Supported Entities

DwgMerge is designed to designed to merge JSON content into AutoCAD DWG files. The syntax of the definition of content follows the structure of the output as defined in Tailor Made Software data extraction products LinkList 2023 and DwgList 2023.

Sample Entities used in this section

Note: You can download a sample DWG and JSON that can be used as sample input for DwgMerge.

DWG Reference Drawing

The entities that can be added to an AutoCAD DWG file are:

Supported entities

Line
Point
Polyline
Circle
Arc
Ellipse
Text
MText
Hatch
Solid
Block Reference
Attribute Definition
2d Polyline
3d Polyline
Spline
MLine
Dimension
Aligned Dimension
Rotated Dimension
MLeader

Entities

All entities (unless noted below) have an Entity Header and such fields listed below as necessary.

Entity Header

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Type	Entity Type	String
Layer	Entity Layer (string with name of Layer Definition)	String
Color	Entity Color	See Below
Handle	Entity HandleUnique 16 Hexadecimal character string	String
Linetype	Entity Line Type (string with name of Line Type Def)	String
Normal	Entity Normal (object with x, y and z coordinates)	Object

Entity Color

The Entity Color can either be an object with a COLORREF definition, a string with ByLayer, ByBlock or an integer from 0 to 256 (as either a string or integer).

Line

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Start_Point	Start Point	Object with x, y and z coordinates
End_Point	End Point	Object with x, y and z coordinates

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Point

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Position	Position	Object with x, y and z coordinates

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Polyline

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Closed	Closed Flag	Boolean
Constant_Width	Constant Width	Double
Vertices	Vertices	Object

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Polyline Vertices

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Location	Location	Object with x, y and z coordinates
Segment_Type	Segment Type	String (default is “Line”)
Bulge	Bulge	Double (default is 0.0)
Start_Width	Start Width	Object with x, y and z coordinates
End_Width	End Width	Object with x, y and z coordinates

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Circle

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Center	Center	Object with x, y and z coordinates
Radius	Radius	Double

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Arc

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Center	Center	Object with x, y and z coordinates
Radius	Radius	Double
Start_Angle	Start Angle	Starting Angle in radians
End_Angle	End Angle	Ending Angle in radians

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Ellipse

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Center	Center	Object with x, y and z coordinates
Major_Axis	Major Axis	Double
Minor_Axis	Minor Axis	Double
Radius_Ratio	Radius Ratio	Double (not required)
Start_Angle	Start Angle	Starting Angle in radians
End_Angle	End Angle	Ending Angle in radians

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Text

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Text_Height	Text Height	Double
Text_String	Contents	String
Contents	Contents	String (alias for “Text_String”)
Text_Position	Text Position	Object with x, y and z coordinates
Text_Location	Text Position	Object (alias for “Text_Position”)
Text_Style	Text Style	String (name of Text Style)
Rotation	Rotation	Double (in radians)
Width_Factor	Width Factor	Double
Mirrored_in_X	Mirrored in X Flag	Boolean (default is false)
Mirrored_in_Y	Mirrored in Y Flag	Boolean (default is false)
Oblique	Slant	Double (in radians)
Horizontal_Mode	Horizontal Mode	Integer (see below)
Vertical_Mode	Vertical Mode	Integer (see below)

Text Horizontal Mode Values

Use the values, not the name.

Name	Value
Left	0
Center	1
Right	2
Align	3
Mid	4
Fit	5

Text Vertical Mode Values

Use the values, not the name.

Name	Value
Base	0
Bottom	1
Mid	2
Top	3

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MText

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Text_Height	Text Height	Double
Text_String	Contents	String
Contents	Contents	String (alias for “Text_String”)
Text_Position	Text Position	Object with x, y and z coordinates
Text_Location	Text Position	Object (alias for “Text_Position”)
Text_Style	Text Style	String (name of Text Style)
Direction	Direction	Object with x, y and z coordinates
Rotation	Rotation	Double (in radians)
Height	Height	Double
Width	Width	Double
Line_Spacing_Factor	Line Spacing	Double
Attachment	Attachment Point	Integer (see below)
Flow_Direction	Flow Direction	Integer (see below)
Show_Borders	Show Borders	Boolean (default is no borders)
Background_Fill_Mode	Background Fill Mode	Boolean (default is no fill)
Line_Spacing_Style	Line Spacing Style	Integer (see below)
Column_Type	Column Type	Integer (see below)
Column_Width	Column Width	Double
Column_Gutter_Width	Column Gutter Width	Double
Column_Flow_Reversed	Column Flow Reversed	Boolean (default is not reversed)

Attachment Mode Values

Use the values, not the name.

