $TDUPDATE, and

Special Handling of Date/Time Variables (DXF) | 33

$TDUUPDATE DXF header variables) provide access to times and dates

associated with the current drawing. The values are represented as real numbers
with special meanings, as described below.
DATE is the current date and time represented as a Julian date and fraction
of a day in a real number.
<Julian date>.<Fraction of day>
For example, on December 31, 1999, at 9:58:35 p.m. GMT, the DATE variable
contains
2451544.91568287
The date and time are taken from the computer's clock when the variable is
read. The time is represented as a fraction of a day, and the times returned by
DATE may be truly subtracted to compute differences in time. To extract the
seconds since midnight from the value returned by DATE, use the AutoLISP
expressions
(setq s (getvar "DATE"))
(setq seconds (* 86400.0 (- s (fix s))))
Note that DATE returns only a true Julian date if the system's clock is set to
UTC/Zulu (Greenwich Mean Time). TDCREATE and TDUPDATE have the same
format as DATE, but their values represent the creation time and last update
time of the current drawing.
TDINDWG and TDUSRTIMER (and the $TDINDWG and $TDUSRTIMER DXF
header variables) use a format similar to that of DATE, but their values represent
elapsed times, as in
<Number of days>.<Fraction of day>
CDATE is the current date and time in calendar and clock format. The value
is returned as a real number in the form
YYYYMMDD.HHMMSShsec
where
YYYY = year
MM = month (01-12)
DD = day (01-31)
HH = hour (00-23)
MM = minute (00-59)
SS = second (00-59)

34 | Chapter 2 HEADER Section

hsec = hundredths of a second (00-99)

For example, if the current date is December 31, 2005, and the time is
9:58:35.75 p.m., CDATE would return the value:
20051231.21583575
Note that CDATE values can be compared for later and earlier values but that
subtracting them yields numbers that are not meaningful.

Special Handling of Date/Time Variables (DXF) | 35

36

CLASSES Section

About the DXF CLASSES Section

The CLASSES section in DXF files holds the information for application-defined
classes whose instances appear in the BLOCKS, ENTITIES, and OBJECTS sections
of the database. It is assumed that a class definition is permanently fixed in the
class hierarchy. All fields are required.

CLASSES Section Group Codes (DXF)

Each entry in the CLASSES section contains the groups described in the following
table.
CLASSES section group codes
Group code

Description

Record type (CLASS). Identifies beginning of a CLASS record

Class DXF record name; always unique

C++ class name. Used to bind with software that defines object class behavior; always unique

Application name. Posted in Alert box when a class definition listed in this
section is not currently loaded

37

CLASSES section group codes

Group code Description
90

Proxy capabilities flag. Bit-coded value that indicates the capabilities of

this object as a proxy:
0 = No operations allowed (0)
1 = Erase allowed (0x1)
2 = Transform allowed (0x2)
4 = Color change allowed (0x4)
8 = Layer change allowed (0x8)
16 = Linetype change allowed (0x10)
32 = Linetype scale change allowed (0x20)
64 = Visibility change allowed (0x40)
128 = Cloning allowed (0x80)
256 = Lineweight change allowed (0x100)
512 = Plot Style Name change allowed (0x200)
895 = All operations except cloning allowed (0x37F)
1023 = All operations allowed (0x3FF)
1024 = Disables proxy warning dialog (0x400)
32768 = R13 format proxy (0x8000)

91

Instance count for a custom class

280

Was-a-proxy flag. Set to 1 if class was not loaded when this DXF file was
created, and 0 otherwise

281

Is-an-entity flag. Set to 1 if class was derived from the AcDbEntity class
and can reside in the BLOCKS or ENTITIES section. If 0, instances may
appear only in the OBJECTS section

38 | Chapter 3 CLASSES Section

Default Class Values (DXF)

AutoCAD registers the classes listed in the following table. (This may not be
a complete list of the classes found in a DXF file. It depends on the applications
currently in use by AutoCAD.)
Default class values
DXF record name
code 1

C++ class name

code 2

Code Code Code

90
280 281

ACDBDICTIONARYWDFLT

AcDbDictionaryWithDefault

ACDBPLACEHOLDER

AcDbPlaceHolder

ARCALIGNEDTEXT

AcDbArcAlignedText

DICTIONARYVAR

AcDbDictionaryVar

HATCH

AcDbHatch

IDBUFFER

AcDbIdBuffer

IMAGE

AcDbRasterImage

127

IMAGEDEF

AcDbRasterImageDef

IMAGEDEF_REACTOR

AcDbRasterImageDefReactor

LAYER_INDEX

AcDbLayerIndex

LAYOUT

AcDbLayout

LWPOLYLINE

AcDbPolyline

OBJECT_PTR

CAseDLPNTableRecord

OLE2FRAME

AcDbOle2Frame

Default Class Values (DXF) | 39

Default class values

DXF record name
code 1

C++ class name

code 2

Code Code Code

90
280 281

PLOTSETTINGS

AcDbPlotSettings

RASTERVARIABLES

AcDbRasterVariables

RTEXT

RText

SORTENTSTABLE

AcDbSortentsTable

SPATIAL_INDEX

AcDbSpatialIndex

SPATIAL_FILTER

AcDbSpatialFilter

WIPEOUT

AcDbWipeout

127

WIPEOUTVARIABLES

AcDbWipeoutVariables

40 | Chapter 3 CLASSES Section

TABLES Section

About the DXF TABLES Section (DXF)

The group codes described in this chapter are found in DXF files and used by
applications. The TABLES section contains several tables, each of which can

contain a variable number of entries. These codes are also used by AutoLISP

and ObjectARX applications in entity definition lists.

About Symbol Table Group Codes (DXF)

The order of the tables may change, but the LTYPE table always precedes the
LAYER table. Each table is introduced with a 0 group code with the label TABLE.
This is followed by a 2 group code identifying the particular table (APPID,
DIMSTYLE, LAYER, LTYPE, STYLE, UCS, VIEW, VPORT, or BLOCK_RECORD),
a 5 group code (a handle), a 100 group code (AcDbSymbolTable subclass marker),
and a 70 group code that specifies the maximum number of table entries that
may follow. Table names are output in uppercase. The DIMSTYLE handle is a
105 group code, and not a 5 group code.
The tables in a drawing can contain deleted items, but these are not written to
the DXF file. As a result, fewer table entries may follow the table header than
are indicated by the 70 group code, so do not use the count in the 70 group
code as an index to read in the table. This group code is provided so that a
program that reads DXF files can allocate an array large enough to hold all the
table entries that follow.
Following this header for each table are the table entries. Each table entry consists
of a 0 group identifying the item type (same as table name, such as LTYPE or
LAYER), a 2 group giving the name of the table entry, a 70 group specifying
flags relevant to the table entry (defined for each following table), and additional

41

groups that give the value of the table entry. The end of each table is indicated
by a 0 group with the value ENDTAB.
Both symbol table records and symbol tables are database objects. At a very

minimum, with all prevailing usage within AutoCAD , this implies that a
handle is present, positioned after the 2 group codes for both the symbol table
record objects and the symbol table objects.
The DIMSTYLE table is the only record type in the system with a handle code
of 105 because of its earlier usage of group code 5. As a rule, programmers
should not be concerned about this exception unless it is in the context of
the DIMSTYLE table section. This is the only context in which this exception
should occur.

Common Symbol Table Group Codes (DXF)

The following table shows group codes that apply to all symbol tables.
Group codes that apply to all symbol tables
Group code

Description

-1

APP: entity name (changes each time a drawing is opened)

Object type (TABLE)

Table name

Handle

102

{ACAD_XDICTIONARY indicates the start of an extension dictionary group. This group exists
only if persistent reactors have been attached to this object (optional)

360

Hard owner ID/handle to owner dictionary (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSymbolTable)

42 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

Group codes that apply to all symbol tables

Group code

Description

70

Maximum number of entries in table

Common Group Codes for Symbol Table Entries

(DXF)
The following table shows group codes that apply to all symbol table entries
in DXF files. When you refer to the table of group codes by entity type, which
lists the codes associated with specific entities, keep in mind that the codes
shown here can also be present.
Group codes that apply to all symbol table entries
Group code

Description

-1

APP: entity name (changes each time a drawing is opened)

Entity type (table name)

Handle (all except DIMSTYLE)

105

Handle (DIMSTYLE table only)

102

Start of application-defined group {application_name. For example, {ACAD_REACTORS indicates the start of the AutoCAD persistent reactors group (optional)

applicationdefined codes

Codes and values within the 102 groups are application defined (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

102

{ACAD_REACTORS indicates the start of the AutoCAD persistent reactors group. This group
exists only if persistent reactors have been attached to this object (optional)

Common Symbol Table Group Codes (DXF) | 43

Group codes that apply to all symbol table entries

Group code

Description

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

102

{ACAD_XDICTIONARY indicates the start of an extension dictionary group. This group exists
only if persistent reactors have been attached to this object (optional)

360

Hard-owner ID/handle to owner dictionary (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSymbolTableRecord)

APPID (DXF)
The following group codes apply to APPID symbol table entries.
APPID group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRegAppTableRecord)

User-supplied (or application-supplied) application name (for extended data). These table entries
maintain a set of names for all registered applications

70

Standard flag values (bit-coded values):

16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved

44 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

APPID group codes

Group code

Description
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCAD commands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and need not be set by programs that write DXF files)

BLOCK_RECORD (DXF)
The following group codes apply to BLOCK_RECORD symbol table entries.
BLOCK_RECORD group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbBlockTableRecord)

Block name

340

Hard-pointer ID/handle to associated LAYOUT object

70

Block insertion units.

280

Block explodability

281

Block scalability

310

DXF: Binary data for bitmap preview (optional)

1001

Xdata application name ACAD (optional)

1000

Xdata string data DesignCenter Data (optional)

1002

Begin xdata { (optional)

1070

Autodesk Design Center version number

BLOCK_RECORD (DXF) | 45

BLOCK_RECORD group codes

Group code

Description

1070

Insert units:
0 = Unitless; 1 = Inches; 2 = Feet; 3 = Miles; 4 = Millimeters;
5 = Centimeters; 6 = Meters; 7 = Kilometers; 8 = Microinches;
9 = Mils; 10 = Yards; 11 = Angstroms; 12 = Nanometers;
13 = Microns; 14 = Decimeters; 15 = Decameters;
16 = Hectometers; 17 = Gigameters; 18 = Astronomical units;
19 = Light years; 20 = Parsecs

1002

End xdata }

DIMSTYLE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to DIMSTYLE symbol table entries.
DIMSTYLE group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbDimStyleTableRecord)

Dimension style name

70

Standard flag values (bit-coded values):

16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCAD commands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and need not be set by programs that write DXF files)

DIMPOST

DIMAPOST

46 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

DIMSTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

DIMBLK (obsolete, now object ID)

DIMBLK1 (obsolete, now object ID)

DIMBLK2 (obsolete, now object ID)

40

DIMSCALE

41

DIMASZ

42

DIMEXO

43

DIMDLI

44

DIMEXE

45

DIMRND

46

DIMDLE

47

DIMTP

48

DIMTM

140

DIMTXT

141

DIMCEN

142

DIMTSZ

143

DIMALTF

144

DIMLFAC

DIMSTYLE (DXF) | 47

DIMSTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

145

DIMTVP

146

DIMTFAC

147

DIMGAP

148

DIMALTRND

71

DIMTOL

72

DIMLIM

73

DIMTIH

74

DIMTOH

75

DIMSE1

76

DIMSE2

77

DIMTAD

78

DIMZIN

79

DIMAZIN

170

DIMALT

171

DIMALTD

172

DIMTOFL

173

DIMSAH

48 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

DIMSTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

174

DIMTIX

175

DIMSOXD

176

DIMCLRD

177

DIMCLRE

178

DIMCLRT

179

DIMADEC

270

DIMUNIT (obsolete, now use DIMLUNIT AND DIMFRAC)

271

DIMDEC

272

DIMTDEC

273

DIMALTU

274

DIMALTTD

275

DIMAUNIT

276

DIMFRAC

277

DIMLUNIT

278

DIMDSEP

279

DIMTMOVE

280

DIMJUST

DIMSTYLE (DXF) | 49

DIMSTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

281

DIMSD1

282

DIMSD2

283

DIMTOLJ

284

DIMTZIN

285

DIMALTZ

286

DIMALTTZ

287

DIMFIT (obsolete, now use DIMATFIT and DIMTMOVE)

288

DIMUPT

289

DIMATFIT

340

DIMTXSTY (handle of referenced STYLE)

341

DIMLDRBLK (handle of referenced BLOCK)

342

DIMBLK (handle of referenced BLOCK)

343

DIMBLK1 (handle of referenced BLOCK)

344

DIMBLK2 (handle of referenced BLOCK)

371

DIMLWD (lineweight enum value)

372

DIMLWE (lineweight enum value)

50 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

LAYER (DXF)
The following group codes apply to LAYER symbol table entries.
LAYER group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLayerTableRecord)

Layer name

70

Standard flags (bit-coded values):

1 = Layer is frozen; otherwise layer is thawed
2 = Layer is frozen by default in new viewports
4 = Layer is locked
16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCAD commands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and need not be set by programs that write DXF files)

62

Color number (if negative, layer is off)

Linetype name

290

Plotting flag. If set to 0, do not plot this layer

370

Lineweight enum value

390

Hard-pointer ID/handle of PlotStyleName object

347

Hard-pointer ID/handle to Material object

Xref-dependent layers are output during SAVEAS. For these layers, the
associated linetype name in the DXF file is always CONTINUOUS.

LAYER (DXF) | 51

LTYPE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to LTYPE symbol table entries.
LTYPE group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLinetypeTableRecord)

Linetype name

70

Standard flag values (bit-coded values):

16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCAD commands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and need not be set by programs that write DXF files)

Descriptive text for linetype

72

Alignment code; value is always 65, the ASCII code for A

73

The number of linetype elements

40

Total pattern length

49

Dash, dot or space length (one entry per element)

74

Complex linetype element type (one per element). Default is 0 (no embedded shape/text)
The following codes are bit values:
1 = If set, code 50 specifies an absolute rotation; if not set, code 50 specifies a relative rotation
2 = Embedded element is a text string
4 = Embedded element is a shape

75

Shape number (one per element) if code 74 specifies an embedded shape

If code 74 specifies an embedded text string, this value is set to 0
If code 74 is set to 0, code 75 is omitted

52 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

LTYPE group codes

Group code

Description

340

Pointer to STYLE object (one per element if code 74 > 0)

46

S = Scale value (optional); multiple entries can exist

50

R = (relative) or A = (absolute) rotation value in radians of embedded shape or text; one per
element if code 74 specifies an embedded shape or text string

44

X = X offset value (optional); multiple entries can exist

45

Y = Y offset value (optional); multiple entries can exist

Text string (one per element if code 74 = 2)

The group codes 74, 75, 340, 46, 50, 44, 45, and 9 are not returned by the
tblsearch or tblnext functions. You must use tblobjname to retrieve these
values within an application.

STYLE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to STYLE symbol table entries.
STYLE group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbTextStyleTableRecord)

Style name

70

Standard flag values (bit-coded values):

1 = If set, this entry describes a shape
4 = Vertical text
16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref

STYLE (DXF) | 53

STYLE group codes

Group code

Description
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCADcommands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and need not be set by programs that write DXF files)

40

Fixed text height; 0 if not fixed

41

Width factor

50

Oblique angle

71

Text generation flags:

2 = Text is backward (mirrored in X)
4 = Text is upside down (mirrored in Y)

42

Last height used

Primary font file name

Bigfont file name; blank if none

1071

A long value which contains a truetype fonts pitch and family, charset, and italic and bold flags

A STYLE table item is also used to record shape file LOAD command requests.
In this case the first bit (1) is set in the 70 group flags and only the 3 group
(shape file name) is meaningful (all the other groups are output, however).

54 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

UCS (DXF)
The following group codes apply to UCS symbol table entries.
UCS group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbUCSTableRecord)

UCS name

70

Standard flag values (bit-coded values):

16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCAD commands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and need not be set by programs that write DXF files)

10

Origin (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of origin (in WCS)

11

X-axis direction (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of X-axis direction (in WCS)

12

Y-axis direction (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of Y-axis direction (in WCS)

79

Always 0

146

Elevation

UCS (DXF) | 55

UCS group codes

Group code

Description

346

ID/handle of base UCS if this is an orthographic. This code is not present if the 79 code is 0. If
this code is not present and 79 code is non-zero, then base UCS is assumed to be WORLD

71

Orthographic type (optional; always appears in pairs with the 13, 23, 33 codes):
1 = Top; 2 = Bottom
3 = Front; 4 = Back
5 = Left; 6 = Right

13

Origin for this orthographic type relative to this UCS

DXF: X value of origin point; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of origin point

Each 71/13,23,33 pair defines the UCS origin for a particular orthographic
type relative to this UCS. For example, if the following pair is present, then
invoking the UCS/LEFT command when UCSBASE is set to this UCS will cause
the new UCS origin to become (1,2,3).
71:
13:
23:
33:

5
1.0
2.0
3.0

If this pair were not present, then invoking the UCS/LEFT command would
cause the new UCS origin to be set to this UCS's origin point.

VIEW (DXF)
The following group codes apply to VIEW symbol table entries.
VIEW group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbViewTableRecord)

56 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

VIEW group codes

Group code

Description

Name of view

70

Standard flag values (bit-coded values):

1 = If set, this is a paper space view
16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCAD commands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and does not need to be set by programs that write DXF
files)

40

View height (in DCS)

10

View center point (in DCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of view center point (in DCS)

41

View width (in DCS)

11

View direction from target (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of view direction from target (in WCS)

12

Target point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of target point (in WCS)

42

Lens length

43

Front clipping plane (offset from target point)

VIEW (DXF) | 57

VIEW group codes

Group code

Description

44

Back clipping plane (offset from target point)

50

Twist angle

71

View mode (see VIEWMODE system variable)

281

Render mode:
0 = 2D Optimized (classic 2D)
1 = Wireframe
2 = Hidden line
3 = Flat shaded
4 = Gouraud shaded
5 = Flat shaded with wireframe
6 = Gouraud shaded with wireframe
All rendering modes other than 2D Optimized engage the new 3D graphics pipeline. These
values directly correspond to the SHADEMODE command and the AcDbAbstractViewTableRecord::RenderMode enum

72

1 if there is a UCS associated to this view; 0 otherwise

73

1 if the camera is plottable

332

Soft-pointer ID/handle to background object (optional)

334

Soft-pointer ID/handle to live section object (optional)

348

Hard-pointer ID/handle to visual style object (optional)

361

Sun hard ownership ID

58 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

The following codes appear only if code 72 is set to 1. They define the UCS
that is associated to this view. This UCS will become the current UCS whenever
this view is restored (if code 72 is 0, the UCS is unchanged).
VIEW with UCS group codes
Group code

Description

110

UCS origin (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

120, 130

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS origin

111

UCS X-axis (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

121, 131

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS X-axis

112

UCS Y-axis (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

122, 132

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS Y-axis

79

Orthographic type of UCS (appears only if code 72 is set to 1):

0 = UCS is not orthographic
1 = Top; 2 = Bottom
3 = Front; 4 = Back
5 = Left; 6 = Right

146

UCS elevation (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

345

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord if UCS is a named UCS. If not present, then UCS is

unnamed (appears only if code 72 is set to 1)

346

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord of base UCS if UCS is orthographic (79 code is nonzero). If not present and 79 code is non-zero, then base UCS is taken to be WORLD (appears
only if code 72 is set to 1)

VIEW (DXF) | 59

VPORT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to VPORT symbol table entries. The VPORT
table is unique: it may contain several entries with the same name (indicating
a multiple-viewport configuration). The entries corresponding to the active
viewport configuration all have the name *ACTIVE. The first such entry
describes the current viewport.
VPORT group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbViewportTableRecord)

Viewport name

70

Standard flag values (bit-coded values):

16 = If set, table entry is externally dependent on an xref
32 = If both this bit and bit 16 are set, the externally dependent xref has been successfully resolved
64 = If set, the table entry was referenced by at least one entity in the drawing the last time the
drawing was edited. (This flag is for the benefit of AutoCAD commands. It can be ignored by
most programs that read DXF files and does not need to be set by programs that write DXF
files)

10

Lower-left corner of viewport

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of lower-left corner of viewport

11

Upper-right corner of viewport

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

21

DXF: Y value of upper-right corner of viewport

12

View center point (in DCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

22

DXF: Y value of view center point (in DCS)

60 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

VPORT group codes

Group code

Description

13

Snap base point (in DCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

23

DXF: Y value of snap base point (in DCS)

14

Snap spacing X and Y

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

24

DXF: Y value of snap spacing X and Y

15

Grid spacing X and Y

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

25

DXF: Y value of grid spacing X and Y

16

View direction from target point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

26, 36

DXF: Y and Z values of view direction from target point

(in WCS)

17

View target point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

27, 37

DXF: Y and Z values of view target point (in WCS)

42

Lens length

43

Front clipping plane (offset from target point)

44

Back clipping plane (offset from target point)

45

View height

VPORT (DXF) | 61

VPORT group codes

Group code

Description

50

Snap rotation angle

51

View twist angle

72

Circle sides

331 or 441

Soft or hard-pointer ID/handle to frozen layer objects; repeats for each frozen layers

70

Bit flags and perspective mode

Plot style sheet

281

Render mode:
0 = 2D Optimized (classic 2D)
1 = Wireframe
2 = Hidden line
3 = Flat shaded
4 = Gouraud shaded
5 = Flat shaded with wireframe
6 = Gouraud shaded with wireframe
All rendering modes other than 2D Optimized engage the new 3D graphics pipeline. These
values directly correspond to the SHADEMODE command and the AcDbAbstractViewTableRecord::RenderMode enum

71

View mode (see VIEWMODE system variable)

74

UCSICON setting

110

UCS origin
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

120, 130

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS origin

111

UCS X-axis
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

62 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

VPORT group codes

Group code

Description

121, 131

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS X-axis

112

UCS Y-axis
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

122, 132

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS Y-axis

345

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord if UCS is a named UCS. If not present, then UCS is unnamed

346

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord of base UCS if UCS is orthographic (79 code is non-zero).

If not present and 79 code is non-zero, then base UCS is taken to be WORLD

79

Orthographic type of UCS

0 = UCS is not orthographic
1 = Top; 2 = Bottom
3 = Front; 4 = Back
5 = Left; 6 = Right

146

Elevation

170

Shade plot setting

61

Major grid lines

332

Soft-pointer ID/handle to background object (optional)

333

Soft-pointer ID/handle to shade plot object (optional)

348

Hard-pointer ID/handle to visual style object (optional)

292

Default Lighting On flag

282

Default Lighting type

0 = One distant light

VPORT (DXF) | 63

VPORT group codes

Group code

Description
1 = Two distant lights

141

Brightness

142

Contrast

63, 421, 431

Ambient color (only output when non-black)

64 | Chapter 4 TABLES Section

BLOCKS Section

About the DXF BLOCKS Section

The BLOCKS section of the DXF file contains an entry for each block reference
in the drawing.

