Importing DWG files into Visio

One common problem when importing DWG files relates to the fact that DWG files can reference vast drawing spaces. Isolated entities thrown way outside the expected dimensional range of a drawing can lead to problems when moving this data between applications.

Before you import DWG drawings into Visio, view the drawing extents in AutoCAD (View > Zoom > Extents) to make sure the extent of the drawing is what you expect it to be. If your drawing displays as a small colored twinkle in one corner, then you have a problem that will not go away when you try to import that drawing into Visio.

An easy error to make in IntelliCAD, AutoCAD or other CAD application is to draw, place or move entities to locations distant to the main part of your drawing. It is a simple matter to insert a door in your house plan and mistakenly locate it half a light year away on the drawing. You may shrug your shoulders and insert another when the entities don't appear where you thought they should, but they stay located another galaxy away on your drawing page.

Zooming to drawing extents occasionally is a good way to pick this kind of error. If such distantly located entities exist in a DWG when you import it to Visio, the drawing will be incorrectly scaled in the Visio page.

During the import process, check the Page Size/Scale dialog box to make sure the drawing fits on the Visio page.

If the drawing is too large, click the AutoScale button to fit the drawing to the page, or choose a different page size and scale.