Name	Value
Top Left	1
Top Center	2
Top Right	3
Middle Left	4
Middle Center	5
Middle Right	6
Bottom Left	7
Bottom Center	8
Bottom Right	9
Base Left	10
Base Center	11
Base Right	12
Base Align	13
Bottom Align	14
Middle Align	15
Top Align	16
Base Fit	17
Bottom Fit	18
Middle Fit	19
Top Fit	20
Base Mid	21
Bottom Mid	22
Middle Mid	23
Top Mid	24

Flow Direction Values

Use the values, not the name.

Name	Value
Left to Right	1 (default)
Right to Left	2
Top to Bottom	3
Bottom to Top	4
By Style	5

Line Spacing Style

Use the values, not the name.

Name	Value
At Least	1
Exactly	2

Column Type

Use the values, not the name.

Name	Value
No Columns	0 (Default)
Static Columns	1
Dynamic Columns	2

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Solid

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Vertices	Vertices	Array of Objects

Solid Vertex

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Vertex	Vertex	Object with x, y and z coordinates

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2D Polyline

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Closed	Closed Flag	Boolean (Default is not closed)
Vertices	Vertices	Array of Objects

2D Polyline Vertex

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Vertex	Vertex	Object with x and y coordinates

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3D Polyline

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Closed	Closed Flag	Boolean (Default is not closed)
Vertices	Vertices	Array of Objects

3D Polyline Vertex

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Vertex	Vertex	Object with x, y and z coordinates

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Spline

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Has_Fit_Data	Fit Data Flag	Boolean (Default is no Fit Data)
Rational	Rational Flag	Boolean (Default is not rational)
Periodic	Periodic Flag	Boolean (Default is not periodic)
Closed	Closed Flag	Boolean (Default is not closed)
Degree	Degree	Integer
Fit_Tolerance	Fit Tolerance	Double
Control_Point_Tolerance	Control Point Tolerance	Double
Knot_Tolerance	Knot Tolerance	Double
Fit_Points	Vertices	Array of Objects
Control_Points	Vertices	Array of Objects
Knots	Vertices	Array of Doubles
Weights	Vertices	Array of Doubles
Tangents_Exist	Tangents Exist Flag	Boolean (Default is no tangents)
Start_Tangent	Start Tangent	Object with x, y and z vector
End_Tangent	End Tangent	Object with x, y and z vector

Spline Vertex

The same definition is used for Fit Points and Control Points

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Point	Point	Object with x, y and z coordinates

Spline Values

The same definition is used for Knots and Weights

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type
Value	Value	Double

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Dimension

All dimensions share the following parameters. Some of the specific dimension types, like Aligned and Rotated Dimensions, have extra parameters that are outlined in their sections below.