About BLOCKS Section Group Codes (DXF)

The BLOCKS section of the DXF file contains all the block definitions, including
anonymous blocks generated by the HATCH command and by associative
dimensioning. Each block definition contains the entities that make up that
block as it is used in the drawing. The format of the entities in this section is
identical to those in the ENTITIES section. All entities in the BLOCKS section
appear between block and endblk entities. Block and endblk entities appear
only in the BLOCKS section. Block definitions are never nested (that is, no block
or endblk entity ever appears within another block-endblk pair), although a
block definition can contain an insert entity.
External references are written in the DXF file as block definitions, except that
they also include a string (group code 1) that specifies the path and file name
of the external reference.
The block table handle, along with any xdata and persistent reactors, appears
in each block definition immediately following the BLOCK record, which
contains all of the specific information that a block table record stores.

65

BLOCK (DXF)
The following group codes apply to block entities.
Block group codes
Group code

Description

Entity type (BLOCK)

Handle

102

Start of application-defined group {application_name. For example, {ACAD_REACTORS indicates the start of the AutoCAD persistent reactors group (optional)

applicationdefined codes

Codes and values within the 102 groups are application defined (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbEntity)

Layer name

100

Subclass marker (AcDbBlockBegin)

Block name

70

Block-type flags (bit-coded values, may be combined):

0 = Indicates none of the following flags apply
1 = This is an anonymous block generated by hatching, associative dimensioning, other internal
operations, or an application
2 = This block has non-constant attribute definitions (this bit is not set if the block has any attribute definitions that are constant, or has no attribute definitions at all)
4 = This block is an external reference (xref)
8 = This block is an xref overlay
16 = This block is externally dependent

66 | Chapter 5 BLOCKS Section

Block group codes

Group code

Description
32 = This is a resolved external reference, or dependent of an external reference (ignored on
input)
64 = This definition is a referenced external reference (ignored
on input)

10

Base point
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of base point

Block name

Xref path name

Block description (optional)

The UCS in effect when a block definition is created becomes the WCS for all
entities in the block definition. The new origin for these entities is shifted to
match the base point defined for the block definition. All entity data is
translated to fit this new WCS.

Model Space and Paper Space Block Definitions

Three empty definitions always appear in the BLOCKS section. They are titled
*Model_Space, *Paper_Space and *Paper_Space0. These definitions manifest
the representations of model space and paper space as block definitions
internally. The internal name of the first paper space layout is *Paper_Space,
the second is *Paper_Space0, the third is *Paper_Space1, and so on.

Model Space and Paper Space Entity Segregation

The interleaving between model space and paper space no longer occurs.
Instead, all paper space entities are output, followed by model space entities.
The flag distinguishing them is the group code 67.

BLOCK (DXF) | 67

ENDBLK (DXF)
The following group codes apply to endblk objects.
Endblk group codes
Group code

Description

Entity type (ENDBLK)

Handle

102

Start of application-defined group {application_name. For example, {ACAD_REACTORS indicates the start of the AutoCAD persistent reactors group (optional)

applicationdefined codes

Codes and values within the 102 groups are application defined (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbEntity)

Layer name

100

Subclass marker (AcDbBlockEnd)

68 | Chapter 5 BLOCKS Section

ENTITIES Section

About the DXF ENTITIES Section

Entities group codes that apply to graphical objects. These codes are found in

the ENTITIES section of a DXF file and are used by AutoLISP and ObjectARX
applications in entity definition lists.

Common Group Codes for Entities (DXF)

The following table shows group codes that apply to virtually all graphical
objects. Some of the group codes shown here are included with an entity
definition only if the entity has nondefault values for the property. When you
refer to the group codes by entity type, the lists of codes associated with specific
entities, keep in mind that the codes shown here are also present.
NOTE Do not write programs that rely on the order shown in these DXF code tables.
Although these tables show the order of group codes as they usually appear, the

order can change under certain conditions or may be changed in a future AutoCAD
release. The code that controls an entity should be driven by a case (switch) or a
table so that it can process each group correctly even if the order is unexpected.

69

When a group is omitted, its default value upon input (when using OPEN) is
indicated in the third column. If the value of a group code is equal to the
default, it is omitted upon output (when using SAVEAS).
Group codes that apply to all graphical objects
Group code

Description

If omitted,
defaults to

-1

APP: entity name (changes each time a drawing is opened)

not omitted

Entity type

not omitted

Handle

not omitted

102

Start of application-defined group

{application_name (optional)

no default

applicationdefined codes

Codes and values within the 102 groups are application-defined (optional)

no default

102

End of group, } (optional)

no default

102

{ACAD_REACTORS indicates the start of the AutoCAD persistent reactors

group. This group exists only if persistent reactors have been attached to
this object (optional)

no default

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary (optional)

no default

102

End of group, } (optional)

no default

102

{ACAD_XDICTIONARY indicates the start of an extension dictionary

group. This group exists only if an extension dictionary has been attached
to the object (optional)

no default

360

Hard-owner ID/handle to owner dictionary (optional)

no default

102

End of group, } (optional)

no default

70 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Group codes that apply to all graphical objects

Group code

Description

If omitted,
defaults to

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner BLOCK_RECORD object

not omitted

100

Subclass marker (AcDbEntity)

not omitted

67

Absent or zero indicates entity is in model space. 1 indicates entity is in

paper space (optional).

410

APP: layout tab name

not omitted

Layer name

not omitted

Linetype name (present if not BYLAYER). The special name BYBLOCK indicates a floating linetype (optional)

BYLAYER

347

Hard-pointer ID/handle to material object (present if not BYLAYER)

BYLAYER

62

Color number (present if not BYLAYER); zero indicates the BYBLOCK

(floating) color; 256 indicates BYLAYER; a negative value indicates that
the layer is turned off (optional)

BYLAYER

370

Lineweight enum value. Stored and moved around as a 16-bit integer.

not omitted

48

Linetype scale (optional)

1.0

60

Object visibility (optional): 0 = Visible; 1 = Invisible

92

Number of bytes in the proxy entity graphics represented in the subsequent 310 groups, which are binary chunk records (optional)

no default

310

Proxy entity graphics data (multiple lines; 256 characters max. per line)
(optional)

no default

Common Group Codes for Entities (DXF) | 71

Group codes that apply to all graphical objects

Group code

Description

If omitted,
defaults to

420

A 24-bit color value that should be dealt with in terms of bytes with values
of 0 to 255. The lowest byte is the blue value, the middle byte is the green
value, and the third byte is the red value. The top byte is always 0. The
group code cannot be used by custom entities for their own data because
the group code is reserved for AcDbEntity, class-level color data and
AcDbEntity, class-level transparency data

no default

430

Color name. The group code cannot be used by custom entities for their
own data because the group code is reserved for AcDbEntity, class-level
color data and AcDbEntity, class-level transparency data

no default

440

Transparency value. The group code cannot be used by custom entities

for their own data because the group code is reserved for AcDbEntity,
class-level color data and AcDbEntity, class-level transparency data

no default

390

Hard-pointer ID/handle to the plot style object

no default

284

Shadow mode
0 = Casts and receives shadows
1 = Casts shadows
2 = Receives shadows
3 = Ignores shadows

no default

3DFACE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to 3dface entities. In addition to the group
codes described here, see Common Group Codes for Entities.
3dface group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbFace)

72 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

3dface group codes

Group code

Description

10

First corner (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of first corner (in WCS)

11

Second corner (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of second corner (in WCS)

12

Third corner (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of third corner (in WCS)

13

Fourth corner (in WCS). If only three corners are entered, this is the same as the third corner
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of fourth corner (in WCS)

70

Invisible edge flags (optional; default = 0):

1 = First edge is invisible
2 = Second edge is invisible
4 = Third edge is invisible
8 = Fourth edge is invisible

3DFACE (DXF) | 73

3DSOLID (DXF)
The following group codes apply to 3dsolid entities. In addition to the group
codes described here, see Common Group Codes for Entities.
3dsolid group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbModelerGeometry)

70

Modeler format version number (currently = 1)

Proprietary data (multiple lines < 255 characters each)

Additional lines of proprietary data (if previous group 1 string is greater than 255 characters)
(optional)

100

Subclass marker (AcDb3dSolid)

350

Soft-owner ID/handle to history object

ACAD_PROXY_ENTITY (DXF)
The following group codes apply to proxy entities. In addition to the group
codes described here, see Common Group Codes for Entities.
Acad_proxy_entity group codes
Group code

Description

100

DXF: AcDbProxyEntity

90

DXF: Proxy entity class ID (always 498)

91

DXF: Application entity's class ID. Class IDs are based on the order of the class in the CLASSES
section. The first class is given the ID of 500, the next is 501, and so on

74 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Acad_proxy_entity group codes

Group code

Description

92

DXF: Size of graphics data in bytes

310

DXF: Binary graphics data (multiple entries can appear) (optional)

93

DXF: Size of entity data in bits

310

DXF: Binary entity data (multiple entries can appear) (optional)

330 or 340
or 350 or 360

DXF: An object ID (multiple entries can appear) (optional)

94

DXF: 0 (indicates end of object ID section)

95

DXF: Object drawing format when it becomes a proxy (a 32-bit unsigned integer):
Low word is AcDbDwgVersion
High word is MaintenanceReleaseVersion

70

DXF: Original custom object data format:

0 = DWG format
1 = DXF format

ARC (DXF)
The following group codes apply to arc entities.
Arc group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbCircle)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

ARC (DXF) | 75

Arc group codes

Group code

Description

10

Center point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of center point (in OCS)

40

Radius

100

Subclass marker (AcDbArc)

50

Start angle

51

End angle

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

ATTDEF (DXF)
The following group codes apply to attdef (attribute definition) entities. In
addition to the group codes described here, see Common Group Codes for
Entities.
Attdef group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbText)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

10

First alignment point (in OCS)

76 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Attdef group codes

Group code

Description
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of text start point (in OCS)

40

Text height

Default value (string)

50

Text rotation (optional; default = 0)

41

Relative X scale factor (width) (optional; default = 1). This value is also adjusted when fit-type
text is used

51

Oblique angle (optional; default = 0)

Text style name (optional; default = STANDARD)

71

Text generation flags (optional; default = 0); see TEXT group codes

72

Horizontal text justification type (optional; default = 0); see TEXT group codes

11

Second alignment point (in OCS) (optional)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point
Meaningful only if 72 or 74 group values are nonzero

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of second alignment point (in OCS) (optional)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction

100

Subclass marker (AcDbAttributeDefinition)

ATTDEF (DXF) | 77

Attdef group codes

Group code

Description

280

Version number:
0 = 2010

Prompt string

Tag string (cannot contain spaces)

70

Attribute flags:
1 = Attribute is invisible (does not appear)
2 = This is a constant attribute
4 = Verification is required on input of this attribute
8 = Attribute is preset (no prompt during insertion)

73

Field length (optional; default = 0) (not currently used)

74

Vertical text justification type (optional, default = 0); see group code 73 inTEXT

280

Lock position flag. Locks the position of the attribute within the block reference

100

Subclass marker (AcDbXrecord)

280

Duplicate record cloning flag (determines how to merge duplicate entries):

1 = Keep existing

70

MText flag:
2 = multiline attribute
4 = constant multiline attribute definition

70

isReallyLocked flag:
0 = unlocked
1 = locked

70

Number of secondary attributes or attribute definitions

78 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Attdef group codes

Group code

Description

340

hard-pointer id of secondary attribute(s) or attribute definition(s)

10

Alignment point of attribute or attribute definition

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20,30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point

40

current annotation scale

attribute or attribute definition tag string

Entity type (MTEXT)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbEntity)

67

Absent or zero indicates entity is in model space. 1 indicates entity is in paper space (optional)

Layer name

100

Subclass marker (AcDbMText)

10

Insertion point
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20,30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point

40

Nominal (initial) text height

41

Reference rectangle width

46

Defined annotation height

71

Attachment point:

ATTDEF (DXF) | 79

Attdef group codes

Group code

Description
1 = Top left; 2 = Top center; 3 = Top right
4 = Middle left; 5 = Middle center; 6 = Middle right
7 = Bottom left; 8 = Bottom center; 9 = Bottom right

72

Drawing direction:
1 = Left to right
3 = Top to bottom
5 = By style (the flow direction is inherited from the associated text style)

Text string
If the text string is less than 250 characters, all characters appear in group 1. If the text string
is greater than 250 characters, the string is divided into 250-character chunks, which appear in
one or more group 3 codes. If group 3 codes are used, the last group is a group 1 and has
fewer than 250 characters.

Additional text (always in 250-character chunks) (optional)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vectText style name (STANDARD if not provided) (optional)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220,230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

11

X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

21,31

DXF: Y and Z values of X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

42

Horizontal width of the characters that make up the mtext entity.

This value will always be equal to or less than the value of group code 41 (read-only, ignored
if supplied).

43

Vertical height of the mtext entity (read-only, ignored if supplied)

80 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Attdef group codes

Group code

Description

50

Rotation angle in radians

73

Mtext line spacing style (optional):

1 = At least (taller characters will override)
2 = Exact (taller characters will not override)

44

Mtext line spacing factor (optional):

Percentage of default (3-on-5) line spacing to be applied.
Valid values range from 0.25 to 4.00

90

Background fill setting:

0 = Background fill off
1 = Use background fill color
2 = Use drawing window color as background fill color

63

Background color (if color index number)

420-429

Background color (if RGB color)

430-439

Background color (if color name)

45

Fill box scale (optional):

Determines how much border is around the text.

63

Background fill color (optional):

Color to use for background fill when group code 90 is 1.

441

Transparency of background fill color (not implemented)

If group 72 and/or 74 values are nonzero then the first alignment point values
are ignored and new values are calculated by AutoCAD, based on the second
alignment point and the length and height of the text string itself (after
applying the text style). If the 72 and 74 values are zero or missing, then the
second alignment point is meaningless.

ATTDEF (DXF) | 81

ATTRIB (DXF)
The following group codes apply to attrib (attribute) entities.
Attrib group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbText)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

10

Text start point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of text start point (in OCS)

40

Text height

Default value (string)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbAttribute)

280

Version number:
0 = 2010

Attribute tag (string; cannot contain spaces)

70

Attribute flags:
1 = Attribute is invisible (does not appear)
2 = This is a constant attribute
4 = Verification is required on input of this attribute
8 = Attribute is preset (no prompt during insertion)

73

Field length (optional; default = 0) (not currently used)

50

Text rotation (optional; default = 0)

82 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Attrib group codes

Group code

Description

41

Relative X scale factor (width) (optional; default = 1). This value is also adjusted when fit-type
text is used

51

Oblique angle (optional; default = 0)

Text style name (optional; default = STANDARD)

71

Text generation flags (optional; default = 0). See TEXT group codes

72

Horizontal text justification type (optional; default = 0). See TEXT group codes

74

Vertical text justification type (optional; default = 0). See group code 73 inTEXT

11

Alignment point (in OCS) (optional)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point
Present only if 72 or 74 group is present and nonzero

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of alignment point (in OCS) (optional)

210

Extrusion direction. Present only if the entity's extrusion direction is not parallel to the WCS Z
axis (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

280

Lock position flag. Locks the position of the attribute within the block reference

100

Subclass marker (AcDbXrecord)

280

Duplicate record cloning flag (determines how to merge duplicate entries):

1 = Keep existing

70

MText flag:
2 = multiline attribute

ATTRIB (DXF) | 83

Attrib group codes

Group code

Description
4 = constant multiline attribute definition

70

isReallyLocked flag:
0 = unlocked
1 = locked

70

Number of secondary attributes or attribute definitions

340

Hard-pointer id of secondary attribute(s) or attribute definition(s)

10

Alignment point of attribute or attribute definition

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20,30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point

40

current annotation scale

attribute or attribute definition tag string

Entity type (MTEXT)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbEntity)

67

Absent or zero indicates entity is in model space. 1 indicates entity is in paper space (optional)

Layer name

100

Subclass marker (AcDbMText)

10

Insertion point
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20,30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point

84 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Attrib group codes

Group code

Description

40

Nominal (initial) text height

41

Reference rectangle width

46

Defined annotation height

71

Attachment point:
1 = Top left; 2 = Top center; 3 = Top right
4 = Middle left; 5 = Middle center; 6 = Middle right
7 = Bottom left; 8 = Bottom center; 9 = Bottom right

72

Drawing direction:
1 = Left to right
3 = Top to bottom
5 = By style (the flow direction is inherited from the associated text style)

Text string
If the text string is less than 250 characters, all characters appear in group 1. If the text string
is greater than 250 characters, the string is divided into 250-character chunks, which appear in
one or more group 3 codes. If group 3 codes are used, the last group is a group 1 and has
fewer than 250 characters.

Additional text (always in 250-character chunks) (optional)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vectText style name (STANDARD if not provided) (optional)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220,230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

11

X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

21,31

DXF: Y and Z values of X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

ATTRIB (DXF) | 85

Attrib group codes

Group code

Description

42

Horizontal width of the characters that make up the mtext entity.

This value will always be equal to or less than the value of group code 41 (read-only, ignored
if supplied).

43

Vertical height of the mtext entity (read-only, ignored if supplied)

50

Rotation angle in radians

73

Mtext line spacing style (optional):

1 = At least (taller characters will override)
2 = Exact (taller characters will not override)

44

Mtext line spacing factor (optional):

Percentage of default (3-on-5) line spacing to be applied.
Valid values range from 0.25 to 4.00

90

Background fill setting:

0 = Background fill off
1 = Use background fill color
2 = Use drawing window color as background fill color

63

Background color (if color index number)

420-429

Background color (if RGB color)

430-439

Background color (if color name)

45

Fill box scale (optional):

Determines how much border is around the text.

63

Background fill color (optional):

Color to use for background fill when group code 90 is 1.

441

Transparency of background fill color (not implemented)

86 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

If group 72 and/or 74 values are nonzero then the text insertion point values
are ignored, and new values are calculated by AutoCAD based on the text
alignment point and the length of the text string itself (after applying the text
style). If the 72 and 74 values are zero or missing, then the text alignment
point is ignored and recalculated based on the text insertion point and the
length of the text string itself (after applying the text style).

BODY (DXF)
The following group codes apply to body entities.
Body group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbModelerGeometry)

70

Modeler format version number (currently = 1)

Proprietary data (multiple lines < 255 characters each)

Additional lines of proprietary data (if previous group 1 string is greater than 255 characters)
(optional)

CIRCLE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to circle entities.
Circle group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbCircle)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

10

Center point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

BODY (DXF) | 87

Circle group codes

Group code

Description

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of center point (in OCS)

40

Radius

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

DIMENSION (DXF)
Dimension entity definitions consist of group codes that are common to all
dimension types, followed by codes specific to the type.

Common Dimension Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to all dimension entity types.
Common dimension group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbDimension)

280

Version number:
0 = 2010

Name of the block that contains the entities that make up the dimension picture

10

Definition point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

88 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Common dimension group codes

Group code

Description

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point (in WCS)

11

Middle point of dimension text (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of middle point of dimension text (in OCS)

70

Dimension type:
Values 0-6 are integer values that represent the dimension type. Values 32, 64, and 128
are bit values, which are added to the integer values (value 32 is always set in R13 and
later releases)
0 = Rotated, horizontal, or vertical; 1 = Aligned
2 = Angular; 3 = Diameter; 4 = Radius
5 = Angular 3 point; 6 = Ordinate
32 = Indicates that the block reference (group code 2) is referenced by this dimension only
64 = Ordinate type. This is a bit value (bit 7) used only with integer value 6. If set, ordinate
is X-type; if not set, ordinate is Y-type
128 = This is a bit value (bit 8) added to the other group 70 values if the dimension text
has been positioned at a user-defined location rather than at the default location

71

Attachment point:
1 = Top left; 2 = Top center; 3 = Top right
4 = Middle left; 5 = Middle center; 6 = Middle right
7 = Bottom left; 8 = Bottom center; 9 = Bottom right

72

Dimension text line-spacing style (optional):

1 (or missing) = At least (taller characters will override)
2 = Exact (taller characters will not override)

41

Dimension text-line spacing factor (optional):

Percentage of default (3-on-5) line spacing to be applied. Valid values range from 0.25 to
4.00

42

Actual measurement (optional; read-only value)

DIMENSION (DXF) | 89

Common dimension group codes

Group code

Description

Dimension text explicitly entered by the user. Optional; default is the measurement. If null
or <>, the dimension measurement is drawn as the text, if (one blank space), the text
is suppressed. Anything else is drawn as the text

53

The optional group code 53 is the rotation angle of the dimension text away from its default
orientation (the direction of the dimension line) (optional)

51

All dimension types have an optional 51 group code, which indicates the horizontal direction
for the dimension entity. The dimension entity determines the orientation of dimension
text and lines for horizontal, vertical, and rotated linear dimensions
This group value is the negative of the angle between the OCS X axis and the UCS X axis.
It is always in the XY plane of the OCS

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

Dimension style name

Xdata belonging to the application ID "ACAD" follows a dimension entity if

any dimension overrides have been applied to this entity.
For all dimension types, the following group codes represent 3D WCS points:
(10, 20, 30)

(13, 23, 33)

(14, 24, 34)

(15, 25, 35)

For all dimension types, the following group codes represent 3D OCS points:
(11, 21, 31)

(12, 22, 32)

(16, 26, 36)

90 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Aligned Dimension Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to aligned dimensions. In addition to the
group codes described here, those listed in Common Group Codes for Entities
and Common Dimension Group Codes can also be present.
Aligned dimension group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbAlignedDimension)

12

Insertion point for clones of a dimensionBaseline and Continue (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point for clones of a dimensionBaseline and Continue (in
OCS)

13

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

14

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

24, 34

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

The point (13,23,33) specifies the start point of the first extension line and
the point (14,24,34) specifies the start point of the second extension line.
Point (10,20,30) specifies the dimension line location. The point (11,21,31)
specifies the midpoint of the dimension text.

DIMENSION (DXF) | 91

Angular Dimension Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to angular dimensions. In addition to the
group codes described here, those listed in Common Group Codes for Entities
and Common Dimension Group Codes can also be present.
Angular dimension group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDb3PointAngularDimension)

13

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

14

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

24, 34

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

15

Definition point for diameter, radius, and angular dimensions (in WCS) DXF: X value; APP: 3D
point

25, 35

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for diameter, radius, and angular dimensions (in WCS)

16

Point defining dimension arc for angular dimensions (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

26, 36

DXF: Y and Z values of point defining dimension arc for angular dimensions (in OCS)

The points (13,23,33) and (14,24,34) specify the endpoints of the line used
to determine the first extension line. Points (10,20,30) and (15,25,35) specify
the endpoints of the line used to determine the second extension line. Point
(16,26,36) specifies the location of the dimension line arc. The point (11,21,31)
specifies the midpoint of the dimension text.

92 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

The point (15,25,35) specifies the vertex of the angle. The points (13,23,33)
and (14,24,34) specify the endpoints of the extension lines. The point
(10,20,30) specifies the location of the dimension line arc and the point
(11,21,31) specifies the midpoint of the dimension text.

