Before we import a file, it’s helpful to know

what CAD elements Mazemap Admin Tool (AT) does and doesn’t support

and how to prepare your CAD file for best results:

Our CAD drawing should consist of next data:

1. Geometry elements – Walls, stairs, elevators, doors, desks and inventory if it is needed.

2. Room data – unique code name for each room in our floorplan, that let the system make it searchable in maps and being able to attach to external data. 

Therefore, all the information, that is not on our wishlist – it is better to filter from file.

Layers

1. Layers should be sorted.
   AT can sort elements by different types - walls, doors, stairs and text. So, it is best to have those elements in coincident layer. 
   Elements will appear differently on maps depending on their belonging to the layer. 
   For instance, 
2. Spare layers better to be removed. 
   If there some elements on 

Delete unnecessary layers

All the layers should be turned on.

• Mazemap shows all the layers, that contains CAD file, despite whether those Layers were Turn off or Turn on.

If you have filtered elements by turning off the layers – the easiest way to clean up file from unnecessary elements would be to make a copy of needed floor plan into a new file, and purge all unnecessary elements which tied to it.

Delete unnecessary elements

Usually, the layers with engineering systems, lighting, ceiling levels, are the ones, which general visitors won't need - need to be removed.

If the drawing contains different variations of floor plan or different elements of the same floor plan, it would be desirable to clean up drawing of such elements.

It is not critical if there are several those elements, but in other cases - that can bring difficulties with scaling and placing in map.

Work with External references

If the drawing contains External references, there must be done some work in CAD to prepare drawings before uploading in Mazemap. 

1. First of all, we need to be sure, that we have all the dwg-files, that attached to our floor plan as external references, and assemble into one folder.

2. Then we clean up our root file from unnecessary elements, layers, and blocks to make it lighter. 

3. After that, we must copy all the missing essential elements to our root-file to make it complete.

4. To finish the cleaning, we must purge all the connections and missing blocks from our file.

5. Sometimes it is helpful to copy finished floor plan into a new file and save as a newer version.

Work with Attributes and Attribute blocks

An attribute is a label or tag that attaches data to a block. Examples of data that might be contained in an attribute are part numbers, prices, comments, and owners' names, etc.

The tags can be set up as variables, specific information about each instance and could be added for each inserted block reference. Stand-alone attributes can also be created.

If the drawing contains Attribute blocks the simple exploding won't work with it as usual and all the information would be lost:

When you push command BURST - selected Attributes explode into lines of different text, equal to each room or block, that it has been attached to: