Export to SVG from Vectorworks®

With this menu command you'll be able to export objects on a Vectorworks® layer (such as polylines, polygons, rects, arcs etc.) to a SVG file suitable for CNC machines.

This menu command is just a shortcut for who needs perfectly shaped curves out of Vectorworks® to feed modern CNC machines that uses SVG as preferred vectorial curves representation.

Important:
The conversion produced with this command is accurate for all geometric shapes (beziers, splines, arcs) and the SVG produced aims to communicate the cutting info for cutting / engraving digital machines.

To get a graphically accurate SVG conversion from a Vectorworks® document, it is preferred to pass from PDF export, then PDF to SVG conversion (with programs such Inkscape or Adobe® Illustrator).

Prerequisites

Not all objects of your drawing can be exported in the SVG file.
Currently the types exported are:

1. Lines
2. Rects
3. Rounded rects
4. Arcs / circles
5. Ellipses
6. Polygons
7. Polylines (also with holes)
8. Texts* (as polylines)
9. Groups (members belonging to the types above)
10. Symbols (2D components belonging to the types above)
11. Plugin objects (2D components belonging to the types above)
12. Bitmap images
13. Dimensions
14. Architectural components (Slab, Wall, Roof)

(*) Texts: Texts are exported as polylines, a conversion to true type is done behind the scenes.

The plugin CANNOT** export all the other types that are not included in the above types such as:

1. 3D objects
2. Viewports
3. PDF, eps, ps images (copy and paste as bitmap to get them eligible.)
4. …and all that is not specifically mentioned in the above list

(**) Note: You can convert, of course, these types, into lines, polygons etc. so that you can get representations of these same objects into eligible objects.
The plugin is new, other types will be implemented (whenever this is feasible) and included in next releases.

Attributes

Currently only certain attributes are exported:

1. Stroke color
2. Stroke weight
3. Solid fills
4. Gradient fills (linear and radial)
5. Line dashes
6. Markers
7. Transparencies (use CSS styles in the settings dialog)
8. Shadows

These other attributes CANNOT currently be exported:

1. Hatches
2. Tessellations
3. Textures

Select the Export to SVG menu from the File menu (see installation notes).

The settings dialog appears:

The program will export all eligible objects present on the active layer according with the above settings.

As a first step, the program checks if there are objects not eligible for the export (see the prerequisites list above).
If some object cannot be exported, you'll be proposed to continue with the exportable objects or to cancel the operation and, in case, make some modify to get objects exportable.

For example, if you have a 3D view in your selection, currently it cannot be exported "as is", so you could copy / convert it into lines (line is in eligible types).

When the check is passed (or you have chosen OK), you'll be asked to save a file. Type a file name, select a folder where to save, then click OK.

The program will produce the correct SVG code to replicate your currently active layer objects.

Note: Objects are exported relatively to the active layer scale, so, if you need them for CNC purposes, better set the layer scale to 1:1 before exporting.

Default units: With the latest version [2.6] a new popup [Default Units] was added to the settings dialog. The default SVG unit for the produced document can now be set to px (96 units x inch) or points (pt = 72 units per inch).
As per SVG specifications:
…user units (i.e., no unit identifier has been provided): the value is assumed to be equivalent to the same number of "px" units…
In previous version the pt units were the default (adopted by Adobe Illustrator®), now it is possible to choose px unit (used by Shaper Studio®).

The "Export to SVG" plugin allows you to export SVG files that you can cut directly with Origin. In the PlugIn folder you will also find the VWX template file "template for Origin" suitable for the version of Vectorworks® indicated in the package name:

If you want to work with it, you can save under "File" > "Save as Template", and you will always have a clean template file.

To apply the filling colours to your design, we recommend to use the pipette tool:

But you can also work without a template. The precondition is that the contours you want to export are on the same layer with a scale of 1:1. Otherwise, the dimensions will be scaled accordingly.

Unpacking the downloaded zip file, you'll find a couple of element:

• Export to SVG.vsm
• Template for Origin*

The template for Origin® is an (unofficial) Vectorworks® version of the template to refer to when exporting for Shaper Origin® tools.

1. Move the “Export to SVG.vsm” file inside your Vectorworks Plug-ins folder (app or user folder).
2. Restart Vectorworks.
3. Edit your workspace adding the menu Export to SVG command (you'll find it in Import/Export category)
4. Usually you'll add it in the File menu, Export submenu.
5. Save the workspace.

In the end you should get a new menu item Export to SVG in the File -> Export submenu.

Here the official instructions (from help.vectorworks.net) for editing the workspaces

And here instructions to add a menu command

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