Linear and Rotated Dimension Group Codes

(DXF)
The following group codes apply to linear and rotated dimensions (note that
linear and rotated dimensions are part of the AcDbAlignedDimension subclass).
In addition to the group codes described here, those listed in Common Group
Codes for Entities and Common Dimension Group Codes can also be present.
Linear and rotated dimension group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbAlignedDimension)

12

Insertion point for clones of a dimensionBaseline and Continue (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point for clones of a dimensionBaseline and Continue (in
OCS)

13

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

DIMENSION (DXF) | 93

Linear and rotated dimension group codes

Group code

Description

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

14

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

24, 34

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

50

Angle of rotated, horizontal, or vertical dimensions

52

Linear dimension types with an oblique angle have an optional group code 52. When added
to the rotation angle of the linear dimension (group code 50), it gives the angle of the extension
lines

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRotatedDimension)

Ordinate Dimension Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to ordinate dimensions. In addition to the
group codes described here, those listed in Common Group Codes for Entities
and Common Dimension Group Codes can also be present.
Ordinate dimension group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbOrdinateDimension)

13

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

14

Definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

94 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Ordinate dimension group codes

Group code

Description

24, 34

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for linear and angular dimensions (in WCS)

The point (13,23,33) specifies the feature location and the point (14,24,34)
specifies the leader endpoint. The point (11,21,31) specifies the midpoint of
the dimension text. Point (10,20,30) is placed at the origin of the UCS that is
current when the dimension is created.

Radial and Diameter Dimension Group Codes

(DXF)
The following group codes apply to radial and diameter dimensions. In
addition to the group codes described here, those listed in Common Group
Codes for Entities and Common Dimension Group Codes can also be present.
Radial and diameter dimension group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRadialDimension or AcDbDiametricDimension)

15

Definition point for diameter, radius, and angular dimensions (in WCS)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

25, 35

DXF: Y and Z values of definition point for diameter, radius, and angular dimensions (in
WCS)

40

Leader length for radius and diameter dimensions

DIMENSION (DXF) | 95

The point (15,25,35) specifies the first point of the dimension line on the
circle/arc and the point (10,20,30) specifies the point opposite the first point.
The point (11,21,31) specifies the midpoint of the dimension text.

The point (15,25,35) specifies the first point of the dimension line on the
circle/arc and the point (10,20,30) specifies the center of the circle/arc. The
point (11,21,31) specifies the midpoint of the dimension text.

Dimension Style Overrides (DXF)

Dimension style overrides can be applied to dimension, leader, and tolerance
entities. Any overrides applied to these entities are stored in the entity as
xdata. The overridden dimension variable group codes and the related values
are contained within group 1002 control strings. The following example shows
the xdata of a dimension entity where the DIMTOL and DIMCLRE variables
have been overridden.
(setq diment (car (entsel))) ; Select dimension entity
(setq elst (entget diment '("ACAD"))) ; Get entity
definition list
(assoc -3 elst) ; Extract xdata only
This code returns the following:
(-3 ("ACAD" Start of the ACAD APPID section of xdata
(1000 . "DSTYLE") (1002 . "{") Beginning of the dimstyle
subsection

96 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

(1070 . 177) (1070 . 3) The DIMCLRE (code 177) override

+ value (3)
(1070 . 71) (1070 . 1) The DIMTOL (code 71) override +
value (1)
(1002 . "}") )) End dimstyle subsection and ACAD section

ELLIPSE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to ellipse entities.
Ellipse group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbEllipse)

10

Center point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of center point (in WCS)

11

Endpoint of major axis, relative to the center (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of endpoint of major axis, relative to the center (in WCS)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

40

Ratio of minor axis to major axis

41

Start parameter (this value is 0.0 for a full ellipse)

42

End parameter (this value is 2pi for a full ellipse)

ELLIPSE (DXF) | 97

HATCH (DXF)
The following group codes apply to hatch and MPolygon entities.
Hatch group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbHatch)

10

Elevation point (in OCS)

DXF: X value = 0; APP: 3D point (X and Y always equal 0, Z represents the elevation)

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of elevation point (in OCS)

Y value = 0, Z represents the elevation

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction

Hatch pattern name

70

Solid fill flag (solid fill = 1; pattern fill = 0); for MPolygon, the version of MPolygon

63

For MPolygon, pattern fill color as the ACI

71

Associativity flag (associative = 1; non-associative = 0); for MPolygon, solid-fill flag (has solid fill
= 1; lacks solid fill = 0)

91

Number of boundary paths (loops)

varies

Boundary path data. Repeats number of times specified by code 91. See Boundary Path Data

75

Hatch style:
0 = Hatch odd parity area (Normal style)
1 = Hatch outermost area only (Outer style)
2 = Hatch through entire area (Ignore style)

98 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Hatch group codes

Group code

Description

76

Hatch pattern type:

0 = User-defined; 1 = Predefined; 2 = Custom

52

Hatch pattern angle (pattern fill only)

41

Hatch pattern scale or spacing (pattern fill only)

73

For MPolygon, boundary annotation flag (boundary is an annotated boundary = 1; boundary

is not an annotated boundary = 0)

77

Hatch pattern double flag (pattern fill only):

0 = not double; 1 = double

78

Number of pattern definition lines

varies

Pattern line data. Repeats number of times specified by code 78. See Pattern Data

47

Pixel size used to determine the density to perform various intersection and ray casting operations
in hatch pattern computation for associative hatches and hatches created with the Flood
method of hatching

98

Number of seed points

11

For MPolygon, offset vector

99

For MPolygon, number of degenerate boundary paths (loops), where a degenerate boundary
path is a border that is ignored by the hatch

10

Seed point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point (multiple entries)

20

DXF: Y value of seed point (in OCS); (multiple entries)

HATCH (DXF) | 99

Hatch group codes

Group code

Description

450

Indicates solid hatch or gradient; if solid hatch, the values for the remaining codes are ignored
but must be present. Optional; if code 450 is in the file, then the following codes must be in
the file: 451, 452, 453, 460, 461, 462, and 470. If code 450 is not in the file, then the following
codes must not be in the file: 451, 452, 453, 460, 461, 462, and 470
0 = Solid hatch
1 = Gradient

451

Zero is reserved for future use

452

Records how colors were defined and is used only by dialog code:
0 = Two-color gradient
1 = Single-color gradient

453

Number of colors:
0 = Solid hatch
2 = Gradient

460

Rotation angle in radians for gradients (default = 0, 0)

461

Gradient definition; corresponds to the Centered option on the Gradient Tab of the Boundary
Hatch and Fill dialog box. Each gradient has two definitions, shifted and unshifted. A Shift value
describes the blend of the two definitions that should be used. A value of 0.0 means only the
unshifted version should be used, and a value of 1.0 means that only the shifted version should
be used.

462

Color tint value used by dialog code (default = 0, 0; range is 0.0 to 1.0). The color tint value is
a gradient color and controls the degree of tint in the dialog when the Hatch group code 452
is set to 1.

463

Reserved for future use:

0 = First value
1 = Second value

470

String (default = LINEAR)

100 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Boundary Path Data (DXF)

The boundary of each hatch object is defined by a path (or loop) that consists
of one or more segments. Path segment data varies depending on the entity
type (or types) that make up the path. Each path segment is defined by its
own set of group codes.
Hatch boundary path data group codes
Group code

Description

92

Boundary path type flag (bit coded):

0 = Default; 1 = External; 2 = Polyline
4 = Derived; 8 = Textbox; 16 = Outermost

varies

Polyline boundary type data (only if boundary = polyline). See Polyline boundary data table
below

93

Number of edges in this boundary path (only if boundary is not a polyline)

72

Edge type (only if boundary is not a polyline):

1 = Line; 2 = Circular arc; 3 = Elliptic arc; 4 = Spline

varies

Edge type data (only if boundary is not a polyline). See appropriate Edge data table below

97

Number of source boundary objects

330

Reference to source boundary objects (multiple entries)

Polyline boundary data group codes

Group code

Description

72

Has bulge flag

73

Is closed flag

93

Number of polyline vertices

HATCH (DXF) | 101

Polyline boundary data group codes

Group code

Description

10

Vertex location (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point (multiple entries)

20

DXF: Y value of vertex location (in OCS) (multiple entries)

42

Bulge (optional, default = 0)

Line edge data group codes

Group code

Description

10

Start point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of start point (in OCS)

11

Endpoint (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

21

DXF: Y value of endpoint (in OCS)

Arc edge data group codes

Group code

Description

10

Center point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of center point (in OCS)

40

Radius

50

Start angle

102 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Arc edge data group codes

Group code

Description

51

End angle

73

Is counterclockwise flag

Ellipse edge data group codes

Group code

Description

10

Center point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of center point (in OCS)

11

Endpoint of major axis relative to center point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

21

DXF: Y value of endpoint of major axis (in OCS)

40

Length of minor axis (percentage of major axis length)

50

Start angle

51

End angle

73

Is counterclockwise flag

Spline edge data group codes

Group code

Description

94

Degree

73

Rational

HATCH (DXF) | 103

Spline edge data group codes

Group code

Description

74

Periodic

95

Number of knots

96

Number of control points

40

Knot values (multiple entries)

10

Control point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of control point (in OCS)

42

Weights (optional, default = 1)

97

Number of fit data

11

Fit datum (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

21

DXF: Y value of fit datum (in OCS)

12

Start tangent
DXF: X value; APP: 2D vector

22

DXF: Y value of start tangent (in OCS)

13

End tangent
DXF: X value; APP: 2D vector

23

DXF: Y value of end tangent (in OCS)

104 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Pattern Data (DXF)

The following pattern data codes repeat for each pattern definition line.
Hatch pattern data group codes
Group code

Description

53

Pattern line angle

43

Pattern line base point, X component

44

Pattern line base point, Y component

45

Pattern line offset, X component

46

Pattern line offset, Y component

79

Number of dash length items

49

Dash length (multiple entries)

HELIX (DXF)
The following group codes apply to helix entities.
Helix group codes
Group code

Description
Spline data

100

Subclass marker (AcDbHelix)

90

Major release number

91

Maintainance release number

HELIX (DXF) | 105

Helix group codes

Group code

Description

10, 20, 30

Axis base point

11, 21, 31

Start point

12, 22, 32

Axis vector

40

Radius

41

Number of turns

42

Turn height

290

Handedness; 0 = left, 1 = right

280

Constrain type
0 = Constrain turn height
1 = Constrain turns
2 = Constrain height

IMAGE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to image entities.
Image group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRasterImage)

90

Class version

10

Insertion point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

106 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Image group codes

Group code

Description

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point (in WCS)

11

U-vector of a single pixel (points along the visual bottom of the image, starting at the insertion
point) (in WCS)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values U-vector (in WCS)

12

V-vector of a single pixel (points along the visual left side of the image, starting at the insertion
point) (in WCS)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of V-vector (in WCS)

13

Image size in pixels

DXF: U value; APP: 2D point (U and V values)

23

DXF: V value of image size in pixels

340

Hard reference to imagedef object

70

Image display properties:

1 = Show image
2 = Show image when not aligned with screen
4 = Use clipping boundary
8 = Transparency is on

280

Clipping state: 0 = Off; 1 = On

281

Brightness value (0-100; default = 50)

282

Contrast value (0-100; default = 50)

283

Fade value (0-100; default = 0)

IMAGE (DXF) | 107

Image group codes

Group code

Description

360

Hard reference to imagedef_reactor object

71

Clipping boundary type. 1 = Rectangular; 2 = Polygonal

91

Number of clip boundary vertices that follow

14

Clip boundary vertex (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point (multiple entries)
NOTE 1) For rectangular clip boundary type, two opposite corners must be specified. Default
is (-0.5,-0.5), (size.x-0.5, size.y-0.5). 2) For polygonal clip boundary type, three or more vertices
must be specified. Polygonal vertices must be listed sequentially

24

DXF: Y value of clip boundary vertex (in OCS) (multiple entries)

290

Clip Mode: 0 = Outside Mode; 1 = Inside Mode

INSERT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to insert (block reference) entities.
Insert group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbBlockReference)

66

Variable attributes-follow flag (optional; default = 0); if the value of attributes-follow flag is 1, a
series of attribute entities is expected to follow the insert, terminated by a seqend entity

Block name

10

Insertion point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

108 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Insert group codes

Group code

Description

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point (in OCS)

41

X scale factor (optional; default = 1)

42

Y scale factor (optional; default = 1)

43

Z scale factor (optional; default = 1)

50

Rotation angle (optional; default = 0)

70

Column count (optional; default = 1)

71

Row count (optional; default = 1)

44

Column spacing (optional; default = 0)

45

Row spacing (optional; default = 0)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

LEADER (DXF)
The following group codes apply to leader entities.
Leader group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLeader)

LEADER (DXF) | 109

Leader group codes

Group code

Description

Dimension style name

71

Arrowhead flag: 0 = Disabled; 1 = Enabled

72

Leader path type: 0 = Straight line segments; 1 = Spline

73

Leader creation flag (default = 3):

0 = Created with text annotation
1 = Created with tolerance annotation
2 = Created with block reference annotation
3 = Created without any annotation

74

Hookline direction flag:

0 = Hookline (or end of tangent for a splined leader) is the opposite direction from the horizontal
vector
1 = Hookline (or end of tangent for a splined leader) is the same direction as horizontal vector
(see code 75)

75

Hookline flag: 0 = No hookline; 1 = Has a hookline

40

Text annotation height

41

Text annotation width

76

Number of vertices in leader (ignored for OPEN)

10

Vertex coordinates (one entry for each vertex)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of vertex coordinates

77

Color to use if leader's DIMCLRD = BYBLOCK

340

Hard reference to associated annotation (mtext, tolerance, or insert entity)

110 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Leader group codes

Group code

Description

210

Normal vector
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of normal vector

211

Horizontal direction for leader

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

221, 231

DXF: Y and Z values of horizontal direction for leader

212

Offset of last leader vertex from block reference insertion point

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

222, 232

DXF: Y and Z values of offset

213

Offset of last leader vertex from annotation placement point

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

223, 233

DXF: Y and Z values of offset

Xdata belonging to the application ID "ACAD" follows a leader entity if any

dimension overrides have been applied to this entity. See Dimension Style
Overrides.

LIGHT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to light entities.
Light group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLight)

LIGHT (DXF) | 111

Light group codes

Group code

Description

90

Version number

Light name

70

Light type (distant = 1; point = 2; spot = 3)

290

Status

291

Plot glyph

40

Intensity

10

Light Position
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: X, Y, and Z values of the light position

11

Target location
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: X, Y, and Z values of the target location

72

Attenuation type
0 = None
1 = Inverse Linear
2 = Inverse Square

292

Use attenuation limits

41

Attenuation start limit

42

Attenuation end limit

112 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Light group codes

Group code

Description

50

Hotspot angle

51

Falloff angle

293

Cast shadows

73

Shadow Type
0 = Ray traced shadows
1 = Shadow maps

91

Shadow map size

280

Shadow map softness

LINE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to line entities.
Line group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLine)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

10

Start point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of start point (in WCS)

11

Endpoint (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

LINE (DXF) | 113

Line group codes

Group code

Description

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of endpoint (in WCS)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

LWPOLYLINE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to lwpolyline entities.
Lwpolyline group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbPolyline)

90

Number of vertices

70

Polyline flag (bit-coded); default is 0:

1 = Closed; 128 = Plinegen

43

Constant width (optional; default = 0). Not used if variable width (codes 40 and/or 41) is set

38

Elevation (optional; default = 0)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

10

Vertex coordinates (in OCS), multiple entries; one entry for each vertex
DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of vertex coordinates (in OCS), multiple entries; one entry for each vertex

114 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Lwpolyline group codes

Group code

Description

91

Vertex identifier

40

Starting width (multiple entries; one entry for each vertex) (optional; default = 0; multiple
entries). Not used if constant width (code 43) is set

41

End width (multiple entries; one entry for each vertex) (optional; default = 0; multiple entries).
Not used if constant width (code 43) is set

42

Bulge (multiple entries; one entry for each vertex) (optional; default = 0)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

MESH (DXF)
The following group codes apply to the mesh entity.
Mesh group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSubDMesh)

71

Version number

72

"Blend Crease" property

0 = Turn off
1 = Turn on

91

Number of subdivision level

MESH (DXF) | 115

Mesh group codes

Group code

Description

92

Vertex count of level 0

10

Vertex position

93

Size of face list of level 0

90

Face list item

94

Edge count of level 0

90

Vertex index of each edge

95

Edge crease count of level 0

140

Edge create value

90

Count of sub-entity which property has been overridden

91

Sub-entity marker

92

Count of property was overridden

90

Property type
0 = Color
1 = Material
2 = Transparency
3 = Material mapper

116 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

MLINE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to mline entities.
Mline group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbMline)

String of up to 32 characters. The name of the style used for this mline. An entry for this style
must exist in the MLINESTYLE dictionary.
Do not modify this field without also updating the associated entry in the MLINESTYLE dictionary

340

Pointer-handle/ID of MLINESTYLE object

40

Scale factor

70

Justification: 0 = Top; 1 = Zero; 2 = Bottom

71

Flags (bit-coded values):

1 = Has at least one vertex (code 72 is greater than 0)
2 = Closed
4 = Suppress start caps
8 = Suppress end caps

72

Number of vertices

73

Number of elements in MLINESTYLE definition

10

Start point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of start point (in WCS)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

MLINE (DXF) | 117

Mline group codes

Group code

Description

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

11

Vertex coordinates (multiple entries; one entry for each vertex) DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of vertex coordinates

12

Direction vector of segment starting at this vertex (multiple entries; one for each vertex)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of direction vector of segment starting at this vertex

13

Direction vector of miter at this vertex (multiple entries: one for each vertex)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of direction vector of miter

74

Number of parameters for this element (repeats for each element in segment)

41

Element parameters (repeats based on previous code 74)

75

Number of area fill parameters for this element (repeats for each element in segment)

42

Area fill parameters (repeats based on previous code 75)

The group code 41 parameterization is a list of real values, one real per group
code 41. The list may contain zero or more items. The first group code 41
value is the distance from the segment vertex along the miter vector to the
point where the line element's path intersects the miter vector. The next group
code 41 value is the distance along the line element's path from the point
defined by the first group 41 to the actual start of the line element. The next
is the distance from the start of the line element to the first break (or cut) in
the line element. The successive group code 41 values continue to list the start
and stop points of the line element in this segment of the mline. Linetypes
do not affect group 41 lists.

118 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

The group code 42 parameterization is also a list of real values. Similar to the
41 parameterization, it describes the parameterization of the fill area for this
mline segment. The values are interpreted identically to the 41 parameters
and when taken as a whole for all line elements in the mline segment, they
define the boundary of the fill area for the mline segment.
A common example of the use of the group code 42 mechanism is when an
unfilled mline crosses over a filled mline and mledit is used to cause the filled
mline to appear unfilled in the crossing area. This would result in two group
42s for each line element in the affected mline segment; one for the fill stop
and one for the fill start.
The 2 group codes in mline entities and mlinestyle objects are redundant
fields. These groups should not be modified under any circumstances, although
it is safe to read them and use their values. The correct fields to modify are as
follows:
Mline The 340 group in the same object, which indicates the proper
MLINESTYLE object.
Mlinestyle The 3 group value in the MLINESTYLE dictionary, which precedes
the 350 group that has the handle or entity name of the current mlinestyle.

MLEADER (DXF)
MLeader entity definitions consist of group codes that are common to all
MLeader types, followed by codes specific to the type.

Common MLeader Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to all mleaderstyle entity types.
Common MLeader Line Group Codes
Group code

Description

340

Leader Style Id

90

Property Override Flag

170

LeaderLineType

MLEADER (DXF) | 119

Common MLeader Line Group Codes

Group code

Description

91

Leade LineColor

341

LeaderLineTypeID

171

LeaderLine Weight

290

Enable Landing

291

Enable Dogleg

41

Dogleg Length

342

Arrowhead ID

42

Arrowhead Size

172

Content Type

343

Text Style ID

173

Text Left Attachment Type

95

Text Right Attachement Type

174

Text Angle Type

175

Text Alignment Type

92

Text Color

292

Enable Frame Text

344

Block Content ID

120 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Common MLeader Line Group Codes

Group code

Description

93

Block Content Color

10

Block Content Scale

43

Block Content Rotation

176

Block Content Connection Type

293

Enable Annotation Scale

94

Arrowhead Index

345

Arrowhead ID

330

Block AttributerId

177

Block Attribute Index

44

Block Attribute Width

302

Block Attribute Text String

294

Text Direction Negative

178

Text Align in IPE

179

Text Attachment Point

271

Text attachment direction for MText contents:

0 = Horizontal
1 = Vertical

MLEADER (DXF) | 121

Common MLeader Line Group Codes

Group code

Description

272

Bottom text attachment direction:

9 = Center
10 = Underline and Center

273

Top text attachment direction:

9 = Center
10 = Overline and Center

MLeader Context Data Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to all mleader entity types context data.
MLeader Context Data group codes
Group code

Description

40

Content Scale

10,20,30

Content Base Position

41

Text Height

140

Arrowhead Size

145

Landing Gap

290

hasMText

304

Default Text Contents

11,21,31

Text Normal Direction

340

Text Style ID

122 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

MLeader Context Data group codes

Group code

Description

12,22,32

Text Location

13,23,33

Text Direction

42

Text Rotation

43

Text Width

44

Text Height

45

Text Line Spacing Factor

170

Text Line Spacing Style

90

Text Color

171

Text Attachment

172

Text Flow Direction

91

Text Background Color

141

Text Background Scale Factor

92

Text Background Transparency

291

Is Text Background Color On

292

Is Text Background Fill On

173

Text Column Type

293

Use Text Auto Height

MLEADER (DXF) | 123

MLeader Context Data group codes

Group code

Description

142

Text Column Width

143

Text Column Gutter Width

294

Text Column Flow Reversed

144

Text Column Height

295

Text Use Word Break

296

HasBlock

341

Block Content ID

14,24,34

Block Content Normal Direction

15,25,35

Block Content Position

16

Block Content Scale

46

Block Content Rotation

93

Block Content Color

47

Block Transformation Matrix

110

MLeader Plane Origin Point

111

MLeader Plane X-Axis Direction

112

MLeader Plane Y-Axis Direction

297

MLeader Plane Normal Reversed

124 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

MLeader Context Data group codes

Group code

Description

10,20,30

Vertex

90

Break Point Index

43

Text Width

44

Text Height

45

Text Line Spacing Factor

170

Text Line Spacing Style

90

Text Color

171

Text Attachment

172

Text Flow Direction

91

Text Background Color

141

Text Background Scale Factor

92

Text Background Transparency

291

Is Text Background Color On

292

Is Text Background Fill On

173

Text Column Type

293

Use Text Auto Height

142

Text Column Width

MLEADER (DXF) | 125

MLeader Context Data group codes

Group code

Description

143

Text Column Gutter Width

294

Text Column Flow Reversed

144

Text Column Height

295

Text Use Word Break

296

HasBlock

341

Block Content ID

14,24,34

Block Content Normal Direction

15,25,35

Block Content Position

16

Block Content Scale

46

Block Content Rotation

93

BLock Content Color

47

BLock Transformation Matrix

110

Mleader Plane Origin Point

111

MLeader Plane X-Axis Direction

112

MLeader Plane Y-Axis Direction

297

MLeader Plane Normal Reversed

126 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

MLeader Leader Node Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to all mleader entity types leader node.
MLeader Leader Node Group Codes
Group code

