---
title: "Preparing an AutoCAD Drawing"
slug: "preparing-an-autocad-drawing"
updated: 2023-08-07T09:53:34Z
published: 2023-08-07T09:53:34Z
canonical: "docs.avontus.com/preparing-an-autocad-drawing"
---

> ## Documentation Index
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> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Preparing an AutoCAD Drawing

Depending on the complexity of the drawing you are importing, you may need to perform some cleanup and preparation. You can do this in Visio or in AutoCAD.

Visio requires an AutoCAD 2000 drawing or dxf (drawing exchange) file format, so you must make sure that the AutoCAD drawing you want to import has been saved in the AutoCAD 2000 format. If you have the drawing open in AutoCAD:

1. Click the **File** menu and select **Save As**.
2. Click the File Format dropdown and select **AutoCAD 2000**, then click **Save**.

To simplify the conversion process and make your drawing easier to understand, you'll find it easier to only import the AutoCAD entities that are of interest, such as the walls, Columns, footings and/or Column lines. You may also find it easier to place all of these entities in one or a few layers, then purge the unused layers before importing. To do this, use the AutoCAD WBLOCK command to write selected objects to a new AutoCAD drawing. Refer to the AutoCAD documentation for more information.

If you have control over the creation of the drawing in AutoCAD, keep in consideration how the overlay works. For Polylines drawn clockwise, your Walls will be overlaid to the inside. For counter clockwise polylines, the Walls will be drawn to the outside.

Once you import the drawing, you can drag and drop Walls to snap to the AutoCAD entities, or you can have Handset Designer overlay Walls to selected entities.