Export DXF
Hand off your 2D plan to AutoCAD, Vectorworks, or LibreCAD with one click — layers, geometry, and real-world scale intact.
DXF export converts every 2D entity on the active page into standard AutoCAD R2000 (AC1015) geometry — the format supported by AutoCAD 2000 through the latest release, Vectorworks, LibreCAD, QGIS, and SketchUp. Lines, polylines, circles, arcs, ellipses, and text all map to their native DXF counterparts, editor layers are preserved by name, and fill colors become solid hatches on the matching layer. You can scope the export to your current selection, choose whether hidden layers are included, and pick the unit system so the file opens at correct real-world scale without a unit-mismatch prompt in the recipient's CAD application.
Select what you want to export (optional)
If you only need part of the drawing, select those entities first using the selection tool or a lasso. Doing this before opening the dialog enables the Export selection only toggle. If you want the full page, skip this step — all visible entities are included by default.
Open the Export DXF dialog
Go to File > Export > DXF. The Export DXF dialog opens.
Choose DXF version and units
DXF version — choose the target DXF format:
- DXF 2004 (R15) — broadest compatibility with older CAD software
- DXF 2010 (R18) — supports additional entity types; recommended for most use cases
- DXF 2013 (R19) — latest supported version; use when the recipient is on a recent CAD version
Unit system — choose metric (meters) or imperial (feet). This sets the DXF header unit and scales all geometry accordingly. Match the unit system the recipient expects to receive.
When in doubt, use DXF 2010 — it is widely supported and includes all the geometry types Scapiera exports.
Configure layer mapping and geometry
Layer mapping — Scapiera layers map to DXF layers with the same names by default. You can rename layers or merge multiple layers into one DXF layer in the mapping table.
Geometry inclusion — toggle which entity types to include:
- Paths and outlines — all path entities as polylines
- Annotation — text, dimensions, and callout entities
- Fills — filled areas are exported as closed polylines (fill patterns are not exported; fills in DXF are typically handled by the recipient's hatch settings)
Underlays are not included in DXF export.
If the contractor only needs the path outlines (boundaries, paths, structures), disable Annotation and Fills to produce a clean geometry-only DXF.
Export and download the file
Click Export DXF. The dialog closes and the browser immediately downloads a .dxf file named after your project. The file contains a HEADER section, a TABLES section (line types and all named layers), a BLOCKS section, an ENTITIES section with all exported geometry, and an OBJECTS section — the complete structure required by AutoCAD R2000.
Verify the file in your CAD application
Open the file in AutoCAD, Vectorworks, LibreCAD, QGIS, or SketchUp. Check that the drawing units match your selection — if the drawing appears at the wrong scale, confirm the Units setting in the dialog and re-export. Layer names from Scapiera appear directly in the CAD layer panel, making it easy to toggle visibility by layer.
The DXF format carries 2D geometry only. Photoreal material textures, plant symbols, 3D objects, and terrain data are not included in the exported file. For a presentation-ready deliverable that includes those elements, use Export PDF or Export Image instead.
Need a vector file for Inkscape, Figma, or a web pipeline instead of a CAD application? Use Export SVG from the same export menu — it shares the same unit and selection options and writes layer names as Inkscape-compatible group labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which CAD applications can open the exported DXF?
The file uses the AutoCAD R2000 (AC1015) format, which opens in AutoCAD 2000 through the latest release, Vectorworks (all versions), LibreCAD, QGIS, and SketchUp. It is the broadest-compatibility DXF dialect — newer formats add features that older applications cannot read.
The drawing opened at the wrong scale in AutoCAD. What went wrong?
This usually means the Units setting in the export dialog did not match the drawing units expected by the recipient. Re-export with the correct unit choice (Metric or Imperial) and re-open the file. The DXF $INSUNITS header variable is set to 6 for meters and 2 for feet, which AutoCAD reads to determine scale automatically.
Are material fills and textures included in the DXF?
No. DXF is a geometry format. A flat fill color is exported as a solid HATCH on the same layer as the shape, but photoreal material textures, patterns, and gradients are not carried across. The CAD recipient applies their own fills or hatch patterns.
Are plants, 3D objects, and dimensions exported?
No. The DXF export covers the 2D plan geometry on the active page. Plants, 3D objects, terrain, and annotation dimensions are not written to the DXF file. Text annotations placed with the text tool are exported as DXF MTEXT entities.
Can I export only a few specific entities rather than the whole page?
Yes. Select the entities you want before opening the dialog, then enable Export selection only. You can also restrict by layer visibility: turn off layers you do not need and leave Include hidden entities off so those layers are excluded from the export.
What happens to layers I have hidden in Scapiera?
Hidden layers are excluded by default. If you turn on Include hidden entities, those layers and their entities are written to the DXF but the layer flag is set to frozen, so they appear in the recipient's layer panel but are off by default — matching your presentation intent while still giving the CAD user access to the geometry.