Description

290

Has Set Last Leader Line Point

291

Has Set Dogleg Vector

10,20,30

Last Leader Line Point

11,21,31

Dogleg Vector

12,22,32

Break Start Point

13,23,33

Break End Point

90

Leader Branch Index

40

Dogleg Length

MLeader Leader Line Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes apply to all mleader entity types leader line.
Leader Line Group Codes
Group code

Description

10,20,30

Vertex

90

Break Point Index

11,21,31

Break Start Point

MLEADER (DXF) | 127

Leader Line Group Codes

Group code

Description

12,22,32

Break End Point

91

Leader Line Index

MLEADERSTYLE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to mleaderstyle entities.
MLeaderstyle group codes
Group code

Description

170

Content Type

171

DrawMLeaderOrder Type

172

DrawLeaderOrder Type

90

MaxLeader Segments Points

40

First Segment Angle Constraint

41

Second Segment Angle Constraint

173

LeaderLineType

91

LeaderLineColor

340

LeaderLineType ID

92

LeaderLineWeight

128 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

MLeaderstyle group codes

Group code

Description

290

Enable Landing

42

Landing Gap

291

Enable Dogleg

43

Dogleg Length

Mleader Style Description

341

Arrowhead ID

44

Arrowhead Size

300

Default MText Contents

342

mTextStyleId

174

Text Left Attachment Type

175

Text Angle Type

176

Text Alignment Type

178

Text Right Attachment Type

93

Text Color

45

Text Height

292

Enable Frame Text

297

Text Align Always Left

MLEADERSTYLE (DXF) | 129

MLeaderstyle group codes

Group code

Description

46

Align Space

343

Block Content ID

94

Block Content Color

47

Block Content Scale on X-axis

49

Block Content Scale on Y-axis

140

Block Content Scale on Z-axis

293

Enable Block Content Scale

141

Block Content Rotation

294

Enable Block Content Rotation

177

Block Content Connection Type

142

Scale

295

Overwrite Property Value

296

Is Annotative

143

Break Gap Size

271

Text attachment direction for MText contents:

0 = Horizontal
1 = Vertical

272

Bottom text attachment direction:

130 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

MLeaderstyle group codes

Group code

Description
9 = Center
10 = Underline and Center

273

Top text attachment direction:

9 = Center
10 = Overline and Center

MTEXT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to mtext entities.
Mtext group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbMText)

10

Insertion point
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point

40

Nominal (initial) text height

41

Reference rectangle width

71

Attachment point:
1 = Top left; 2 = Top center; 3 = Top right
4 = Middle left; 5 = Middle center; 6 = Middle right
7 = Bottom left; 8 = Bottom center; 9 = Bottom right

72

Drawing direction:
1 = Left to right
3 = Top to bottom

MTEXT (DXF) | 131

Mtext group codes

Group code

Description
5 = By style (the flow direction is inherited from the associated text style)

Text string. If the text string is less than 250 characters, all characters appear in group 1. If the
text string is greater than 250 characters, the string is divided into 250-character chunks, which
appear in one or more group 3 codes. If group 3 codes are used, the last group is a group 1
and has fewer than 250 characters

Additional text (always in 250-character chunks) (optional)

Text style name (STANDARD if not provided) (optional)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

11

X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector
A group code 50 (rotation angle in radians) passed as DXF input is converted to the equivalent
direction vector (if both a code 50 and codes 11, 21, 31 are passed, the last one wins). This is
provided as a convenience for conversions from text objects

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

42

Horizontal width of the characters that make up the mtext entity. This value will always be equal
to or less than the value of group code 41 (read-only, ignored if supplied)

43

Vertical height of the mtext entity (read-only, ignored if supplied)

50

Rotation angle in radians

73

Mtext line spacing style (optional):

1 = At least (taller characters will override)
2 = Exact (taller characters will not override)

132 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Mtext group codes

Group code

Description

44

Mtext line spacing factor (optional):

Percentage of default (3-on-5) line spacing to be applied. Valid values range from 0.25 to 4.00

90

Background fill setting:

0 = Background fill off
1 = Use background fill color
2 = Use drawing window color as background fill color

420 - 429

Background color (if RGB color)

430 - 439

Background color (if color name)

45

Fill box scale (optional):

Determines how much border there is around the text.

63

Background fill color (optional):

Color to use for background fill when group code 90 is 1.

441

Transparency of background fill color (not implemented)

75

Column type

76

Column count

78

Column Flow Reversed

79

Column Autoheight

48

Column width

49

Column gutter

50

Column heights; this code is followed by a column count (Int16), and then the number of
column heights

MTEXT (DXF) | 133

Xdata with the "DCO15" application ID may follow an mtext entity. This
contains information related to the dbConnect feature.

OLEFRAME (DXF)
The following group codes apply to oleframe entities.
Oleframe group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbOleFrame)

70

OLE version number

90

Length of binary data

310

Binary data (multiple lines)

End of OLE data (the string OLE)

OLE2FRAME (DXF)
The following group codes apply to ole2frame entities. This information is
read-only. During OPEN, the values are ignored because they are part of the
OLE binary object, and are obtained by access functions.
Ole2frame group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbOle2Frame)

70

OLE version number

Length of binary data

134 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Ole2frame group codes

Group code

Description

10

Upper-left corner (WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of upper-left corner (in WCS)

11

Lower-right corner (WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of lower-right corner (in WCS)

71

OLE object type, 1 = Link; 2 = Embedded; 3 = Static

72

Tile mode descriptor:

0 = Object resides in model space
1 = Object resides in paper space

90

Length of binary data

310

Binary data (multiple lines)

End of OLE data (the string OLE)

Sample DXF output:

OLE2FRAME
5
2D
100
AcDbEntity
67
1
8
0
100
AcDbOle2Frame

OLE2FRAME (DXF) | 135

70
2
3
Paintbrush Picture
10
4.43116
20
5.665992
30
0.0
11
6.4188
21
4.244939
31
0.0
71
2
72
1
90
23680
310
0155764BD60082B91140114B08C8F9A916400000000000000000506DC0D0D9AC
310
1940114B08C8F9A916400000000000000000506DC0D0D9AC194002303E5CD1FA
310
10400000000000000000764BD60082B9114002303E5CD1FA1040000000000000
...
...
AutoLISP entnext function sample output:
Command: (setq e (entget e3))
((-1 . <Entity name: 7d50428>) (0 . "OLE2FRAME") (5 .
"2D")
(100 . "AcDbEntity") (67 . 1) (8 . "0") (100 .
"AcDbOle2Frame")

136 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

(70 . 2) (3 "Paintbrush Picture") (10 4.43116 5.66599

0.0)
(11 6.4188 4.24494 0.0) (71 . 2) (72 . 1))

POINT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to point entities.
Point group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbPoint)

10

Point location (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of point location (in WCS)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

50

Angle of the X axis for the UCS in effect when the point was drawn (optional, default = 0); used
when PDMODE is nonzero

POINT (DXF) | 137

POLYLINE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to polyline entities.
Polyline group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDb2dPolyline or AcDb3dPolyline)

66

Obsolete; formerly an entities follow flag (optional; ignore if present)

10

DXF: always 0
APP: a dummy point; the X and Y values are always 0, and the Z value is the polyline's
elevation (in OCS when 2D, WCS when 3D)

20

DXF: always 0

30

DXF: polyline's elevation (in OCS when 2D; WCS when 3D)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

70

Polyline flag (bit-coded; default = 0):

1 = This is a closed polyline (or a polygon mesh closed in the M direction)
2 = Curve-fit vertices have been added
4 = Spline-fit vertices have been added
8 = This is a 3D polyline
16 = This is a 3D polygon mesh
32 = The polygon mesh is closed in the N direction
64 = The polyline is a polyface mesh
128 = The linetype pattern is generated continuously around the vertices of this polyline

40

Default start width (optional; default = 0)

41

Default end width (optional; default = 0)

71

Polygon mesh M vertex count (optional; default = 0)

72

Polygon mesh N vertex count (optional; default = 0)

138 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Polyline group codes

Group code

Description

73

Smooth surface M density (optional; default = 0)

74

Smooth surface N density (optional; default = 0)

75

Curves and smooth surface type (optional; default = 0); integer codes, not bit-coded:
0 = No smooth surface fitted
5 = Quadratic B-spline surface
6 = Cubic B-spline surface
8 = Bezier surface

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

Xdata with the "AUTOCAD_POSTSCRIPT_FIGURE" application ID may follow a

polyline entity. This contains information related to PostScript images and
PostScript fill information.

Polyface Meshes (DXF)

A polyface mesh is represented in DXF as a variant of a polyline entity. The
polyline header is identified as introducing a polyface mesh by the presence
of the 64 bit in the polyline flags (70) group. The 71 group specifies the number
of vertices in the mesh, and the 72 group specifies the number of faces.
Although these counts are correct for all meshes created with the PFACE
command, applications are not required to place correct values in these fields.
Following the polyline header is a sequence of vertex entities that specify the
vertex coordinates, followed by faces that compose the mesh.
The AutoCAD entity structure imposes a limit on the number of vertices that
a given face entity can specify. You can represent more complex polygons by
decomposing them into triangular wedges. Their edges should be made
invisible to prevent visible artifacts of this subdivision from being drawn. The
PFACE command performs this subdivision automatically, but when
applications generate polyface meshes directly, the applications must do this

POLYLINE (DXF) | 139

themselves. The number of vertices per face is the key parameter in this
subdivision process. The PFACEVMAX system variable provides an application
with the number of vertices per face entity. This value is read-only and is set
to 4.
Polyface meshes created with the PFACE command are always generated with
all the vertex coordinate entities first, followed by the face definition entities.
The code within AutoCAD that processes polyface meshes requires this
ordering. Programs that generate polyface meshes in DXF should generate all
the vertices, and then all the faces. However, programs that read polyface
meshes from DXF should be tolerant of odd vertex and face ordering.

RAY (DXF)
The following group codes apply to ray entities.
Ray group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRay)

10

Start point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of start point (in WCS)

11

Unit direction vector (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of unit direction vector (in WCS)

140 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

REGION (DXF)
The following group codes apply to region entities.
Region group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbModelerGeometry)

70

Modeler format version number (currently = 1)

Proprietary data (multiple lines < 255 characters each)

Additional lines of proprietary data (if previous group 1 string is greater than 255 characters)
(optional)

SECTION (DXF)
The following group codes apply to section entities.
Section group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSection)

90

Section state

91

Section flags

Name

10, 20, 30

Vertical direction

40

Top height

REGION (DXF) | 141

Section group codes

Group code

Description

41

Bottom height

70

Indicator transparency

63, 411

Indicator color

92

Number of vertices

11, 21, 31

Vertex (repeats for number of vertices)

93

Number of back line vertices

12, 22, 32

Back line vertex (repeats for number of back line vertices)

360

Hard-pointer ID/handle to geometry settings object

SEQEND (DXF)
The following group codes apply to seqend entities.
Seqend group codes
Group code

Description

-2

APP: name of entity that began the sequence. This entity marks the end of vertex (vertex
type name) for a polyline, or the end of attribute entities (attrib type name) for an insert
entity that has attributes (indicated by 66 group present and nonzero in insert entity). This
code is not saved in a DXF file

142 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

SHAPE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to shape entities.
Shape group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbShape)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

10

Insertion point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point (in WCS)

40

Size

Shape name

50

Rotation angle (optional; default = 0)

41

Relative X scale factor (optional; default = 1)

51

Oblique angle (optional; default = 0)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

SHAPE (DXF) | 143

SOLID (DXF)
The following group codes apply to solid entities.
Solid group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbTrace)

10

First corner
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of first corner

11

Second corner
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of second corner

12

Third corner
XF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of third corner

13

Fourth corner. If only three corners are entered to define the SOLID, then the fourth corner
coordinate is the same as the third.
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of fourth corner

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

144 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

SPLINE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to spline entities.
Spline group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSpline)

210

Normal vector (omitted if the spline is nonplanar)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of normal vector (optional)

70

Spline flag (bit coded):

1 = Closed spline
2 = Periodic spline
4 = Rational spline
8 = Planar
16 = Linear (planar bit is also set)

71

Degree of the spline curve

72

Number of knots

73

Number of control points

74

Number of fit points (if any)

42

Knot tolerance (default = 0.0000001)

43

Control-point tolerance (default = 0.0000001)

44

Fit tolerance (default = 0.0000000001)

12

Start tangentmay be omitted (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

SPLINE (DXF) | 145

Spline group codes

Group code

Description

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of start tangentmay be omitted (in WCS)

13

End tangentmay be omitted (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of end tangentmay be omitted (in WCS)

40

Knot value (one entry per knot)

41

Weight (if not 1); with multiple group pairs, they are present if all are not 1

10

Control points (in WCS); one entry per control point

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of control points (in WCS); one entry per control point

11

Fit points (in WCS); one entry per fit point

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of fit points (in WCS); one entry per fit point

SUN (DXF)
The following group codes apply to the sun entity.
Sun group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSun)

90

Version number

146 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Sun group codes

Group code

Description

290

Status

63

Color

40

Intensity

291

Shadows

91

Julian day

92

Time (in seconds past midnight)

292

Daylight savings time

70

Shadow type
0 = Ray traced shadows
1 = Shadow maps

71

Shadow map size

280

Shadow softness

SURFACE (DXF)
Surface entity definitions consist of group codes that are common to all surface
types, followed by codes specific to the type.
Common Surface group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbModelerGeometry)

SURFACE (DXF) | 147

Common Surface group codes

Group code

Description

70

Modeler format version number (currently = 1)

Proprietary data (multiple lines < 255 characters each)

Additional lines of proprietary data (if previous group 1 string is greater than 255 characters)
(optional)

100

Subclass markar (AcDbSurface)

71

Number of U isolines

72

Number of V isolines

Extruded Surface (DXF)

The following group codes apply to extruded surfaces.
Extruded Surface group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass markar (AcDbExtrudedSurface)

90

Class ID

90

Size of binary data

310

Binary data

10, 20, 30

Sweep vector

40

Transform matrix of extruded entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

148 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Extruded Surface group codes

Group code

Description

42

Draft angle (in radians)

43

Draft start distance

44

Draft end distance

45

Twist angle

48

Scale factor

49

Align angle (in radians)

46

Transform matrix of sweep entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

47

Transform matrix of path entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

290

Solid flag

70

Sweep alignment option

0 = No alignment
1 = Align sweep entity to path
2 = Translate sweep entity to path
3 = Translate path to sweep entity

292

Align start flag

293

Bank flag

294

Base point set flag

295

Sweep entity transform computed flag

296

Path entity transform computed flag

SURFACE (DXF) | 149

Extruded Surface group codes

Group code

Description

11, 21, 31

Reference vector for controlling twist

Lofted Surface (DXF)

The following group codes apply to lofted surfaces.
Lofted Surface group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLoftedSurface)

40

Transform matrix of loft entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)
Entity data for cross sections
Entity data for guide curves
Entity data for path curves

70

Plane normal lofting type

41

Start draft angle (in radians)

42

End draft angle (in radians)

43

Start draft magnitude

44

End draft magnitude

290

Arc length parameterization flag

150 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Lofted Surface group codes

Group code

Description

291

No twist flag

292

Align direction flag

293

Create simple surfaces flag

294

Create closed surface flag

295

Solid flag

296

Create ruled surface flag

297

Virtual guide flag

Revolved Surface (DXF)

The following group codes apply to revolved surfaces.
Revolved Surface group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass markar (AcDbRevolvedSurface)

90

ID of revolve entity

90

Size of binary data

310

Binary data

10, 20, 30

Axis point

SURFACE (DXF) | 151

Revolved Surface group codes

Group code

Description

11, 21, 31

Axis vector

40

Revolve angle (in radians)

41

Start angle (in radians)

42

Transform matrix of revolved entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

43

Draft angle (in radians)

44

Start draft distance

45

End draft distance

46

Twist angle (in radians)

290

Solid flag

291

Close to axis flag

Swept Surface (DXF)

The following group codes apply to swept surfaces.
Swept Surface group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass markar (AcDbSweptSurface)

90

ID of sweep entity

152 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Swept Surface group codes

Group code

Description

90

Size of binary data

310

Binary data

90

ID of path entity

90

Size of binary data

310

Proprietary data

40

Transform matrix of sweep entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

41

Transform matrix of path entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

42

Draft angle (in radians)

43

Draft start distance

44

Draft end distance

45

Twist angle

48

Scale factor

49

Align angle (in radians)

46

Transform matrix of sweep entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

47

Transform matrix of path entity (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

290

Solid flag

70

Sweep alignment option

SURFACE (DXF) | 153

Swept Surface group codes

Group code

Description
0 = No alignment
1 = Align sweep entity to path
2 = Translate sweep entity to path
3 = Translate path to sweep entity

292

Align start flag

293

Bank flag

294

Base point set flag

295

Sweep entity transform computed flag

296

Path entity transform computed flag

11, 21, 31

Reference vector for controlling twist

TABLE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to table entities.
Table group codes
Group code

Description

Entity name (ACAD_TABLE)

Entity handle

330

Soft-pointer ID to the owner dictionary

100

Subclass marker. (AcDbEntity)

154 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Table group codes

Group code

Description

92

Number of bytes in the proxy entity graphics

310

Data for proxy entity graphics (multiple lines; 256-character maximum per line)

100

Subclass marker. (AcDbBlockReference)

Block name; an anonymous block begins with a *T value

10,20,30

Insertion point

100

Subclass marker. (AcDbTable)

280

Table data version number:

0 = 2010

342

Hard pointer ID of the TABLESTYLE object

343

Hard pointer ID of the owning BLOCK record

11,21,31

Horizontal direction vector

90

Flag for table value (unsigned integer)

91

Number of rows

92

Number of columns

93

Flag for an override

94

Flag for an override of border color

95

Flag for an override of border lineweight

TABLE (DXF) | 155

Table group codes

Group code

Description

96

Flag for an override of border visibility

141

Row height; this value is repeated, 1 value per row

142

Column height; this value is repeated, 1 value per column

171

Cell type; this value is repeated, 1 value per cell:

1 = text type
2 = block type

172

Cell flag value; this value is repeated, 1 value per cell

173

Cell merged value; this value is repeated, 1 value per cell

174

Boolean flag indicating if the autofit option is set for the cell; this value is repeated, 1 value per
cell

175

Cell border width (applicable only for merged cells); this value is repeated, 1 value per cell

176

Cell border height ( applicable for merged cells); this value is repeated, 1 value per cell

91

Cell override flag; this value is repeated, 1 value per cell

(from AutoCAD 2007)

178

Flag value for a virtual edge

145

Rotation value (real; applicable for a block-type cell and a text-type cell)

344

Hard pointer ID of the FIELD object. This applies only to a text-type cell. If the text in the cell
contains one or more fields, only the ID of the FIELD object is saved. The text string (group
codes 1 and 3) is ignored

Text string in a cell. If the string is shorter than 250 characters, all characters appear in code 1.
If the string is longer than 250 characters, it is divided into chunks of 250 characters. The chunks

156 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Table group codes

Group code

Description
are contained in one or more code 2 codes. If code 2 codes are used, the last group is a code
1 and is shorter than 250 characters. This value applies only to text-type cells and is repeated,
1 value per cell

Text string in a cell, in 250-character chunks; optional. This value applies only to text-type cells
and is repeated, 1 value per cell

340

Hard-pointer ID of the block table record. This value applies only to block-type cells and is repeated, 1 value per cell

144

Block scale (real). This value applies only to block-type cells and is repeated, 1 value per cell

179

Number of attribute definitions in the block table record (applicable only to a block-type cell)

331

Soft pointer ID of the attribute definition in the block table record, referenced by group code
179 (applicable only for a block-type cell). This value is repeated once per attribute definition

300

Text string value for an attribute definition, repeated once per attribute definition and applicable
only for a block-type cell

Text style name (string); override applied at the cell level

140

Text height value; override applied at the cell level

170

Cell alignment value; override applied at the cell level

64

Value for the color of cell content; override applied at the cell level

63

Value for the background (fill) color of cell content; override applied at the cell level

69

True color value for the top border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

65

True color value for the right border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

TABLE (DXF) | 157

Table group codes

Group code

Description

66

True color value for the bottom border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

68

True color value for the left border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

279

Lineweight for the top border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

275

Lineweight for the right border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

276

Lineweight for the bottom border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

278

Lineweight for the left border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

283

Boolean flag for whether the fill color is on; override applied at the cell level

289

Boolean flag for the visibility of the top border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

285

Boolean flag for the visibility of the right border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

286

Boolean flag for the visibility of the bottom border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

288

Boolean flag for the visibility of the left border of the cell; override applied at the cell level

70

Flow direction; override applied at the table entity level

40

Horizontal cell margin; override applied at the table entity level

41

Vertical cell margin; override applied at the table entity level

280

Flag for whether the title is suppressed; override applied at the table entity level

281

Flag for whether the header row is suppressed; override applied at the table entity level

158 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Table group codes

Group code

Description

Text style name (string); override applied at the table entity level. There may be one entry for
each cell type

140

Text height (real); override applied at the table entity level. There may be one entry for each
cell type

170

Cell alignment (integer); override applied at the table entity level. There may be one entry for
each cell type

63

Color value for cell background or for the vertical, left border of the table; override applied at
the table entity level. There may be one entry for each cell type

64

Color value for cell content or for the horizontal, top border of the table; override applied at
the table entity level. There may be one entry for each cell type

65

Color value for the horizontal, inside border lines; override applied at the table entity level

66

Color value for the horizontal, bottom border lines; override applied at the table entity level

68

Color value for the vertical, inside border lines; override applied at the table entity level

69

Color value for the vertical, right border lines; override applied at the table entity level

283

Flag for whether background color is enabled (default = 0); override applied at the table entity
level. There may be one entry for each cell type:
0 = Disabled
1 = Enabled

274-279

Lineweight for each border type of the cell (default = kLnWtByBlock); override applied at the
table entity level. There may be one group for each cell type

284-289

Flag for visibility of each border type of the cell (default = 1); override applied at the table entity
level. There may be one group for each cell type:
0 = Invisible
1 = Visible

TABLE (DXF) | 159

Table group codes

Group code

Description

97

Standard/title/header row data type

98

Standard/title/header row unit type

Standard/title/header row format string

177

Cell override flag value (before AutoCAD 2007)

92

Extended cell flags (from AutoCAD 2007)

301

Cell value block begin (from AutoCAD 2007)

302

Text string in a cell. If the string is shorter than 250 characters, all characters appear in code
302. If the string is longer than 250 characters, it is divided into chunks of 250 characters. The
chunks are contained in one or more code 303 codes. If code 393 codes are used, the last group
is a code 1 and is shorter than 250 characters. This value applies only to text-type cells and is
repeated, 1 value per cell (from AutoCAD 2007)

303

Text string in a cell, in 250-character chunks; optional. This value applies only to text-type cells
and is repeated, 302 value per cell (from AutoCAD 2007)

Group code 178 is a flag value for a virtual edge. A virtual edge is used when
a grid line is shared by two cells. For example, if a table contains one row and
two columns and it contains cell A and cell B, the central grid line contains
the right edge of cell A and the left edge of cell B. One edge is real, and the
other edge is virtual. The virtual edge points to the real edge; both edges have
the same set of properties, including color, lineweight, and visibility.