JSON Name	Value	JSON Type	Usage
Dimension_Style	Dimension Style	String	name of entry in Dimension Style table
DimStyle	Dimension Style	Alias to Dimension_Style
Text_Position	Text Position	Object with x,y, and z coordinates
Dim_Block_Position	Dimension Block Position	Object with x,y, and z coordinates
Is_Default_Text_Position	Default Text Position Flag	Boolean
Dimension_Text	Dimension Text	String
Text_Rotation	Text Rotation	Double in radians
Text_Attachment	Text Attachment	Integer
Text_Line_Spacing_Factor	Text Line Spacing Factor	Double
Horizontal_Rotation	Horizontal Rotation	Double in radians
Dim_Block_Rotation	Dimension Block Rotation	Double in radians
Dim_Block_Scale	Dimension Block Scale	Double
Dimscale	Dimension Scale	Double
Dimgap	Dimension Gap	Double
Background_Text_Color	Background Text Color	Color
Dimension_Linetype	Dimension Linetype	String	Name of LineType
First_Extension_Line_Linetype	First Extension Line Linetype	String	Name of LineType
Second_Extension_Line_Linetype	Second Extension Line Linetype	String	Name of LineType
Extension_Line_Fixed_Length	Extension Line Length	Double
Arrow_First_Is_Flipped	Arrow First Is Flipped Flag	Boolean
Arrow_Second_Is_Flipped	Arrow Second Is Flipped Flag	Boolean
Text_Defined_Width	Text Width	Double
Text_Defined_Height	Text Height	Double
Dimadec	Dimadec	Integer	Number of decimal places in angular dimensions
Dimalt	Dimalt	Boolean	Controls the display of alternate measurements
Dimaltd	Dimaltd	Integer	Number of decimal places in alternate measurements
Dimaltf	Dimaltf	Double	Distance multiplier for alternate measurements
Dimrnd	Dimrnd	Double	Specifies the rounding of alternate measurements
Dimalttd	Dimalttd	Integer	Specifies the number of decimal places in tolerance values in alternate measurements
Dimalttz	Dimalttz	Integer	Controls zero suppression in tolerance values in alternate measurements
Dimaltu	Dimaltu	Integer	[Controls the formatting for alternate units](#Dimension-Alternate -Unit-Format)
Dimaltz	Dimaltz	Integer	Controls zero suppression in alternate measurements
Dimapost	Dimapost	String	Specifies a prefix and/or suffix for the alternate measurements text in dimensions. DIMAPOST is in the form prefix<>suffix. The ‘<>’ in DIMAPOST is replaced by the alternate measurements text.
Dimasz	Dimasz	Double	Specifies the size of dimension and leader arrowheads
Dimatfit	Dimatfit	Integer	Specifies how arrows and text are placed when they do not fit within the extension lines of dimensions
Dimaunit	Dimaunit	Integer	Specifies the formatting for units in angular dimensions
Dimazin	Dimazin	Integer	Controls zero suppression in angular dimensions
DimBlock	DimBlock	String	Dimension Block Name
Dimblk	Dimblk	String	Arrow Head Block Name
Dimblk1	Dimblk1	String	First arrowhead block when DIMSAH is true
Dimblk2	Dimblk2	String	Second arrowhead block when DIMSAH is true
Dimcen	Dimcen	Double	Controls the generation of arc and circle center marks and lines
Dimdec	Dimdec	Integer	Specifies the number of decimal places in primary units
Dimdle	Dimdle	Double	Specifies the distance dimension lines extend beyond extension lines
Dimdli	Dimdli	Double	Specifies distance between dimension lines for baseline dimensions
Dimdsep	Dimdsep	Integer	Specifies the decimal separator (’.’ or ‘,’)
Dimexe	Dimexe	Double	Specifies the distance extension lines extend beyond dimension lines
Dimexo	Dimexo	Double	Specifies the distance extensions are offset from their origin points
Dimfrac	Dimfrac	Integer	Specifies the fraction format when DIMLUNIT is 4 or 5
Dimgap	Dimgap	Double	Specifies the gap between dimension text and dimension lines
Dimjust	Dimjust	Integer	Specifies the dimension text horizontal position
Dimlfac	Dimlfac	Double	Specifies the distance multiplier for measurements in dimensions
Dimlim	Dimlim	Boolean	Controls the display of dimension limits
Dimlunit	Dimlunit	Integer	Controls the formatting for units in non-angular dimensions
Dimlwd	Dimlwd	Integer	Specifies the lineweight for dimension lines
Dimlwe	Dimlwe	Integer	Specifies the lineweight for extension lines
Dimpost	Dimpost	String	Specifies a prefix and/or suffix for the measurement text in dimensions. DIMPOST is in the form prefix<>suffix. The ‘<>’ in DIMPOST is replaced by the alternate measurements text.
Dimsah	Dimsah	Boolean	Controls the generation of separate arrowheads for dimension lines
Dimscale	Dimscale	Double	Scale factor applied to all dimension variables that regulate sizes, offsets, and distances
Dimsd1	Dimsd1	Boolean	Controls the suppression of the first dimension line and arrowhead
Dimsd2	Dimsd2	Boolean	Controls the suppression of the second dimension line and arrowhead
Dimse1	Dimse1	Boolean	Controls the suppression of the first extension line
Dimse2	Dimse2	Boolean	Controls the suppression of the second extension line
Dimsoxd	Dimsoxd	Boolean	Controls the suppression of dimension lines outside the extension lines
Dimtad	Dimtad	Integer	Specifies the dimension text vertical position
Dimtdec	Dimtdec	Integer	Specifies the number of decimal places in tolerance values for primary units
Dimtfac	Dimtfac	Double	Specifies, as a factor of DIMTXT, the size of tolerance and fraction text
Dimtih	Dimtih	Boolean	Controls the orientation of dimension text inside the extension lines
Dimtix	Dimtix	Boolean	Controls the placement of dimension text inside the extension lines
Dimtm	Dimtm	Double	Specifies the negative of the lower tolerance limit
Dimtmove	Dimtmove	Integer	Controls the updating of associative dimension objects while dragging
Dimtofl	Dimtofl	Boolean	Controls the drawing of dimension lines between extension lines when text is outside the dimension lines
Dimtoh	Dimtoh	Boolean	Controls the orientation of dimension text outside the extension lines
Dimtol	Dimtol	Boolean	Controls the generation of tolerance text in dimensions
Dimtolj	Dimtolj	Integer	Controls the vertical justification of tolerance values with respect to the nominal dimension text
Dimtp	Dimtp	Double	Specifies the upper tolerance limit
Dimtsz	Dimtsz	Double	Specifies the size of architectural tics
Dimtxsty	Dimtxsty	String	Dimension Text Style
Dimtvp	Dimtvp	Double	Specifies, as a factor of DIMTXT, the vertical distance of the middle of the dimension text with respect to the dimension line
Dimtxt	Dimtxt	Double	Specifies the size of the dimension text
Dimtzin	Dimtzin	Integer	Controls zero suppression in tolerance values in linear dimensions
Dimupt	Dimupt	Boolean	Controls the movement of user-positioned text when dimension lines are moved
Dimzin	Dimzin	Integer	Controls zero suppression in linear dimensions
Dimfxl	Dimfxl	Double	Specifies the fixed length of extension lines
Dimfxlon	Dimfxlon	Boolean	Controls the generation of fixed-length extension lines
Dimjogang	Dimjogang	Double	Specifies the jog angle of dimension lines in jogged radius dimensions
Dimtfill	Dimtfill	Integer	Specifies the background fill of dimension text
Dimarcsym	Dimarcsym	Integer	Specifies the placement of arc symbols in arc length dimensions
Dimltype	Dimltype	String	Specifies the linetype of dimension lines
Dimltex1	Dimltex1	String	Specifies the linetype of first extension lines
Dimltex2	Dimltex2	String	Specifies the linetype of second extension lines
Dimtxtdirection	Dimtxtdirection	Boolean	Controls the text direction
Dimmzf	Dimmzf	Double
Dimmzs	Dimmzs	String
Dimaltmzf	Dimaltmzf	Double
Dimaltmzs	Dimaltmzs	String

