
     ============================================================= 
            DXFIX13.TXT - AutoCAD R13 to R12 DXF Translator
     ============================================================= 

                          March 17, 1995

====================================================================== 
INTRODUCTION
============ 

DXFIX is an open,  programmable  application  which generates ASCII or
binary DXF files compatible with any release of AutoCAD.

The  information  in  this  file  provides  the basic instructions for 
translating R13 DXF files to R12.   This  translation is controlled by 
translation specification files (DXT files) which can  be  modified to 
suit the user's needs.

For additional information regarding DXF translations and  information 
on modifying DXT files, see DXFIX.DOC.   Also,  the  DXT file contains
comments regarding the translation of specific objects.

======================================================================  
HOW TO TRANSLATE A R13 DXF FILE TO R12
====================================== 

To  translate  a  Release 13  DXF  file to Release 12 format,  use the 
following syntax at a DOS prompt:

    dxfix  [-a<digits>]  -t<name>  <infile>  <outfile>

Where  <infile>  is  the  input DXF file name (an extension of .dxf is
assumed if no explicit extension  is  given),  and  <outfile>  is  the
output  DXF file name (.dxf is also added to this name if no extension
is present).  The input DXF file can be either binary or ASCII format;
binary format is faster to process and maintains full accuracy of
drawing objects, but if you supply  an  ASCII  DXF  file,  DXFIX  will
process  it  without difficulty.  DXFIX reads binary DXF files written
in AutoCAD portable format regardless of the system  on  which  it  is
running,  and  ASCII  DXF  with  any  of  the  end of line conventions
recognized by AutoCAD.

The <outfile> is written, by default,  in  binary  DXF  format.   When
transferring  data to AutoCAD Release 12, this format is preferable by
far as it is much faster to write, generally  smaller,  and  preserves
full  accuracy.  If you want ASCII DXF output instead (for example, if
the DXF is intended for an AutoCAD  prior  to  Release  10  that  only
supports  ASCII DXF, or is being sent to a non-Autodesk DXF processing
program that requires ASCII), specify  the  -A<digits>  option,  where
<digits> is a number giving the precision, in decimal places, to which
numbers should be edited in the ASCII DXF file.

The -T<name>  option  specifies a translation specification file name.
The translation specification file tells  DXFIX  how  to translate the 
DXF file.  To translate R13 DXF files to R12 DXF you must specify the 
dxfix13.dxt file. If this option is not used it defaults to dxfix.dxt.
The .dxt extension is assumed if not specified. 

For example, to convert a binary Release 13 DXF file named "house13.dxf"
to a binary Release 12 DXF file named "house12.dxf", use:

    dxfix  -Tdxfix13  house13  house12

To perform the same translation, but generating an ASCII  output  file
with six decimal places of precision, use:

    dxfix  -A6  -Tdxfix13  house13  house12

The DXFIX.EXE file supplied will run on both DOS and in a DOS window
under NT.  This executable can also be used to convert ASCII release 12
files to 10 using the original DXFIX.DXT (not supplied here).  However,
due to a change in the size of a code field, it cannot be used to
convert binary Release 12 to 10 files.  To do that you must use the
original DXFIX.EXE (also not supplied here).

For a description of the changes to convert an R13 DXF file to R12
format please see the comment at the top of DXFIX13.DXT.