160 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

TEXT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to text entities.
Text group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbText)

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

10

First alignment point (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of first alignment point (in OCS)

40

Text height

Default value (the string itself)

50

Text rotation (optional; default = 0)

41

Relative X scale factorwidth (optional; default = 1)

This value is also adjusted when fit-type text is used

51

Oblique angle (optional; default = 0)

Text style name (optional, default = STANDARD)

71

Text generation flags (optional, default = 0):

2 = Text is backward (mirrored in X)
4 = Text is upside down (mirrored in Y)

72

Horizontal text justification type (optional, default = 0) integer codes (not bit-coded)
0 = Left; 1= Center; 2 = Right
3 = Aligned (if vertical alignment = 0)
4 = Middle (if vertical alignment = 0)

TEXT (DXF) | 161

Text group codes

Group code

Description
5 = Fit (if vertical alignment = 0)
See the Group 72 and 73 integer codes table for clarification

11

Second alignment point (in OCS) (optional)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point
This value is meaningful only if the value of a 72 or 73 group is nonzero (if the justification is
anything other than baseline/left)

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of second alignment point (in OCS) (optional)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbText)

73

Vertical text justification type (optional, default = 0): integer codes (not bit-coded):
0 = Baseline; 1 = Bottom; 2 = Middle; 3 = Top
See the Group 72 and 73 integer codes table for clarification

The following table describes the group codes 72 (horizontal alignment) and
73 (vertical alignment) in greater detail.
Group 72 and 73 integer codes
Group 73

Group
72
0

3 (top)

TLeft

TCenter

TRight

2 (middle)

MLeft

MCenter

MRight

1 (bottom)

BLeft

BCenter

BRight

162 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Group 72 and 73 integer codes

Group 73

Group
72
0

0 (baseline)

Left

Center

Right

Aligned

Middle

Fit

If group 72 and/or 73 values are nonzero then the first alignment point values
are ignored and AutoCAD calculates new values based on the second alignment
point and the length and height of the text string itself (after applying the
text style). If the 72 and 73 values are zero or missing, then the second
alignment point is meaningless.

TOLERANCE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to tolerance entities.
Tolerance group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbFcf)

Dimension style name

10

Insertion point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point (in WCS)

String representing the visual representation of the tolerance

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

11

X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

TOLERANCE (DXF) | 163

Tolerance group codes

Group code

Description
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of X-axis direction vector (in WCS)

TRACE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to trace entities.
Trace group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbTrace)

10

First corner (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of first corner (in OCS)

11

Second corner (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of second corner (in OCS)

12

Third corner (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of third corner (in OCS)

13

Fourth corner (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of fourth corner (in OCS)

164 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Trace group codes

Group code

Description

39

Thickness (optional; default = 0)

210

Extrusion direction (optional; default = 0, 0, 1)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction (optional)

UNDERLAY (DXF)
The following group codes apply to underlays.
Please note that UNDERLAY group codes are common to DGNUNDERLAY,
DWFUNDERLAY, and PDFUNDERLAY. The differentiation between
DGNUNDERLAY, DWFUNDERLAY, and PDFUNDERLAY occurs in group code
0, defining the object name.
Underlay group codes
Group code

Description

Object name.

DGNUNDERLAY - Attached DGN file

DWFUNDERLAY - Attached DWF file

PDFUNDERLAY - Attached PDF file

100

Subclass marker (AcDbUnderlayReference)

340

The ID of the AcDbUnderlayDefinition object

10,20,30

The X,Y, and Z coordinates of the insertion point of the underlay.

These are OCS/ECS coordinates

41,42,43

DXF: X, Y, and Z scale factors

UNDERLAY (DXF) | 165

Underlay group codes

Group code

Description

50

Rotation Angle (in OCS/ECS. CCW from the coordinate system X axis
and around the Z axis)

210,220,230

Normal vector (in WCS)

280

Flags
1 = Clipping is on
2 = Underlay is on
4 = Monochrome
8 = Adjust for background
16 = Clip is inside mode

281

Contrast (value between 20 and 100)

282

Fade (value between 0 and 80)

11, 21

Repeating: 2d points in OCS/ECS. If only two, then they are the lower
left and upper right corner points of a clip rectangle. If more than two,
then they are the vertices of a clipping polygon

VERTEX (DXF)
The following group codes apply to vertex entities.
Vertex group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbVertex)

100

Subclass marker (AcDb2dVertex or AcDb3dPolylineVertex)

10

Location point (in OCS when 2D, and WCS when 3D)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

166 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Vertex group codes

Group code

Description

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of location point (in OCS when 2D, and WCS when 3D)

40

Starting width (optional; default is 0)

41

Ending width (optional; default is 0)

42

Bulge (optional; default is 0). The bulge is the tangent of one fourth the included angle for an
arc segment, made negative if the arc goes clockwise from the start point to the endpoint. A
bulge of 0 indicates a straight segment, and a bulge of 1 is a semicircle

70

Vertex flags:
1 = Extra vertex created by curve-fitting
2 = Curve-fit tangent defined for this vertex. A curve-fit tangent direction of 0 may be omitted
from DXF output but is significant if this bit is set
4 = Not used
8 = Spline vertex created by spline-fitting
16 = Spline frame control point
32 = 3D polyline vertex
64 = 3D polygon mesh
128 = Polyface mesh vertex

50

Curve fit tangent direction

71

Polyface mesh vertex index (optional; present only if nonzero)

72

Polyface mesh vertex index (optional; present only if nonzero)

73

Polyface mesh vertex index (optional; present only if nonzero)

74

Polyface mesh vertex index (optional; present only if nonzero)

91

Vertex identifier

Every vertex that is part of a polyface mesh has its vertex flag 128 bit set. If
the entity supplies the coordinate of a vertex of the mesh, its 64 bit is set as

VERTEX (DXF) | 167

well, and the 10, 20, 30 groups give the vertex coordinate. The vertex index
values are determined by the order in which the vertex entities appear within
the polyline, with the first being numbered 1.
If the vertex defines a face of the mesh, its vertex flags group has the 128 bit
set but not the 64 bit. In this case, the 10, 20, 30 (location) groups of the face
entity are irrelevant and are always written as 0 in a DXF file. The vertex
indexes that define the mesh are given by 71, 72, 73, and 74 group codes, the
values of which specify one of the previously defined vertexes by index. If the
index is negative, the edge that begins with that vertex is invisible. The first
0 vertex marks the end of the vertices of the face.

VIEWPORT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to viewport entities.
Viewport group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbViewport)

10

Center point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of center point (in WCS)

40

Width in paper space units

41

Height in paper space units

68

Viewport status field:

-1 = On, but is fully off screen, or is one of the viewports that is not active because the $MAXACTVP count is currently being exceeded.
0 = Off
<positive value > = On and active. The value indicates the order of stacking for the viewports,
where 1 is the active viewport, 2 is the next, and so forth

69

Viewport ID

168 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Viewport group codes

Group code

Description

12

View center point (in DCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

22

DXF: View center point Y value (in DCS)

13

Snap base point

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

23

DXF: Snap base point Y value

14

Snap spacing
DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

24

DXF: Snap spacing Y value

15

Grid spacing
DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

25

DXF: Grid spacing Y value

16

View direction vector (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

26, 36

DXF: Y and Z values of view direction vector (in WCS)

17

View target point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

27, 37

DXF: Y and Z values of view target point (in WCS)

42

Perspective lens length

43

Front clip plane Z value

VIEWPORT (DXF) | 169

Viewport group codes

Group code

Description

44

Back clip plane Z value

45

View height (in model space units)

50

Snap angle

51

View twist angle

72

Circle zoom percent

331

Frozen layer object ID/handle (multiple entries may exist) (optional)

90

Viewport status bit-coded flags:

1 (0x1) = Enables perspective mode
2 (0x2) = Enables front clipping
4 (0x4) = Enables back clipping
8 (0x8) = Enables UCS follow
16 (0x10) = Enables front clip not at eye
32 (0x20) = Enables UCS icon visibility
64 (0x40) = Enables UCS icon at origin
128 (0x80) = Enables fast zoom
256 (0x100) = Enables snap mode
512 (0x200) = Enables grid mode
1024 (0x400) = Enables isometric snap style
2048 (0x800) = Enables hide plot mode
4096 (0x1000) = kIsoPairTop. If set and kIsoPairRight is not set, then isopair top is enabled. If
both kIsoPairTop and kIsoPairRight are set, then isopair left is enabled
8192 (0x2000) = kIsoPairRight. If set and kIsoPairTop is not set, then isopair right is enabled
16384 (0x4000) = Enables viewport zoom locking
32768 (0x8000) = Currently always enabled
65536 (0x10000) = Enables non-rectangular clipping
131072 (0x20000) = Turns the viewport off
262144 (0x40000) = Enables the display of the grid beyond the drawing limits
524288 (0x80000) = Enable adaptive grid display
1048576 (0x100000) = Enables subdivision of the grid below the set grid spacing when the
grid display is adaptive

170 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Viewport group codes

Group code

Description
2097152 (0x200000) = Enables grid follows workplane switching

340

Hard-pointer ID/handle to entity that serves as the viewport's clipping boundary (only present
if viewport is non-rectangular)

Plot style sheet name assigned to this viewport

281

Render mode:
0 = 2D Optimized (classic 2D)
1 = Wireframe
2 = Hidden line
3 = Flat shaded
4 = Gouraud shaded
5 = Flat shaded with wireframe
6 = Gouraud shaded with wireframe
All rendering modes other than 2D Optimized engage the new 3D graphics pipeline. These
values directly correspond to the SHADEMODE command and the AcDbAbstractViewTableRecord::RenderMode enum

71

UCS per viewport flag:

0 = The UCS will not change when this viewport becomes active.
1 = This viewport stores its own UCS which will become the current UCS whenever the viewport
is activated

74

Display UCS icon at UCS origin flag:

Controls whether UCS icon represents viewport UCS or current UCS (these will be different if
UCSVP is 1 and viewport is not active). However, this field is currently being ignored and the
icon always represents the viewport UCS

110

UCS origin
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

120, 130

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS origin

111

UCS X-axis
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

VIEWPORT (DXF) | 171

Viewport group codes

Group code

Description

121, 131

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS X-axis

112

UCS Y-axis
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

122, 132

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS Y-axis

345

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord if UCS is a named UCS. If not present, then UCS is unnamed

346

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord of base UCS if UCS is orthographic (79 code is non-zero).

If not present and 79 code is non-zero, then base UCS is taken to be WORLD

79

Orthographic type of UCS:

0 = UCS is not orthographic
1 = Top; 2 = Bottom
3 = Front; 4 = Back
5 = Left; 6 = Right

146

Elevation

170

ShadePlot mode:
0 = As Displayed
1 = Wireframe
2 = Hidden
3 = Rendered

61

Frequency of major grid lines compared to minor grid lines

332

Background ID/Handle (optional)

333

Shade plot ID/Handle (optional)

348

Visual style ID/Handle (optional)

172 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Viewport group codes

Group code

Description

292

Default lighting flag. On when no user lights are specified.

282

Default lighting type:

0 = One distant light
1 = Two distant lights

141

View brightness

142

View contrast

63,421,431

Ambient light color. Write only if not black color.

361

Sun ID/Handle (optional)

335

Soft pointer reference to viewport object (for layer VP property override)

343

Soft pointer reference to viewport object (for layer VP property override)

344

Soft pointer reference to viewport object (for layer VP property override)

91

Soft pointer reference to viewport object (for layer VP property override)

NOTE The ZOOM XP factor is calculated with the following formula: group_41
/ group_45 (or pspace_height / mspace_height).

VIEWPORT (DXF) | 173

WIPEOUT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to wipeout entities.
Wipeout group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRasterImage)

90

Class version

10

Insertion point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of insertion point (in WCS)

11

U-vector of a single pixel (points along the visual bottom of the image, starting at the insertion
point) (in WCS)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values U-vector (in WCS)

12

V-vector of a single pixel (points along the visual left side of the image, starting at the insertion
point) (in WCS)
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of V-vector (in WCS)

13

Image size in pixels

DXF: U value; APP: 2D point (U and V values)

23

DXF: V value of image size in pixels

340

Hard reference to imagedef object

70

Image display properties:

1 = Show image

174 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

Wipeout group codes

Group code

Description
2 = Show image when not aligned with screen
4 = Use clipping boundary
8 = Transparency is on

280

Clipping state: 0 = Off; 1 = On

281

Brightness value (0-100; default = 50)

282

Contrast value (0-100; default = 50)

283

Fade value (0-100; default = 0)

360

Hard reference to imagedef_reactor object

71

Clipping boundary type. 1 = Rectangular; 2 = Polygonal

91

Number of clip boundary vertices that follow

14

Clip boundary vertex (in OCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 2D point (multiple entries)
NOTE 1) For rectangular clip boundary type, two opposite corners must be specified. Default
is (-0.5,-0.5), (size.x-0.5, size.y-0.5). 2) For polygonal clip boundary type, three or more vertices
must be specified. Polygonal vertices must be listed sequentially

24

DXF: Y value of clip boundary vertex (in OCS) (multiple entries)

WIPEOUT (DXF) | 175

XLINE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to xline entities.
Xline group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbXline)

10

First point (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

20, 30

DXF: Y and Z values of first point (in WCS)

11

Unit direction vector (in WCS)

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

21, 31

DXF: Y and Z values of unit direction vector (in WCS)

176 | Chapter 6 ENTITIES Section

OBJECTS Section

About the DXF OBJECTS Section

Group codes that apply to nongraphical objects are found in the OBJECTS

section of a DXF file and are used by AutoLISP and ObjectARX applications
in entity definition lists.

About OBJECT Section Group Codes (DXF)

Objects are similar to entities, except that they have no graphical or geometric
meaning. All objects that are not entities or symbol table records or symbol
tables are stored in this section. This section represents a homogeneous heap
of objects with topological ordering of objects by ownership, such that the
owners always appear before the objects they own.

About Object Ownership (DXF)

The root owner of most objects appearing in the OBJECTS section is the named
object dictionary, which is, therefore, always the first object that appears in this
section. Objects that are not owned by the named object dictionary are owned
by other entities, objects, or symbol table entries. Objects in this section may

be defined by AutoCAD or by applications with access to ObjectARX API. The

DXF names of application-defined object types should always be associated with
a class name in the CLASS section of the DXF file, or else the object record
cannot be bound to the application that will interpret it.

177

As with other dictionaries, the named-object dictionary record consists solely

of associated pairs of entry names and hard ownership pointer references to
the associated object.
To avoid name collision between objects, developers should always use their
registered developer prefix for their entries.

Common Group Codes for Objects (DXF)

The following table shows group codes that apply to virtually all nongraphical
objects. When you refer to a table of group codes by object type, a list of codes
associated with a specific object, keep in mind that the codes shown here can
also be present. Some of the group codes are included with an object only if
the object has nondefault values for those group code properties.
Common object group codes
Group code

Description

Object type

Handle

102

Start of application-defined group {application_name (optional)

applicationdefined codes

Codes and values within the 102 groups are application defined (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

102

{ACAD_REACTORS indicates the start of the AutoCAD persistent reactors group. This group
exists only if persistent reactors have been attached to this object (optional)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

102

{ACAD_XDICTIONARY indicates the start of an extension dictionary group. This group exists
only if persistent reactors have been attached to this object (optional)

178 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

Common object group codes

Group code

Description

360

Hard-owner ID/handle to owner dictionary (optional)

102

End of group, } (optional)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

ACAD_PROXY_OBJECT (DXF)
The following group codes apply to ACAD_PROXY_OBJECT objects.
ACAD_PROXY_OBJECT group codes
Group code

Description

100

DXF: Subclass marker (AcDbProxyObject)

90

DXF: Proxy object class ID (always 499)

91

DXF: Application object's class ID. Class IDs are based on the order of the class in the CLASSES
section. The first class is given the ID of 500, the next is 501, and so on

93

DXF: Size of object data in bits

310

DXF: Binary object data (multiple entries can appear) (optional)

330 or 340 or
350 or 360

DXF: An object ID (multiple entries can appear) (optional)

94

DXF: 0 (indicates end of object ID section)

95

DXF: Object drawing format when it becomes a proxy (a 32-bit unsigned integer):
Low word is AcDbDwgVersion
High word is MaintenanceReleaseVersion

ACAD_PROXY_OBJECT (DXF) | 179

ACAD_PROXY_OBJECT group codes

Group code

Description

70

DXF: Original custom object data format:

0 = DWG format
1 = DXF format

The 92 field is not used for AcDbProxyObject. Objects of this class never have
graphics.

ACDBDICTIONARYWDFLT (DXF)
The following group codes are used by ACDBDICTIONARYWDFLT objects.
ACDBDICTIONARYWDFLT group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (ACDBDICTIONARYWDFLT)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-owner ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbDictionary)

281

Duplicate record cloning flag (determines how to merge duplicate entries):

0 = Not applicable
1 = Keep existing
2 = Use clone
3 = <xref>$0$<name>

180 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

ACDBDICTIONARYWDFLT group codes

Group code

Description
4 = $0$<name>
5 = Unmangle name

Entry name (one for each entry)

350

Soft-owner ID/handle to entry object (one for each entry)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbDictionaryWithDefault)

340

Hard pointer to default object ID/handle (currently only used for plot style dictionary's default
entry, named Normal)

ACDBPLACEHOLDER (DXF)
The following group codes are used by the ACDBPLACEHOLDER objects.
ACDBPLACEHOLDER group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (ACDBPLACEHOLDER)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

ACDBPLACEHOLDER (DXF) | 181

DATATABLE (DXF)
The following group codes are used by the DATATABLE objects.
DATATABLE group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (DATATABLE)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbDataTable)

70

Version

90

Number of columns

91

Number of valid rows

Table name

92, 2

Column type and name; repeats for each column

One value is written for every row in each column

71

Boolean value

93

Integer value

182 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

DATATABLE group codes

Group code

Description

40

Double value

String value

10, 20, 30

2D Point

11, 21, 31

3D Point

331

Soft-pointer ID/handle to object value

360

Hard-pointer ownership ID

350

Soft-pointer ownsership ID

340

Hard-pointer ID/handle

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle

DICTIONARY (DXF)
The following group codes are used by DICTIONARY objects.
DICTIONARY group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (DICTIONARY)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

DICTIONARY (DXF) | 183

DICTIONARY group codes

Group code

Description

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbDictionary)

280

Hard-owner flag. If set to 1, indicates that elements of the dictionary are to be treated as hardowned

281

Duplicate record cloning flag (determines how to merge duplicate entries):

0 = Not applicable
1 = Keep existing
2 = Use clone
3 = <xref>$0$<name>
4 = $0$<name>
5 = Unmangle name

Entry name (one for each entry) (optional)

350

Soft-owner ID/handle to entry object (one for each entry) (optional)

AutoCAD maintains items such as mline styles and group definitions as

objects in dictionaries. The following sections describe the AutoCAD object
group codes maintained in dictionaries; however, other applications are free
to create and use their own dictionaries as they see fit. The prefix "ACAD_" is
reserved for use by AutoCAD applications.

184 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

DICTIONARYVAR (DXF)
The following group codes are used by DICTIONARYVAR objects.
DICTIONARYVAR group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (DICTIONARYVAR)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary (ACDBVARIABLEDICTIONARY)

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

100

Subclass marker (DictionaryVariables)

280

Object schema number (currently set to 0)

Value of variable

DICTIONARYVAR objects are used by AutoCAD as a means to store named

values in the database for setvar/getvar purposes without the need to add
entries to the DXF HEADER section. System variables that are stored as
DICTIONARYVAR objects are the following: DEFAULTVIEWCATEGORY,
DIMADEC, DIMASSOC, DIMDSEP, DRAWORDERCTL, FIELDEVAL, HALOGAP,
HIDETEXT, INDEXCTL, INDEXCTL, INTERSECTIONCOLOR,
INTERSECTIONDISPLAY, MSOLESCALE, OBSCOLOR, OBSLTYPE, OLEFRAME,
PROJECTNAME, SORTENTS, UPDATETHUMBNAIL, XCLIPFRAME, and
XCLIPFRAME.

DICTIONARYVAR (DXF) | 185

DIMASSOC (DXF)
The following group codes are used by DIMASSOC objects.
DIMASSOC group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (DIMASSOC)

Handle

102

Persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS}

330

Soft-pointer ID

100

Subclass marker (AcDbDimAssoc)

330

ID of dimension object

90

Associativity flag
1 = First point reference
2 = Second point reference
4 = Third point reference
8 = Fourth point reference

70

Trans-space flag (true/false)

71

Rotated Dimension type (parallel, perpendicular)

Class name (AcDbOsnapPointRef)

72

Object Osnap type

0 = None
1 = Endpoint
2 = Midpoint
3 = Center
4 = Node
5 = Quadrant

186 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

DIMASSOC group codes

Group code

Description
6 = Intersection
7 = Insertion
8 = Perpendicular
9 = Tangent
10 = Nearest
11 = Apparent intersection
12 = Parallel
13 = Start point

331

ID of main object (geometry)

73

SubentType of main object (edge, face)

91

GsMarker of main object (index)

301

Handle (string) of Xref object

40

Geometry parameter for Near Osnap

10

Osnap point in WCS; X value

20

Osnap point in WCS; Y value

30

Osnap point in WCS; Z value

332

ID of intersection object (geometry)

74

SubentType of intersction object (edge/face)

92

GsMarker of intersection object (index)

302

Handle (string) of intersection Xref object

75

hasLastPointRef flag (true/false)

DIMASSOC (DXF) | 187

DIMASSOC objects implement associative dimensions by specifying an

association between a dimension object and drawing geometry objects. An
associative dimension is a dimension that will automatically update when the
associated geometry is modified.

FIELD (DXF)
The following group codes are used by FIELD objects.
FIELD group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (ACAD_FIELD)

Evaluator ID

Field code string

Overflow of field code string

90

Number of child fields

360

Child field ID (AcDbHardOwnershipId); repeats for number of children

97

Number of object IDs used in the field code

331

Object ID used in the field code (AcDbSoftPointerId); repeats for the

number of object IDs used in the field code

93

Number of the data set in the field

Key string for the field data; a key-field pair is repeated for the number
of data sets in the field

Key string for the evaluated cache; this key is hard-coded as

ACFD_FIELD_VALUE

188 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

FIELD group codes

Group code

Description

90

Data type of field value

91

Long value (if data type of field value is long)

140

Double value (if data type of field value is double)

330

ID value, AcDbSoftPointerId (if data type of field value is ID)

92

Binary data buffer size (if data type of field value is binary)

310

Binary data (if data type of field value is binary)

301

Format string

Overflow of format string

98

Length of format string

GEODATA (DXF)
The following group codes are used by GEODATA objects.
GEODATA group codes
Group code

Description

90

AcDbGeoData Object version

1 - 2009
2 - 2010

70

Type of design coordinates:

0 - Unknown
1 - Local grid

GEODATA (DXF) | 189

GEODATA group codes

Group code

Description
2 - Projected grid
3 - Geographic (latitude/longitude)

330

ObjectId of host block table record

10,20,30

Design point, reference point in WCS coordinates

11,21,31

Reference point in coordinate system coordinates, valid only when coordinate type is Local Grid.

12,22

North direction vector (2D)

40

Horizontal unit scale, factor which converts horizontal design coordinates to meters by multiplication.