Dimension Alternate Unit Format

Value	Description
1	Scientific
2	Decimal
3	Engineering
4	Architectural (stacked)
5	Fractional (stacked)
6	Architectural
7	Fractional
8	Microsoft Windows Desktop

Dimension Unit Format

Value	Description
1	Scientific
2	Decimal
3	Engineering
4	Architectural (stacked)
5	Fractional (stacked)
6	Microsoft Windows Desktop

Dimension Zero Suppression

Value	Description
0	Suppress zero feet and exactly zero inches
1	Include zero feet and exactly zero inches
2	Include zero feet and suppress exactly zero inches
3	Suppress zero feet and include exactly zero inches
4	Suppress leading decimal zeros
8	Suppress trailing decimal zeros
12	Suppress leading and trailing decimal zeros

Angular Dimension Zero Suppression

Value	Description
0	Display leading and trailing decimal zeros
1	Suppress leading decimal zeros
2	Suppress trailing decimal zeros
3	Suppress leading and trailing decimal zeros

Dimension Arrows Don’t Fit

Value	Description
0	Moves text and arrows outside extension lines
1	Moves arrows, then text, outside extension lines. When DIMTMOVE is 1, a leader is added to moved text
2	Moves text, then arrows, outside extension lines
3	Moves text or arrows for best fit

Angular Dimension Units

Value	Description
0	Decimal Degrees
1	Degrees-Minutes-Seconds
2	Gradians
3	Radians
4	Surveyor’s Units

Fraction Unit Format

Value	Description
0	Horizontal Stacked
1	Diagonal Stacked
2	Not Stacked

Dimension Text Horizontal Position

Value	Description
0	Centered above the dimension line
1	By the first extension line
2	By the second extension line
3	Above the dimension line, parallel to the first extension line
4	Above the dimension line, parallel to the second extension line

Dimension Text Vertical Position

Value	Description
0	Centered about the dimension line
1	Above the dimension line, unless DIMTIH==1 and the dimension line is not horizontal
2	Side of the dimension line farthest from the defining points
3	JIS standard
4	Text below the dimension line

Update While Dragging

Value	Description
0	Moving dimension text moves the dimension line
1	Moving dimension text adds a leader
2	Moving dimension text does not add a leader

Vertical Justification of Tolerance Values

Value	Description
0	Bottom
1	Middle
2	Top

Background Fill of Dimension Text

Value	Description
0	No fill
1	Drawing background color
2	Color specified by DIMTFILLCLR

Arc Symbol Placement

Value	Description
0	Before the dimension text
1	Above the dimension text
2	Not displayed

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Last updated on 3 Apr 2022
Published on 17 Jul 2020