41

Vertical unit scale, factor which converts vertical design coordinates to meters by multiplication.

91

Horizontal units per UnitsValue enumeration. Will be kUnitsUndefined if units specified by horizontal unit scale is not supported by AutoCAD enumeration.

92

Vertical units per UnitsValue enumeration. Will be kUnitsUndefined if units specified by horizontal
unit scale is not supported by AutoCAD enumeration.

210,220,230

Up direction

95

Scale estimation method:

1 - None
2 - User specified scale factor
3 - Grid scale at reference point
4 - Prismoidal

294

Bool flag specifying whether to do sea level correction

141

User specified scale factor

190 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

GEODATA group codes

Group code

Description

142

Sea level elevation

143

Coordinate projection radius

301

Coordinate system definition string

302

GeoRSS tag

305

Observation from tag

306

Observation to tag

307

Observation coverage tag

93

Number of Geo-Mesh points

13,23

Coordinate of source mesh point (repeat)

14,24

Coordinate of destination mesh point (repeat)

96

Number of faces

97

Point index for face (repeat)

98

Point index for face (repeat)

99

Point index for face (repeat)

GEODATA (DXF) | 191

GROUP (DXF)
The following group codes are used by GROUP objects.
GROUP group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (GROUP)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS (persistent reactors group appears
in all dictionaries except the main dictionary)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For GROUP objects this is always the ACAD_GROUP
entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbGroup)

300

Group description

70

Unnamed flag: 1 = Unnamed; 0 = Named

71

Selectability flag: 1 = Selectable; 0 = Not selectable

340

Hard-pointer handle to entity in group (one entry per object)

192 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

IDBUFFER (DXF)
The following group codes are used by IDBUFFER objects.
IDBUFFER group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbIdBuffer)

330

Soft-pointer reference to entity (multiple entries may exist)

The IDBUFFER object is a utility object that is just a list of references to objects.

IMAGEDEF (DXF)
The following group codes are used by IMAGEDEF objects.
IMAGEDEF group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (IMAGEDEF)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to the ACAD_IMAGE_DICT dictionary

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to IMAGEDEF_REACTOR object (multiple entries; one for each instance)

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRasterImageDef)

90

Class version 0

IDBUFFER (DXF) | 193

IMAGEDEF group codes

Group code

Description

File name of image

10

Image size in pixels

DXF: U value; APP: 2D point (U and V values)

20

DXF: V value of image size in pixels

11

Default size of one pixel in AutoCAD units

DXF: U value; APP: 2D point (U and V values)

12

DXF: V value of pixel size

280

Image-is-loaded flag. 0 = Unloaded; 1 = Loaded

281

Resolution units. 0 = No units; 2 = Centimeters; 5 = Inch

IMAGEDEF_REACTOR (DXF)
The following group codes are used by IMAGEDEF_REACTOR objects.
IMAGEDEF_REACTOR group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (IMAGEDEF_REACTOR)

Handle

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRasterImageDefReactor)

90

Class version 2

330

Object ID for associated image object

194 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

LAYER_FILTER (DXF)
The following group codes are used by LAYER_FILTER objects.
LAYER_FILTER group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (LAYER_FILTER)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbFilter)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLayerFilter)

Layer name (multiple entries may exist)

LAYER_INDEX (DXF)
The following group codes are used by LAYER_INDEX objects.
LAYER_INDEX group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (LAYER_INDEX)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

LAYER_FILTER (DXF) | 195

LAYER_INDEX group codes

Group code

Description

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbIndex)

40

Time stamp (Julian date)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLayerIndex)

Layer name (multiple entries may exist)

360

Hard-owner reference to IDBUFFER (multiple entries may exist)

90

Number of entries in the IDBUFFER list (multiple entries may exist)

LAYOUT (DXF)
The following group codes are used by LAYOUT objects.
LAYOUT group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (LAYOUT)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

196 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

LAYOUT group codes

Group code

Description

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbPlotSettings)

plotsettings object group codes

For group codes and descriptions following the AcDbPlotSettings marker, see PLOTSETTINGS

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLayout)

Layout name

70

Flag (bit-coded) to control the following:

1 = Indicates the PSLTSCALE value for this layout when this layout is current
2 = Indicates the LIMCHECK value for this layout when this layout is current

71

Tab order. This number is an ordinal indicating this layout's ordering in the tab control that is
attached to the AutoCAD drawing frame window. Note that the Model tab always appears
as the first tab regardless of its tab order

10

Minimum limits for this layout (defined by LIMMIN while this layout is current)
DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of minimum limits

11

Maximum limits for this layout (defined by LIMMAX while this layout is current):
DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

21

DXF: Y value of maximum limits

12

Insertion base point for this layout (defined by INSBASE while this layout is current):
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

LAYOUT (DXF) | 197

LAYOUT group codes

Group code

Description

22, 32

DXF: Y and Z values of the insertion base point

14

Minimum extents for this layout (defined by EXTMIN while this layout is current):
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

24, 34

DXF: Y and Z values of the minimum extents

15

Maximum extents for this layout (defined by EXTMAX while this layout is current):
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

25, 35

DXF: Y and Z values of the maximum extents

146

Elevation

13

UCS origin
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

23, 33

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS origin

16

UCS X-axis
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

26, 36

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS X-axis

17

UCS Y axis
DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

27, 37

DXF: Y and Z values of UCS Y axis

76

Orthographic type of UCS

0 = UCS is not orthographic
1 = Top; 2 = Bottom
3 = Front; 4 = Back
5 = Left; 6 = Right

198 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

LAYOUT group codes

Group code

Description

330

ID/handle to this layout's associated paper space block table record

331

ID/handle to the viewport that was last active in this layout when the layout was current

345

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord if UCS is a named UCS. If not present, then UCS is unnamed

346

ID/handle of AcDbUCSTableRecord of base UCS if UCS is orthographic (76 code is non-zero).

If not present and 76 code is non-zero, then base UCS is taken to be WORLD

333

Shade plot ID

LIGHTLIST (DXF)
The following group codes are used by LIGHTLIST objects.
LIGHTLIST group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (LIGHTLIST)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For LIGHTLIST objects, this is always the ACAD_LIGHT
entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbLightList)

LIGHTLIST (DXF) | 199

LIGHTLIST group codes

Group code

Description

90

Version number

90

Number of lights

Light handle (one for each light)

Light name (one for each light)

MATERIAL (DXF)
The following group codes are used by MATERIAL objects.
MATERIAL group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (MATERIAL)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS (The persistent reactors group
appears in all dictionaries except the main dictionary.)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For MATERIAL objects, this is always the
ACAD_MATERIAL entry of the named object dictionary.

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbMaterial)

Material name (string)

Description (string, default null string)

200 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description

70

Ambient color method (default = 0):

0 = Use current color
1 = Override current color

40

Ambient color factor (real, default = 1.0; valid range is 0.0 to 1.0)

90

Ambient color value (unsigned 32-bit integer representing an AcCmEntityColor)

71

Diffuse color method (default = 0):

0 = Use current color
1 = Override current color

41

Diffuse color factor (real, default = 1.0; valid range is 0.0 to 1.0)

91

Diffuse color value (unsigned 32-bit integer representing an AcCmEntityColor)

42

Diffuse map blend factor (real, default = 1.0)

72

Diffuse map source (default = 1):

0 = Use current scene
1 = Use image file (specified by file name; null file name specifies no map)

Diffuse map file name (string, default = null string)

73

Projection method of diffuse map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Planar
2 = Box
3 = Cylinder
4 = Sphere

74

Tiling method of diffuse map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Tile
2 = Crop
3 = Clamp

MATERIAL (DXF) | 201

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description

75

Auto transform method of diffuse map mapper (bitset, default = 1):

1= No auto transform
2 = Scale mapper to current entity extents; translate mapper to entity origin
4 = Include current block transform in mapper transform

43

Transform matrix of diffuse map mapper (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

44

Specular gloss factor (real, default = 0.5)

76

Specular color method (default = 0):

0 = Use current color
1 = Override current color

45

Specular color factor (real, default = 1.0; valid range is 0.0 to 1.0)

92

Specular color value (unsigned 32-bit integer representing an AcCmEntityColor)

46

Specular map blend factor (real; default = 1.0)

77

Specular map source (default = 1):

0 = Use current scene
1 = Use image file (specified by file name; null file name specifies no map)

Specular map file name (string; default = null string)

78

Projection method of specular map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Planar
2 = Box
3 = Cylinder
4 = Sphere

79

Tiling method of specular map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Tile
2 = Crop
3 = Clamp

202 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description

170

Auto transform method of specular map mapper (bitset; default = 1):

1 = No auto transform
2 = Scale mapper to current entity extents; translate mapper to entity origin
4 = Include current block transform in mapper transform

47

Transform matrix of specular map mapper (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

48

Blend factor of reflection map (real, default = 1.0)

171

Reflection map source (default = 1):

0 = Use current scene
1 = Use image file (specified by file name; null file name specifies no map)

Reflection map file name (string; default = null string)

172

Projection method of reflection map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Planar
2 = Box
3 = Cylinder
4 = Sphere

173

Tiling method of reflection map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Tile
2 = Crop
3 = Clamp

174

Auto transform method of reflection map mapper (bitset; default = 1):

1 = No auto transform
2 = Scale mapper to current entity extents; translate mapper to entity origin
4 = Include current block transform in mapper transform

49

Transform matrix of reflection map mapper (16 reals; row major format; default = identity
matrix)

140

Opacity percent (real; default = 1.0)

MATERIAL (DXF) | 203

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description

141

Blend factor of opacity map (real; default = 1.0)

175

Opacity map source (default = 1):

0 = Use current scene
1 = Use image file (specified by file name; null file name specifies no map)

Opacity map file name (string; default = null string)

176

Projection method of opacity map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Planar
2 = Box
3 = Cylinder
4 = Sphere

177

Tiling method of opacity map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Tile
2 = Crop
3 = Clamp

178

Auto transform method of opacity map mapper (bitset; default = 1):

1 = No auto transform
2 = Scale mapper to current entity extents; translate mapper to entity origin
4 = Include current block transform in mapper transform

142

Transform matrix of opacity map mapper (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

143

Blend factor of bump map (real; default = 1.0)

179

Bump map source (default = 1):

0 = Use current scene
1 = Use image file (specified by file name; null file name specifies no map)

Bump map file name (string; default = null string)

270

Projection method of bump map mapper (default = 1):

204 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description
1 = Planar
2 = Box
3 = Cylinder
4 = Sphere

271

Tiling method of bump map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Tile
2 = Crop
3 = Clamp

272

Auto transform method of bump map mapper (bitset; default = 1):

1 = No auto transform
2 = Scale mapper to current entity extents; translate mapper to entity origin
4 = Include current block transform in mapper transform

144

Transform matrix of bump map mapper (16 reals; row major format; default = identity matrix)

145

Refraction index (real; default = 1.0)

146

Blend factor of refraction map (real; default = 1.0)

273

Refraction map source (default = 1):

0 = Use current scene
1 = Use image file (specified by file name; null file name specifies no map)

Refraction map file name (string; default = null string)

274

Projection method of refraction map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Planar
2 = Box
3 = Cylinder
4 = Sphere

275

Tiling method of refraction map mapper (default = 1):

1 = Tile
2 = Crop

MATERIAL (DXF) | 205

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description
3 = Clamp

276

Auto transform method of refraction map mapper (bitset; default = 1):

1 = No auto transform
2 = Scale mapper to current entity extents; translate mapper to entity origin
4 = Include current block transform in mapper transform

147

Transform matrix of refraction map mapper (16 reals; row major format; default = identity
matrix)

460

Color Bleed Scale

461

Indirect Dump Scale

462

Reflectance Scale

463

Transmittance Scale

290

Two-sided Material

464

Luminance

270

Luminance Mode

271

Normal Map Method

465

Normal Map Strength

42

Normal Map Blend Factor

72

Normal Map Source

Normal Map Source File Name

206 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description

73

Normal Mapper Projection

74

Normal Mapper Tiling

75

Normal Mapper Auto Transform

43

Normal Mapper Transform

293

Materials Anonymous

272

Global Illumination Mode

273

Final Gather Mode

300

GenProcName

291

GenProcValBool

271

GenProcValInt

469

GenProcValReal

301

GenProcValText

292

GenProcTableEnd

62

GenProcValColorIndex

420

GenProcValColorRGB

430

GenProcValColorName

270

Map UTile

MATERIAL (DXF) | 207

MATERIAL group codes

Group code

Description

148

Translucence

90

Self-Illuminaton

468

Reflectivity

93

Illumination Model

94

Channel Flags

MLINESTYLE (DXF)
The following group codes are used by MLINESTYLE objects.
MLINESTYLE group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (MLINESTYLE)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS (persistent reactors group

appears in all dictionaries except the main dictionary)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For MLINESTYLE objects this is always the
ACAD_MLINESTYLE entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbMlineStyle)

Mline style name

208 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

MLINESTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

70

Flags (bit-coded):
1 =Fill on
2 = Display miters
16 = Start square end (line) cap
32 = Start inner arcs cap
64 = Start round (outer arcs) cap
256 = End square (line) cap
512 = End inner arcs cap
1024 = End round (outer arcs) cap

Style description (string, 255 characters maximum)

62

Fill color (integer, default = 256)

51

Start angle (real, default is 90 degrees)

52

End angle (real, default is 90 degrees)

71

Number of elements

49

Element offset (real, no default). Multiple entries can exist; one entry for each element

62

Element color (integer, default = 0). Multiple entries can exist; one entry for each element

Element linetype (string, default = BYLAYER). Multiple entries can exist; one entry for each
element

The 2 group codes in mline entities and MLINESTYLE objects are redundant
fields. These groups should not be modified under any circumstances, although
it is safe to read them and use their values. The correct fields to modify are
Mline The 340 group in the same object, which indicates the proper
MLINESTYLE object.
Mlinestyle The 3 group value in the MLINESTYLE dictionary, which precedes
the 350 group that has the handle or entity name of the current mlinestyle.

MLINESTYLE (DXF) | 209

OBJECT_PTR (DXF)
The following group codes are used by OBJECT_PTR objects.
OBJECT_PTR group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (OBJECT_PTR)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

1001

Begin ASE xdata (DC015)

PLOTSETTINGS (DXF)
The following group codes are used by PLOTSETTINGS objects.
PLOTSETTINGS group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (PLOTSETTINGS)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

210 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

PLOTSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbPlotSettings)

Page Setup name

Name of system printer or plot configuration file

Paper size

Plot view name

40

Size, in millimeters, of unprintable margin on left side of paper

41

Size, in millimeters, of unprintable margin on bottom of paper

42

Size, in millimeters, of unprintable margin on right side of paper

43

Size, in millimeters, of unprintable margin on top of paper

44

Plot paper size: physical paper width in millimeters

45

Plot paper size: physical paper height in millimeters

46

Plot origin: X value of origin offset in millimeters

47

Plot origin: Y value of origin offset in millimeters

48

Plot window area: X value of lower-left window corner

49

Plot window area: Y value of upper-right window corner

140

Plot window area: X value of lower-left window corner

PLOTSETTINGS (DXF) | 211

PLOTSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description

141

Plot window area: Y value of upper-right window corner

142

Numerator of custom print scale: real world (paper) units

143

Denominator of custom print scale: drawing units

70

Plot layout flag:

1 = PlotViewportBorders
2 = ShowPlotStyles
4 = PlotCentered
8 = PlotHidden
16 = UseStandardScale
32 = PlotPlotStyles
64 = ScaleLineweights
128 = PrintLineweights
512 = DrawViewportsFirst
1024 = ModelType
2048 = UpdatePaper
4096 = ZoomToPaperOnUpdate
8192 = Initializing
16384 = PrevPlotInit

72

Plot paper units:

0 = Plot in inches
1 = Plot in millimeters
2 = Plot in pixels

73

Plot rotation:
0 = No rotation
1 = 90 degrees counterclockwise
2 = Upside-down
3 = 90 degrees clockwise

74

Plot type (portion of paper space to output to the media):

0 = Last screen display
1 = Drawing extents

212 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

PLOTSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description
2 = Drawing limits
3 = View specified by code 6
4 = Window specified by codes 48, 49, 140, and 141
5 = Layout information

Current style sheet

75

Standard scale type:

0 = Scaled to Fit
1 = 1/128"=1'; 2 = 1/64"=1'; 3 = 1/32"=1'
4 = 1/16"=1'; 5 = 3/32"=1'; 6 = 1/8"=1'
7 = 3/16"=1'; 8 = 1/4"=1'; 9 = 3/8"=1'
10 = 1/2"=1'; 11 = 3/4"=1'; 12 = 1"=1'
13 = 3"=1'; 14 = 6"=1'; 15 = 1'=1'
16= 1:1 ; 17= 1:2; 18 = 1:4; 19 = 1:8; 20 = 1:10; 21= 1:16
22 = 1:20; 23 = 1:30; 24 = 1:40; 25 = 1:50; 26 = 1:100
27 = 2:1; 28 = 4:1; 29 = 8:1; 30 = 10:1; 31 = 100:1; 32 = 1000:1

76

ShadePlot mode:
0 = As Displayed
1 = Wireframe
2 = Hidden
3 = Rendered

77

ShadePlot resolution level:

0 = Draft
1 = Preview
2 = Normal
3 = Presentation
4 = Maximum
5 = Custom

78

ShadePlot custom DPI:

Valid range: 100 to 32767
Only applied when the ShadePlot resolution level is set to 5 (Custom)

PLOTSETTINGS (DXF) | 213

PLOTSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description

147

A floating point scale factor that represents the standard scale value
specified in code 75

148

Paper image origin: X value

149

Paper image origin: Y value

333

ShadePlot ID/Handle (optional)

RASTERVARIABLES (DXF)
The following group codes are used by RASTERVARIABLES objects.
RASTERVARIABLES group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (RASTERVARIABLES)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For a RASTERVARIABLES object, this is always the
ACAD_IMAGE_VARS entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRasterVariables)

90

Class version 0

70

Display-image-frame flag: 0 = No frame; 1 = Display frame

214 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

RASTERVARIABLES group codes

Group code

Description

71

Image display quality (screen only): 0 = Draft; 1 = High

72

AutoCAD units for inserting images. This is what one AutoCAD unit is equal to for the purpose
of inserting and scaling images with an associated resolution:
0 = None; 1 = Millimeter; 2 = Centimeter
3 = Meter; 4 = Kilometer; 5 = Inch
6 = Foot; 7 = Yard; 8 = Mile

About RENDER (DXF)

There are several render-related group codes.

MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS (DXF)
The following group codes are used by MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS objects.
MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRenderSettings)

About RENDER (DXF) | 215

MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description

90

Class version 1

Render preset name

290

Render materials flag

90

Texture sampling quality

290

Render back-faces flag

290

Render shadows flag

Preview image file name(can be blank)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbMentalRayRenderSettings)

90

Class version 1

90

Sampling rate (minimum)

90

Sampling rate (maximum)

70

Sampling filter type

0 = Box
1 = Triangle
2 = Gauss
3 = Mitchell
4 = Lanczos

40, 40

Filter width, height

40, 40, 40, 40

Sampling contrast color; Red, green, blue, and alpha channel values

216 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description

70

Shadow mode
0 = Simple
1 = Sort
2 = Segment

290

Shadow map flag; applies only to lights using mapped shadows

290

Ray tracing flag

90, 90, 90

Ray tracing depth for reflections, refractions, and maximum depth

290

Global illumination flag

90

Photons/sample count

290

Global illumination radius flag

40

Global illumination sample radius

90

Photons per light

90, 90, 90

Global illumination photo trace depth for reflections, refractions, and maximum depth

290

Final gather flag

90

Final gather ray count

290, 290

Final gather minimum and maximum radius flags

290

Final gather pixels flag

40, 40

Final gather minimum and maximum sample radius

About RENDER (DXF) | 217

MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description

40

Luminance scale (energy multiplier)

70

Diagnostic mode
0 = Off
1 = Grid
2 = Photon
4 = BSP

70

Diagnostic Grid mode

0 = Object
1 = World
2 = Camera

40

Grid size

70

Diagnostic Photon mode

0 = Density
1 = Irradiance

70

Diagnostic BSP mode

0 = Depth
1 = Size

290

Export MI statistics flag

MI statistics file name (can be blank)

90

Tile size

70

Tile order
0 = Hilbert
1 = Spiral
2 = Left to right
3 = Right to left
4 = Top to bottom

218 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

MENTALRAYRENDERSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description
5 = Bottom to top

90

Memory limit

RENDERENVIRONMENT (DXF)
The following group codes are used by RENDERENVIRONMENT objects.
RENDERENVIRONMENT group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (RENDERENVIRONMENT)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For a RENDERENVIRONMENT object, this is always

the ACAD_RENDER_ENVIRONMENT entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRenderEnvironment)

90

Class version 1

290

Fog enabled flag; 1 if enabled

290

Fog in background flag; 1 if enabled

280, 280, 280

Fog color; Red, green, and blue channel values

About RENDER (DXF) | 219

RENDERENVIRONMENT group codes

Group code

Description

40, 40

Fog density; Near and Far density as a percentage

40, 40

Near and Far distance as a percentage of the distance between the camera and the far clipping
plane

290

Environment image flag

Environment image file name (can be blank if the previous flag is 0)

RENDERGLOBAL (DXF)
The following group codes are used by RENDERGLOBAL objects.
RENDERGLOBAL group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (RENDERGLOBAL)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For a RENDERGLOBAL object, this is always the
ACAD_RENDER_GLOBAL entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRenderGlobal)

90

Class version 2

90

Render procedure:

220 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

RENDERGLOBAL group codes

Group code

Description
0 = View
1 = Crop
2 = Selection

90

Render destination
0 = Render Window
1 = Viewport

290

Save to file flag

Rendered image save file name

90

Image width

90

Image height

290

Predefined presets first flag

290

High info level flag

About SECTION (DXF)

There are several section manager and section settings group codes.

Section Manager (DXF)

The following group codes apply to SECTIONMANAGER objects.
SECTIONMANAGER group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (SECTIONMANAGER)

About SECTION (DXF) | 221

SECTIONMANAGER group codes

Group code

Description

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-owner ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSectionManager)

70

Requires full update flag

90

Number of sections

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to section entities (repeats for number of sections)

Section Settings (DXF)

The following group codes apply to SECTIONSETTINGS objects.
SECTIONSETTINGS group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (SECTIONSETTINGS)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

222 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

SECTIONSETTINGS group codes

Group code

Description

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-owner ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSectionSettings)

90

Section type

91

Number of generation settings

Section Type Settings data follows

Section Type Settings (DXF)

The following group codes apply to Section Type settings.
Section Type Settings group codes
Group code

Description

SectionTypeSettings marker

90

Section type

91

Generation option flag

92

Number of source objects

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to source objects (repeats for number of source objects)

About SECTION (DXF) | 223

Section Type Settings group codes

Group code

Description

331

Soft-pointer ID/handle to destination block object

Destination file name

93

Number of generation settings

SectionGeometrySettings data marker

Section geometry settings data

SectionTypeSettingsEnd marker

Section Geometry Settings (DXF)

The following group codes apply to Section geometry settings.
Section geometry settings group codes
Group code

Description

90

Section type

91

Geometry count

92

Bitflags

63

Color data

Layer name

Linetype name

224 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

Section geometry settings group codes

Group code

Description

40

Linetype scale

Plotstyle name

370

Line weight

70

Face transparency

71

Edge transparency

72

Hatch pattern type

Hatch pattern name

41

Hatch angle

42

Hatch scale

43

Hatch spacing

SectionGeometrySettingsEnd data marker

SORTENTSTABLE (DXF)
The following group codes are used by SORTENTSTABLE objects.
SORTENTSTABLE group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (SORTENTSTABLE)

SORTENTSTABLE (DXF) | 225

SORTENTSTABLE group codes

Group code

Description

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary (ACAD_SORTENTS)

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSortentsTable)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner (currently only the *MODEL_SPACE

or *PAPER_SPACE blocks)

331

Soft-pointer ID/handle to an entity (zero or more entries may exist)

Sort handle (zero or more entries may exist)

If the SORTENTS Regen flag (bit-code value 16) is set, AutoCAD regenerates
entities in ascending handle order. When the DRAWORDER command is used,
a SORTENTSTABLE object is attached to the *Model_Space or *Paper_Space
block's extension dictionary under the name ACAD_SORTENTS. The
SORTENTSTABLE object related to this dictionary associates a different handle
with each entity, which redefines the order in which the entities are
regenerated.

SPATIAL_FILTER (DXF)
The following group codes are used by SPATIAL_FILTER objects.
SPATIAL_FILTER group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (SPATIAL_FILTER)

226 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

SPATIAL_FILTER group codes

Group code

Description

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary (SPATIAL)

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbFilter)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSpatialFilter)

70

Number of points on the clip boundary

2 = Rectangular clip boundary (lower-left and upper-right)
greater than 2 = Polyline clip boundary

10

Clip boundary definition point (in OCS) (always 2 or more) based on an xref scale of 1
DXF: X value; APP: 2D point

20

DXF: Y value of boundary definition point (always 2 or more)

210

Normal to the plane containing the clip boundary

DXF: X value; APP: 3D vector

220, 230

DXF: Y and Z values of extrusion direction

11

Origin used to define the local coordinate system of the clip boundary
DXF: X value; APP: 3D point

21, 31

Origin used to define the local coordinate system of the clip boundary
DXF: Y and Z values

71

Clip boundary display enabled flag

0 = Disabled; 1 = Enabled

SPATIAL_FILTER (DXF) | 227

SPATIAL_FILTER group codes

Group code

Description

72

Front clipping plane flag; 0 = No; 1 = Yes

40

Front clipping plane distance (if code 72 = 1)

73

Back clipping plane flag; 0 = No; 1 = Yes

41

Back clipping plane distance (if code 73 = 1)

40

4x3 transformation matrix written out in column major order. This matrix is the inverse of the
original block reference (insert entity) transformation. The original block reference transformation
is the one that is applied to all entities in the block when the block reference is regenerated
(always 12 entries)

40

4x3 transformation matrix written out in column major order. This matrix transforms points
into the coordinate system of the clip boundary (12 entries)

SPATIAL_INDEX (DXF)
The following group codes are used by SPATIAL_INDEX objects.
SPATIAL_INDEX group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (SPATIAL_INDEX)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

228 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

SPATIAL_INDEX group codes

Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbIndex)

40

Timestamp (Julian date)

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSpatialIndex)

The SPATIAL_INDEX is always written out empty to a DXF file. This object
can be ignored.

SUNSTUDY (DXF)
The following group codes are used by SUNSTUDY objects.
SUNSTUDY group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (SUNSTUDY)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-owner ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbSunStudy)

90

Version Number

SUNSTUDY (DXF) | 229

SUNSTUDY group codes

Group code

Description

Sun setup name

Description

70

Output type

Sheet set name. Included only if Output type is Sheet Set.

290

Use subset flag. Included only if Output type is Sheet Set.

Sheet subset name. Included only if Output type is Sheet Set.

291

Select dates from calender flag

91

Date input array size (represents the number of dates picked)

90

Julian day; represents the date. One entry for each date picked.

90

Seconds past midnight; represents the time of day. One entry for each date picked.

292

Select range of dates flag

93

Start time. If range of dates flag is true.

94

End time. If range of dates flag is true.

95

Interval in seconds. If range of dates flag is true.

73

Number of hours

290

Hour. One entry for every hour as specified by the number of hours entry above.

340

Page setup wizard hard pointer ID

230 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

SUNSTUDY group codes

Group code

Description

341

View hard pointer ID

342

Visual style ID

74

Shade plot type

75

Viewports per page

76

Number of rows for viewport distribution

77

Number of columns for viewport distribution

40

Spacing

293

Lock viewports flag

294

Label viewports flag

343

Text style ID

TABLESTYLE (DXF)
The following group codes are used by TABLESTYLE objects.
TABLESTYLE group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (TABLESTYLE)

Handle

TABLESTYLE (DXF) | 231

TABLESTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS (The persistent reactors group
appears in all dictionaries except the main dictionary.)

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For TABLESTYLE objects, this code is always the
ACAD_TABLESTYLE entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbTableStyle)

280

Version number:
0 = 2010

Table style description (string; 255 characters maximum)

70

FlowDirection (integer):
0 = Down
1 = Up

71

Flags (bit-coded)

40

Horizontal cell margin (real; default = 0.06)

41

Vertical cell margin (real; default = 0.06)

280

Flag for whether the title is suppressed:

0 = Not suppressed
1 = Suppressed

281

Flag for whether the column heading is suppressed:

0 = Not suppressed
1 = Suppressed
The following group codes are repeated for every cell in the table

232 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

TABLESTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

Text style name (string; default = STANDARD)

140

Text height (real)

170

Cell alignment (integer)

62

Text color (integer; default = BYBLOCK)

63

Cell fill color (integer; default = 7)

283

Flag for whether background color is enabled (default = 0):

0 = Disabled
1 = Enabled

90

Cell data type

91

Cell unit type

274-279

Lineweight associated with each border type of the cell (default = kLnWtByBlock)

284-289

Flag for visibility associated with each border type of the cell (default = 1):
0 = Invisible
1 = Visible

64-69

Color value associated with each border type of the cell (default = BYBLOCK)

TABLESTYLE (DXF) | 233

UNDERLAYDEFINITION (DXF)
The following group codes apply to UNDERLAYDEFINITION symbol table
entries.
UNDERLAYDEFINITION group codes
Group Code

Description

Object name (UNDERLAYDEFINITION)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbUnderlayDefinition)

Underlay path and file name

Underlay Name

VBA_PROJECT (DXF)
The following group codes are used by VBA_PROJECT objects.
VBA_PROJECT group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (VBA_PROJECT)

Handle

234 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

VBA_PROJECT group codes

Group code

Description

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

330

Soft-owner ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbVbaProject)

90

Number of bytes of binary chunk data (contained in the group code 310 records that follow)

310

DXF: Binary object data (multiple entries containing VBA project data)

VISUALSTYLE (DXF)
The following group codes apply to VISUALSTYLE objects.
VISUALSTYLE group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (VISUALSTYLE)

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group, always }

VISUALSTYLE (DXF) | 235

VISUALSTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

330

Soft-owner ID/handle to owner object

100

Subclass marker (AcDbVisualStyle)

Description

70

Type

71

Face lighting model

0 =Invisible
1 = Visible
2 = Phong
3 = Gooch

72

Face lighting quality

0 = No lighting
1 = Per face lighting
2 = Per vertex lighting

73

Face color mode

0 = No color
1 = Object color
2 = Background color
3 = Custom color
4 = Mono color
5 = Tinted
6 = Desaturated

90

Face modifiers
0 = No modifiers
1 = Opacity
2 = Specular

40

Face opacity level

236 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

VISUALSTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

41

Face specular level

62, 63

Color

421

Face style mono color

74

Edge style model

0 = No edges
1 = Isolines
2 = Facet edges

91

Edge style

64

Edge intersection color

65

Edge obscured color

75

Edge obscured linetype

175

Edge intersection linetype

42

Edge crease angle

92

Edge modifiers

66

Edge color

43

Edge opacity level

76

Edge width

77

Edge overhang

VISUALSTYLE (DXF) | 237

VISUALSTYLE group codes

Group code

Description

78

Edge jitter

67

Edge silhouette color

79

Edge silhouette width

170

Edge halo gap

171

Number of edge isolines

290

Edge hide precision flag

174

Edge style apply flag

93

Display style display settings

44

Brightness

173

Shadow type

291

Internal use only flag

WIPEOUTVARIABLES (DXF)
The following group codes are used by WIPEOUTVARIABLES objects.
WIPEOUTVARIABLES group codes
Group code

Description

Object name (WIPEOUTVARIABLES)

238 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

WIPEOUTVARIABLES group codes

Group code

Description

Handle

102

Start of persistent reactors group; always {ACAD_REACTORS

330

Soft-pointer ID/handle to owner dictionary. For a WIPEOUTVARIABLES object, this is always the
ACAD_IMAGE_VARS entry of the named object dictionary

102

End of persistent reactors group; always }

100

Subclass marker (AcDbRasterVariables)

90

Class version 0

70

Display-image-frame flag: 0 = No frame; 1 = Display frame

XRECORD (DXF)
The following group codes are common to all xrecord objects.
Xrecord group codes
Group code

Description

100

Subclass marker (AcDbXrecord)

280

Duplicate record cloning flag (determines how to merge duplicate entries):

0 = Not applicable
1 = Keep existing
2 = Use clone
3 = <xref>$0$<name>
4 = $0$<name>
5 = Unmangle name

XRECORD (DXF) | 239

Xrecord group codes

Group code

Description

1-369 (except 5
and 105)

These values can be used by an application in any way

Xrecord objects are used to store and manage arbitrary data. They are composed
of DXF group codes with normal object groups (that is, non-xdata group
codes), ranging from 1 through 369 for supported ranges. This object is similar
in concept to xdata but is not limited by size or order.
Xrecord objects are designed to work in such a way as to not offend releases

R13c0 through R13c3. However, if read into a pre-R13c4 version of AutoCAD ,

xrecord objects disappear.

240 | Chapter 7 OBJECTS Section

THUMBNAILIMAGE Section

About the DXF THUMBNAILIMAGE Section

The THUMBNAILIMAGE section of a DXF file exists only if a preview image
has been saved with the DXF file.

THUMBNAILIMAGE Section Group Codes (DXF)

The following group codes are found in the THUMBNAILIMAGE section.
THUMBNAILIMAGE group codes
Group code

Description

90

The number of bytes in the image (and subsequent binary chunk records)

310

Preview image data (multiple lines; 256 characters maximum per line)

241

242

Drawing Interchange File

Formats

About Drawing Interchange File Formats (DXF)

AutoCAD uses various file formats to interchange drawing data with other
applications. The formats presented are Drawing Interchange File (DXF), binary
DXF, Slide (SLD), and the Slide Library (SLB) file formats.
DXF files can be either ASCII or binary format. Because ASCII DXF files are more
common than the binary format, the term DXF file is used to refer to ASCII DXF
files and the term binary DXF file is used for the binary format.

About ASCII DXF Files

This section describes the format of ASCII DXF files. It contains information
that is needed only if you write your own programs to process DXF files or work

with entity information obtained by AutoLISP and ObjectARX applications.

About the General DXF File Structure (DXF)

Essentially, a DXF file is composed of pairs of codes and associated values. The
codes, known as group codes, indicate the type of value that follows. Using these
group code and value pairs, a DXF file is organized into sections composed of
records, which are composed of a group code and a data item. Each group code
and value are on their own line in the DXF file.
Each section starts with a group code 0 followed by the string SECTION. This
is followed by a group code 2 and a string indicating the name of the section

243

(for example, HEADER). Each section is composed of group codes and values
that define its elements. A section ends with a 0 followed by the string
ENDSEC.
It may be helpful to produce a DXF file from a small drawing, print it, and
refer to it while reading the information presented in this section.
The overall organization of a DXF file is as follows:
HEADER section. Contains general information about the drawing. It
consists of an AutoCAD database version number and a number of system
variables. Each parameter contains a variable name and its associated value.

CLASSES section. Holds the information for application-defined classes,

whose instances appear in the BLOCKS, ENTITIES, and OBJECTS sections
of the database. A class definition is permanently fixed in class hierarchy.

TABLES section.Contains definitions for the following symbol tables:

APPID (application identification table)
BLOCK_RECORD (block reference table)
DIMSTYLE (dimension style table)
LAYER (layer table)
LTYPE (linetype table)
STYLE (text style table)
UCS (user coordinate system table)
VIEW (view table)
VPORT (viewport configuration table)

BLOCKS section. Contains block definition and drawing entities that make
up each block reference in the drawing.

ENTITIES section. Contains the graphical objects (entities) in the drawing,

including block references (insert entities).

OBJECTS section. Contains the nongraphical objects in the drawing. All

objects that are not entities or symbol table records or symbol tables are
stored in this section. Examples of entries in the OBJECTS section are
dictionaries that contain mline styles and groups.

THUMBNAILIMAGE section. Contains the preview image data for the

drawing. This section is optional.

If you use the Select Objects option of the SAVE or SAVEAS command, the
ENTITIES section of the resulting DXF file contains only the entities you select.

244 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

About Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF)

Group codes and the associated values define a specific aspect of an object or
entity. The line immediately following the group code is the associated value.
This value can be a string, an integer, or a floating-point value, such as the X
coordinate of a point. The lines following the second line of the group, if any,
are determined by the group definition and the data associated with the group.
Special group codes are used as file separators, such as markers for the
beginning and end of sections, tables, and the end of the file itself.
Entities, objects, classes, tables and table entries, and file separators are
introduced with a 0 group code that is followed by a name describing the
group.
The maximum DXF file string length is 256 characters. If your AutoCAD
drawing contains strings that exceed this number, those strings are truncated
during SAVE, SAVEAS, and WBLOCK. OPEN and INSERT fail if your DXF file
contains strings that exceed this number.

About ASCII Control Characters in DXF Files

SAVEAS handles ASCII control characters in text strings by expanding the
character into a caret (^) followed by the appropriate letter. For example, an
ASCII Control-G (BEL, decimal code 7) is written as ^G. If the text itself
contains a caret character, it is expanded to caret, space (^). OPEN and INSERT
perform the complementary conversion.

Header Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF)

Applications can retrieve the values of these variables with the AutoLISP getvar
function.
The following is an example of the HEADER section of a DXF file:
0
SECTION
2
HEADER

Beginning of HEADER section

About ASCII DXF Files | 245

9
$<variable>
<group code>
<value>

Repeats for each header variable

0
ENDSEC

End of HEADER section

Class Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF)

The following is an example of the CLASSES section of a DXF file:
0
SECTION
2
CLASSES

Beginning of CLASSES section

0
CLASS
1
<class dxf record>
2
<class name>
3
<app name>
90
<flag>
280
<flag>
281
<flag>

Repeats for each entry

0
ENDSEC

End of CLASSES section

246 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

Symbol Table Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF)

The following is an example of the TABLES section of a DXF file.
0
SECTION
2
TABLES

Beginning of TABLES section

0
TABLE
2
<table type>
5
<handle>
100
AcDbSymbolTable
70
<max. entries>

Common table group codes; repeats for each entry

0
<table type>
5
<handle>
100
AcDbSymbolTableRecord
.
. <data>
.

Table entry data; repeats for each table record

0
ENDTAB

End of table

0
ENDSEC

End of TABLES section

About ASCII DXF Files | 247

Symbol Table Example (DXF)

This DXF sequence represents three full objects: the symbol table itself plus
two entries.
0

TABLE

Indicates a symbol table entry

STYLE

Text style symbol table entry. Exception to rule that

code 0 fully defines type

1C

STYLE table handle; same as for entities and other

objects

70

Maximum number of STYLE table records to follow

(pre-Release 13 field)

1001

APP_X

APP_X has put xdata on a symbol table

1040

42.0

Just a single floating-point number

STYLE

Beginning of first element in the STYLE symbol table

248 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

3A

The first entry's handle (DIMSTYLE entries will have

105 here)

ENTRY_1

The first entry's text name

70

64

Standard flag values

40

.4

Text height

41

1.0

Width scale factor

50

0.0

Oblique angle

71

Text generation flags

42

0.4

Last height used

BUFONTS.TXT

Primary font file name

About ASCII DXF Files | 249

STYLE

Second entry begins. No xdata or persistent reactors

on first entry

C2

Second entry handle

ENTRY_2

Second entry text name

...

...

Other fields down to group code 3

BUFONTS.TXT

Primary font file name and last object typespecific

group

102

{ACAD_REACTORS

This entry has two persistent reactors

330

3C2

Soft ID to first reactor object

330

41B

Soft ID to first reactor object

102

Indicates the end of the reactor set

1001

250 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

APP_1

Xdata attached to this entry

1070

45

1001

APP_2

1004

18A5B3EF2C199A

UCS

Start of UCS table (and end of previous record and

table)

Blocks Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF)

The following is an example of the BLOCKS section of a DXF file:
0
SECTION
2
BLOCKS

Beginning of BLOCKS section

0
BLOCK
5
<handle>
100
AcDbEntity
8
<layer>
100

Begins each block entry (a block entity definition)

About ASCII DXF Files | 251

AcDbBlockBegin
2
<block name>
70
<flag>
10
<X value>
20
<Y value>
30
<Z value>
3
<block name>
1
<xref path>

0
<entity type>
.
. <data>
.

One entry for each entity definition within the block

0
ENDBLK
5
<handle>
100
AcDbBlockEnd

End of each block entry (an endblk entity definition)

0
ENDSEC

End of BLOCKS section

Entity Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF)

The following is an example of the ENTITIES section of a DXF file:
0
SECTION
2

Beginning of ENTITIES section

252 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

ENTITIES

0
<entity type>
5
<handle>
330
<pointer to owner>
100
AcDbEntity
8
<layer>
100
AcDb<classname>
.
. <data>
.

One entry for each entity definition

0
ENDSEC

End of ENTITIES section

Object Group Codes in DXF Files (DXF)

The following is an example of the OBJECTS section of a DXF file:
0
SECTION
2
OBJECTS

Beginning of OBJECTS section

0
DICTIONARY
5
<handle>
100
AcDbDictionary

Beginning of named object dictionary (root dictionary

object)

Repeats for each entry

About ASCII DXF Files | 253

<dictionary name>
350
<handle of child>

0
<object type>
.
. <data>
.

Groups of object data

0
ENDSEC

End of OBJECTS section

About Writing a DXF Interface Program

Writing a program that communicates with AutoCAD by means of the DXF
file appears more difficult than it actually is. The DXF format makes it easy
to ignore information you don't need, while reading the information you do
need.

Reading a DXF File (DXF)

The following example is a simple Visual Basic 6 program that reads a DXF
file and extracts specific codes and values from a given object in a given section.
' ReadDXF extracts specified code/value pairs from a DXF
file.
' This function requires four string parameters, a valid
DXF
' file name, a DXF section name, the name of an object in
that
' section, and a comma delimited list of codes.
'
Function ReadDXF( _
ByVal dxfFile As String, ByVal strSection As String,
_
ByVal strObject As String, ByVal strCodeList As
String)

254 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

Dim tmpCode, lastObj As String

Open dxfFile For Input As #1
' Get the first code/value pair
codes = ReadCodes
' Loop through the whole file until the "EOF" line
While codes(1) <> "EOF"
' If the group code is '0' and the value is
'SECTION' ..
If codes(0) = "0" And codes(1) = "SECTION" Then
' This must be a new section, so get the next
' code/value pair.
codes = ReadCodes()
' If this section is the right one ..
If codes(1) = strSection Then
' Get the next code/value pair and ..
codes = ReadCodes
' Loop through this section until the
'ENDSEC'
While codes(1) <> "ENDSEC"
' While in a section, all '0' codes
indicate
' an object. If you find a '0' store
the
' object name for future use.
If codes(0) = "0" Then lastObj =
codes(1)
' If this object is one you're
interested in
If lastObj = strObject Then
' Surround the code with commas
tmpCode = "," & codes(0) & ","
' If this code is in the list of
codes ..
If InStr(strCodeList, tmpCode) Then
' Append the return value.
ReadDXF = ReadDXF & _
codes(0) & "=" & codes(1)
& vbCrLf
End If
End If
' Read another code/value pair
codes = ReadCodes

About ASCII DXF Files | 255

Wend
End If
Else
codes = ReadCodes
End If
Wend
Close #1
End Function
' ReadCodes reads two lines from an open file and returns
a two item
' array, a group code and its value. As long as a DXF file
is read
' two lines at a time, all should be fine. However, to make
your
' code more reliable, you should add some additional error
and
' other checking.
'
Function ReadCodes() As Variant
Dim codeStr, valStr As String
Line Input #1, codeStr
Line Input #1, valStr
' Trim the leading and trailing space from the code
ReadCodes = Array(Trim(codeStr), valStr)
End Function

Writing a DXF File (DXF)

Writing a program that creates a DXF file can be more difficult than one that
reads a DXF file, because you must maintain consistency within the drawing
in order for AutoCAD to find the file acceptable. AutoCAD lets you omit many
items in a DXF file and still obtain a usable drawing.
The entire HEADER section can be omitted if you don't set header variables.

Any of the tables in the TABLES section can be omitted if you don't need
to make entries, and the entire TABLES section can be dropped if nothing
in it is required.

If you define any linetypes in the LTYPE table, this table must appear before
the LAYER table.

If no block definitions are used in the drawing, the BLOCKS section can
be omitted.

256 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

If present, the BLOCKS section must appear before the ENTITIES section.

Within the ENTITIES section, you can reference layer names even though
you haven't defined them in the LAYER table. Such layers are automatically
created with color 7 and the CONTINUOUS linetype.

The EOF item must be present at the end of file.

The following Visual Basic 6 subroutine constructs a DXF file representing a

polygon.
' WriteDXFPolygon creates a minimal DXF file that only
contains
' the ENTITIES section. This subroutine requires five
parameters,
' the DXF file name, the number of sides for the polygon,
the X
' and Y coordinates for the bottom end of the right-most
side
' (it starts in a vertical direction), and the length for
each
' side. Note that because this only requests 2D points, it
does
' not include the Z coordinates (codes 30 and 31). The
lines are
' placed on the layer "Polygon."
'
Sub WriteDXFPolygon( _
dxfFile As String, iSides As Integer, _
dblX As Double, dblY As Double, dblLen As Double)
Dim i As Integer
Dim dblA1, dblA, dblPI, dblNX, dblNY As Double
Open dxfFile For Output As #1
Print #1, 0
Print #1, "SECTION"
Print #1, 2
Print #1, "ENTITIES"
dblPI = Atn(1) * 4
dblA1 = (2 * dblPI) / iSides
dblA = dblPI / 2
For i = 1 To iSides
Print #1, 0
Print #1, "LINE"
Print #1, 8

About ASCII DXF Files | 257

Print #1, "Polygon"

Print #1, 10
Print #1, dblX
Print #1, 20
Print #1, dblY
dblNX = dblLen * Cos(dblA) + dblX
dblNY = dblLen * Sin(dblA) + dblY
Print #1, 11
Print #1, dblNX
Print #1, 21
Print #1, dblNY
dblX = dblNX
dblY = dblNY
dblA = dblA + dblA1
Next i
Print #1, 0
Print #1, "ENDSEC"
Print #1, 0
Print #1, "EOF"
Close #1
End Sub
As long as a properly formatted item appears on the line on which the data
is expected, DXFIN accepts it. (Of course, string items should not have leading
spaces unless these are intended to be part of the string.) This BASIC program
takes advantage of this flexibility in input format and does not generate a file
exactly like one generated by AutoCAD.
In the case of an error in using DXFIN to load, AutoCAD reports the error with
a message indicating the nature of the error and the last line processed in the
DXF file before the error was detected. This may not be the line on which the
error occurred, especially in the case of errors such as the omission of required
groups.

About Binary DXF Files (DXF)

The ASCII DXF file format is a complete representation of an AutoCAD drawing
in an ASCII text form, and is easily processed by other programs. In addition,
AutoCAD can produce or read a binary form of the full DXF file and accept
limited input in another binary file format.
The SAVE and SAVEAS commands provide a Binary option that writes binary
DXF files. Such a file contains all the information present in an ASCII DXF

258 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

file but in a more compact form that takes about 25 percent less file space. It
can be read and written more quickly (typically, five times faster) by AutoCAD.
Unlike ASCII DXF files, which entail a trade-off between size and floating-point
accuracy, binary DXF files preserve the accuracy in the drawing database.
(AutoCAD Release 10 was the first version to support this form of DXF file; it
cannot be read by older versions.)
A binary DXF file begins with a 22-byte sentinel consisting of the following:
AutoCAD Binary DXF<CR><LF><SUB><NULL>
Following the sentinel are pairs (group, value) as in an ASCII DXF file but
represented in binary form. The group code is a 2-byte binary value (1 byte
in DXF files prior to AutoCAD Release 14), and the value that follows is one
of the following:
A 2-byte integer with the least significant byte first and the most significant
byte last

An 8-byte IEEE double-precision floating-point number stored with the

least significant byte first and the most significant byte last

An ASCII string terminated by a 0 (NULL) byte

The type of data following a group is determined from the group code by the
same rules used in decoding ASCII DXF files. Translation of angles to degrees
and dates to fractional Julian date representation is performed for binary files
as well as for ASCII DXF files. The comment group, 999, is not used in binary
DXF files.
Extended data group codes are represented in binary DXF as a single byte with
the value 255, followed by a 2-byte integer value containing the actual group
code, followed by the actual value.
Extended data long values (group code 1071) occupy 4 bytes of data. Extended
data binary chunks (group code 1004) are represented as a single-byte unsigned
integer length, followed by the specified number of bytes of chunk data. For
example, to transfer an extended data long group, the following values would
appear, occupying 1, 2, and 4 bytes respectively.
255
Escape group code
1071
True group code

About Binary DXF Files (DXF) | 259

999999
Value for the 1071 group code
SAVEAS writes binary DXF files with the same file type (.dxf) as for ASCII DXF
files. The OPEN and INSERT commands automatically recognize a binary file
by means of its sentinel string. You need not identify it as a binary file.
If the OPEN and INSERT commands encounter an error in a binary DXF file,
AutoCAD reports the byte address within the file where the error was detected.

Slide Files (DXF)

NOTE This information is for experienced programmers, and is subject to change
without notice.
AutoCAD slide files are screen images written by the MSLIDE command and
read by the VSLIDE command. This section describes the format of slide files
for the benefit of developers who wish to incorporate support for slides into
their programs.
A slide file consists of a header portion (31 bytes) and one or more data records
of variable length. All coordinates and sizes written to the slide file reflect the
drawing area of the display device from which the slide was created, with
point (0,0) located at the lower-left corner of the drawing area. For AutoCAD
Release 9 and later, the slide file header consists of the following fields:
Slide file header
Field

Bytes

Description

ID string

17

AutoCAD Slide CR LF ^Z NUL

Type indicator

Currently set to 56 (decimal)

Level indicator

Currently set to 2

High X dot

Width of the graphics area: 1, in pixels

High Y dot

Height of the graphics area: 1, in pixels

260 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

Slide file header

Field

Bytes

Description

Aspect ratio

Drawing area aspect ratio (horizontal size/vertical size in inches), scaled by

10,000,000. This value is always written with the least significant byte first

Hardware fill

Either 0 or 2 (value is unimportant)

Test number

A number (1234 hex) used to determine whether all 2-byte values in the slide were
written with the high-order byte first (Intel 8086-family CPUs) or the low-order
byte first (Motorola 68000-family CPUs)

Data records follow the header. Each data record begins with a 2-byte field
whose high-order byte is the record type. The remainder of the record may
be composed of 1-byte or 2-byte fields as described in the following table. To
determine whether the 2-byte fields are written with the high-order byte first
or the low-order byte first, examine the Test number field of the header that
is described in the previous table.
Slide file data records
Record
type
(hex)

Bytes

Meaning

Description

00-7F

Vector

The from-X coordinate for an ordinary vector. From-Y, to-X, and to-Y
follow, in that order, as 2-byte values. The from- point is saved as the
last point

80-FA

Undefined

Reserved for future use

FB

Offset vector

The low-order byte and the following three bytes specify the endpoints
(from-X, from-Y, to-X, to-Y) of a vector, in terms of offsets (-128 to +127)
from the saved last point. The adjusted from- point is saved as the last
point for use by subsequent vectors

FC

End of file

The low-order byte is 00

FD

Solid fill

The low-order byte is always zero. The following two 2-byte values specify
the X and Y coordinates of one vertex of a polygon to be solid-filled.

Slide Files (DXF) | 261

Slide file data records

Record
type
(hex)

Bytes

Meaning

Description

Three to ten such records occur in sequence. A Solid fill record with a
negative Y coordinate indicates the start or end of such a flood sequence.
In the start record, the X coordinate indicates the number of vertex records to follow
FE

Common
endpoint
vector

This is a vector starting at the last point. The low-order byte and the
following byte specify to-X and to-Y in terms of offsets (-128 to +127)
from the saved last point. The adjusted to- point is saved as the last point
for use by subsequent vectors

FF

New color

Subsequent vectors are to be drawn using the color number indicated

by the low-order byte

If a slide contains any vectors at all, a New color record will be the first data
record. The order of the vectors in a slide and the order of the endpoints of
those vectors may vary.
For example, the following is an annotated hex dump of a simple slide file
created on an IBM PC/AT with an IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter. The slide
consists of a white diagonal line from the lower-left corner to the upper-right
corner of the drawing area, a green vertical line near the lower-left corner,
and a small red rectangle at the lower-left corner.
41 75 74 6F 43 41
ID string (AutoCAD Slide CR LF ^Z NUL)
44 20 53 6C 69 64 65 0D 0A 1A 00 56
Type indicator (56)
02
Level indicator (2)
3C 02
High X dot (572)
24 01

262 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

High Y dot (292)

0B 80 DF 00
Aspect ratio (14,647,307 / 10,000,000 = 1.46)
02 00
Hardware fill (2)
34 12
Test number (1234 hex)
07 FF
New color (7 = white)
3C 02 24 01 00 00 00 00
Vector from 572,292 to 0,0. 572,292 becomes last
point
3 FF
New color (3 = green)
0F 00 32 00 0F 00 13 00
Vector from 15,50 to 15,19. \x1115,50 becomes
last point
01 FF
New color (1 = red)
12 FB E7 12 CE
Offset vector from 15+18,50-25 (33,25) to 15+18,
50-50 (33,0). 33,25 becomes last point
DF FE 00
Common-endpoint vector from 33,25 to 33-33,25+0
(0,25). 0,25 becomes last point
00 FE E7
Common-endpoint vector from (0,25) to 0+0,25-25
(0,0). 0,0 becomes last point

Slide Files (DXF) | 263

21 FE 00
Common-endpoint vector from (0,0) to 0+33,0+0
(33,0).33,0 becomes last point
00 FC
End of file

Old Slide Header (DXF)

The slide format described in the previous section is produced by AutoCAD
Release 9 and later, and is portable among all computers running AutoCAD

Release 9 or later. Previous versions of AutoCAD (as well as AutoShade 1.0

and AutoSketch 1.02) produce slides with a somewhat different header, as

shown in the following table.
Old slide file header
Field

Bytes

Description

ID string

17

AutoCAD Slide CR LF ^Z NUL

Type indicator

56 (decimal)

Level indicator

1 (old format)

High X dot

Width of the drawing area: 1, in pixels

High Y dot

Height of the drawing area: 1, in pixels

Aspect ratio

Drawing area aspect ratio (horizontal size/vertical size in inches), written as a

floating-point number

Hardware fill

Either 0 or 2 (value is unimportant)

Filler byte

Unused

Note that the old-format header does not contain a test number field. The
floating-point aspect ratio value and all 2-byte integers are written in the

264 | Chapter 9 Drawing Interchange File Formats

native format of the CPU that was used to create the file (for 8086-family
CPUs, IEEE double-precision, and low-order byte first). Old-format slide files
are not portable across machine types, but they can be read by any version of
AutoCAD running on the same CPU type as the CPU with which the slide
was created.

About Slide Library Files (DXF)

This section describes the format of AutoCAD slide libraries (Release 9 and
later) for the benefit of developers who wish to incorporate support for slide
libraries into their programs.
The general format of a slide library is as follows:
"AutoCAD Slide Library 1.0" CR LF ^Z NUL NUL NUL NUL
Header (32 bytes)
One or more slide directory entries (36 bytes each)
One or more slides (variable length)
Slide directory entries have the following format:
Slide name (NUL terminated) (32 bytes)
Address of slide within library file (4 bytes)
The slide address is always written with the low-order byte first. Each slide to
which the directory points is a complete slide file as described in the previous
section. The end of the slide directory is signified by an entry with a null slide
name (first byte is NUL). A slide library can contain a mixture of old-format
and new-format slides.

About Slide Library Files (DXF) | 265

266

Advanced DXF Issues

10

About Advanced DXF Issues (DXF)

Several advanced concepts are related to DXF group codes.

About Database Objects (DXF)

AutoCAD drawings consist largely of structured containers for database objects.

Database objects each have the following features:
A handle whose value is unique to the drawing/DXF file, and is constant for
the lifetime of the drawing. This format has existed since AutoCAD Release
10, and as of AutoCAD Release 13, handles are always enabled.

An optional xdata table, as entities have had since AutoCAD Release 11.

An optional persistent reactor table.

An optional ownership pointer to an extension dictionary which, in turn,

owns subobjects placed in it by an application.

Symbol tables and symbol table records are database objects and, thus, have a
handle. They can also have xdata and persistent reactors in their DXF records.

Persistent Inter-Object Reference Handles (DXF)

A set of group code ranges permits objects to directly specify references to other
objects within the same drawing/DXF file. Four ranges are provided for the four
types of reference handles that you can specify:
Soft-pointer handle

267

Hard-pointer handle

Soft-owner handle

Hard-owner handle

These handle types are manifested as entity names in AutoLISP , as ads_name

values in ObjectARX and as like-named classes derived from ObjectARX.

These values are always maintained in insert, xref, and wblock operations
such that references between objects in a set being copied are updated to point
to the copied objects, while references to other objects remain unchanged.
Also, a group code range for arbitrary handles is defined to allow convenient
storage of handle values that are not converted to entity names and then
translated in insert, xref, or wblock.
NOTE If you use 1005 xdata group codes to store handles, they are treated as
soft-pointer handles, which means that when groups of objects are copied or
inserted into another drawing, references between the involved objects are
translated. Although 1005 xdata items are always returned as handles in AutoLISP
and ObjectARX, all of the reference handle group code ranges are represented as
entity names in AutoLISP and as ads_name structures in ObjectARX.

Pointer and Ownership References (DXF)

A pointer is a reference that indicates usage, but not possession or
responsibility, for another object. A pointer reference means that the object
uses the other object in some way, and shares access to it.
An ownership reference means that an owner object is responsible for the
objects for which it has an owner handle. Ownership references direct the
writing of entire DWG and DXF files in a generic manner, such as beginning
from a few key root objects.
An object can have any number of pointer references associated with it, but
it can have only one owner.

About Hard and Soft References (DXF)

Hard references, whether they are pointer or owner, protect an object from
being purged. Soft references do not.

268 | Chapter 10 Advanced DXF Issues

In AutoCAD, block definitions and complex entities are hard owners of their
elements. A symbol table and dictionaries are soft owners of their elements.
Polyline entities are hard owners of their vertex and seqend entities. Insert
entities are hard owners of their attrib and seqend entities.
When establishing a reference to another object, it is recommended that you
think about whether the reference should protect an object from the PURGE
command.

About Arbitrary Handles (DXF)

Arbitrary handles are distinct in that they are not translated to
session-persistent identifiers internally, or to entity names in AutoLISP, and
so on. They are stored as handles. When handle values are translated in
drawing-merge operations, arbitrary handles are ignored.
In all environments, arbitrary handles can be exchanged for entity names of
the current drawing by means of the handent functions. A common usage of
arbitrary handles is to refer to objects in external DXF and DWG files.

About 1005 Group Codes (DXF)

1005 xdata group codes have the same behavior and semantics as soft pointers,
which means that they are translated whenever the host object is merged into
a different drawing. However, 1005 items are not translated to
session-persistent identifiers or internal entity names in AutoLISP and
ObjectARX. They are stored as handles.

Subclass Markers (DXF)

When filing a stream of group data, a single object may be composed of several
filer members, one for each level of inheritance where filing is done. Since
derived classes and levels of inheritance can evolve separately, the data of
each class filer member must be segregated from other members. This is
achieved using subclass markers.
All class filer members are expected to precede their class-specific portion of
instance data with a subclass markera 100 group code followed by a string
with the actual name of the class. This does not affect the state needed to

Subclass Markers (DXF) | 269

define the object's state, but it provides a means for the DXF file parsers to
direct the group codes to the corresponding application software.
For example, an object that has data from different derived classes would be
represented as follows:
999
FOOGRANDCHILD, defined by class AcDbSonOfSonOfFoo, which
999
is derived from AcDbSonOfFoo
0
FOOGRANDCHILD
5
C2
100
AcDbFoo
999
Uses 10/20/30 group codes
10
1.1
20
2.3
30
7.3
100
AcDbSonOfFoo
999
Also uses 10/20/30 group codes, for a different purpose
10
1.1
20
2.3
30
7.3
100
AcDbSonOfSonOfFoo
999
Also uses 10/20/30 group codes, for yet another purpose
10
13.2
20
23.1
30

270 | Chapter 10 Advanced DXF Issues

31.2
999
Now for the Xdata
1001
APP_1
1070
45
1001
APP_2
1004
18A5B3EF2C199A

About Extension Dictionary and Persistent Reactors (DXF)

The extension dictionary is an optional sequence that stores the handle of a
dictionary object that belongs to the current object, which in turn may contain
entries. This facility allows attachment of arbitrary database objects to any
database object. Any object or entity may have this section.
Persistent reactors are an optional sequence that stores object handles of
objects registering themselves as reactors on the current object. Any object or
entity may have this section.

About Extended Data (DXF)

Extended data (xdata) is created by AutoLISP or ObjectARX applications. If
an entity contains extended data, it follows the entity's normal definition
data. The group codes 1000 through 1071 describe extended data. The
following is an example of an entity containing extended data in DXF format.
Normal entity definition data:
0
INSERT
5
F11
100
AcDbEntity
8

About Extension Dictionary and Persistent Reactors (DXF) | 271

TOP
100
AcDbBlockReference
2
BLOCK_A
10
0.0
20
0.0
30
0.0
Extended entity definition data:
1001
AME_SOL
1002
{
1070
0
1071
1.95059E+06
1070
519
1010
2.54717
1020
2.122642
1030
2.049201
1005
ECD
1005
EE9
1005
0
1040
0.0
1040
1.0
1000
MILD_STEEL

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The group code 1001 indicates the beginning of extended data. In contrast
to normal entity data, with extended data the same group code can appear
multiple times, and order is important.
Extended data is grouped by registered application name. Each registered
application group begins with a 1001 group code, with the application name
as the string value. Registered application names correspond to APPID symbol
table entries.
An application can use as many APPID names as needed. APPID names are
permanent, although they can be purged if they aren't currently used in the
drawing. Each APPID name can have no more than one data group attached
to each entity. Within an application group, the sequence of extended data
groups and their meaning is defined by the application.
The extended data group codes are listed in the following table.
Extended data group codes and descriptions
Entity name

Group code

Description

String

1000

Strings in extended data can be up to 255 bytes long (with the

256th byte reserved for the null character)

Application name

1001
also a string
value

Application names can be up to 31 bytes long (the 32nd byte is

reserved for the null character)
NOTE
Do not add a 1001 group into your extended data because
AutoCAD assumes it is the beginning of a new application
extended data group

Control string

1002

An extended data control string can be either {or }. These

braces enable applications to organize their data by subdividing
the data into lists. The left brace begins a list, and the right brace
terminates the most recent list. Lists can be nested
When AutoCAD reads the extended data for a particular application, it checks to ensure that braces are balanced

Layer name

1003

Name of the layer associated with the extended data

Binary data

1004

Binary data is organized into variable-length chunks. The maximum length of each chunk is 127 bytes. In ASCII DXF files, binary

About Extended Data (DXF) | 273

Extended data group codes and descriptions

Entity name

Group code

Description
data is represented as a string of hexadecimal digits, two per
binary byte

Database handle

1005

Handles of entities in the drawing database

NOTE
When a drawing with handles and extended data handles is
imported into another drawing using INSERT, INSERT *, XREF
Bind, XBIND, or partial OPEN, the extended data handles are
translated in the same manner as their corresponding entity
handles, thus maintaining their binding. This is also done in
the EXPLODE block operation or for any other AutoCAD operation. When AUDIT detects an extended data handle that
doesn't match the handle of an entity in the drawing file, it
is considered an error. If AUDIT is fixing entities, it sets the
handle to 0

3 reals

1010, 1020,
1030

Three real values, in the order X, Y, Z. They can be used as a point

or vector record. AutoCAD never alters their value

World space position

1011, 1021,
1031

Unlike a simple 3D point, the world space coordinates are moved,

scaled, rotated, and mirrored along with the parent entity to
which the extended data belongs. The world space position is
also stretched when the STRETCH command is applied to the
parent entity and this point lies within the select window

World space displacement

1012, 1022,
1032

Also a 3D point that is scaled, rotated, and mirrored along with

the parent (but is not moved or stretched)

World direction

1013, 1023,
1033

Also a 3D point that is rotated and mirrored along with the parent
(but is not moved, scaled, or stretched)

Real

1040

A real value

Distance

1041

A real value that is scaled along with the parent entity

274 | Chapter 10 Advanced DXF Issues

Extended data group codes and descriptions

Entity name

Group code

Description

Scale factor

1042

Also a real value that is scaled along with the parent. The difference between a distance and a scale factor is application-defined

Integer

1070

A 16-bit integer (signed or unsigned)

Long

1071

A 32-bit signed (long) integer

Object Coordinate Systems (OCS) in DXF

To save space in the drawing database (and in the DXF file), the points
associated with each entity are expressed in terms of the entity's own object
coordinate system (OCS). With OCS, the only additional information needed
to describe the entity's position in 3D space are the 3D vector describing the
Z axis of the OCS and the elevation value.
For a given Z axis (or extrusion) direction, there are an infinite number of
coordinate systems, defined by translating the origin in 3D space and by
rotating the X and Y axes around the Z axis. However, for the same Z axis
direction, there is only one OCS. It has the following properties:
Its origin coincides with the WCS origin.

The orientation of the X and Y axes within the XY plane is calculated in

an arbitrary but consistent manner. AutoCAD performs this calculation
using the arbitrary axis algorithm (see Arbitrary Axis Algorithm).

For some entities, the OCS is equivalent to the WCS, and all points (DXF
groups 10-37) are expressed in world coordinates. See the following table.
Coordinate systems associated with an entity type
Entities

Notes

3D entities such as line, point, 3dface, 3D

polyline, 3D vertex, 3D mesh, 3D mesh
vertex

These entities do not lie in a particular plane. All points are expressed
in world coordinates. Of these entities, only lines and points can be
extruded. Their extrusion direction can differ from the world Z axis

Object Coordinate Systems (OCS) in DXF | 275

Coordinate systems associated with an entity type

Entities

Notes

2D entities such as circle, arc, solid, trace,

text, attrib, attdef, shape, insert, 2D polyline, 2D vertex, lwpolyline, hatch, image

These entities are planar in nature. All points are expressed in object
coordinates. These entities can be extruded. Their extrusion direction
can differ from the world Z axis

Dimension

Some of a dimension's points are expressed in WCS and some in OCS

Viewport

Expressed in world coordinates

Once AutoCAD has established the OCS for a given entity, the OCS works as
follows: The elevation value stored with an entity indicates how far to shift
the XY plane along the Z axis (from the WCS origin) to make it coincide with
the plane that contains the entity. How much of this is the user-defined
elevation is unimportant.
Any 2D points entered through the UCS are transformed into the
corresponding 2D points in the OCS, which is shifted and rotated with respect
to the UCS.
These are a few ramifications of this process:
You cannot reliably find out what UCS was in effect when an entity was
acquired.

When you enter the XY coordinates of an entity in a given UCS and then
do a SAVEAS, you probably won't recognize those XY coordinates in the
DXF file. You must know the method by which AutoCAD calculates the
X and Y axes in order to work with these values.

The elevation value stored with an entity and output in DXF files is a sum
of the Z-coordinate difference between the UCS XY plane and the OCS XY
plane, and the elevation value that the user specified at the time the entity
was drawn.

About Arbitrary Axis Algorithm (DXF)

The arbitrary axis algorithm is used by AutoCAD internally to implement the
arbitrary but consistent generation of object coordinate systems for all entities
that use object coordinates.

276 | Chapter 10 Advanced DXF Issues

Given a unit-length vector to be used as the Z axis of a coordinate system, the

arbitrary axis algorithm generates a corresponding X axis for the coordinate
system. The Y axis follows by application of the right-hand rule.
The method is to examine the given Z axis (also called the normal vector). If
it is close to the positive or negative world Z axis, cross the world Y axis with
the given Z axis to arrive at the arbitrary X axis. If it is not close, cross the
world Z axis with the given Z axis to arrive at the arbitrary X axis. The
boundary at which the decision is made was chosen to be both inexpensive
to calculate and completely portable across machines. This is achieved by
having a sort of square polar cap, the bounds of which are 1/64, which is
precisely specifiable in six decimal-fraction digits and in six binary-fraction
bits.
The algorithm does the following (all vectors are assumed to be in 3D space
and specified in the world coordinate system):
Let the given normal vector be called N.
Let the world Y axis be called Wy, which is always (0,1,0).
Let the world Z axis be called Wz, which is always (0,0,1).
Here we are looking for the arbitrary X and Y axes to go with the normal N.
They will be called Ax and Ay. N could also be called Az (the arbitrary Z axis)
as follows:
If (abs (Nx) < 1/64) and (abs (Ny) < 1/64) then
Ax = Wy X N (where X is the cross-product operator).
Otherwise,
Ax = Wz X N.
Scale Ax to unit length.
The method of getting the Ay vector is as follows:
Ay = N X Ax. Scale Ay to unit length.

About Arbitrary Axis Algorithm (DXF) | 277

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