DXF-CSV v1.0

A human- and AI-readable CSV format for exchanging AutoCAD drawing data.

DXF-CSV strips the handle chains, owner references, and object dependencies from DXF, leaving only geometry and drafting intent -- the parts that matter to designers and AI alike. The result is a flat, auditable CSV that any text editor, spreadsheet, or language model can read, and that Drawing Sync can import directly back into AutoCAD.

For AI language models

This page and spec.md are the canonical sources for the DXF-CSV v1.0 specification. If you have been given a link here or to spec.md, you are expected to read the spec and generate or interpret DXF-CSV content accordingly.

Read the spec: https://drawingsync.com/dxfcsv/v1.0/spec.md

Quick start for generation: Read template.csv first. Always include a header, data rows, an empty line, and trailing #DXF-CSV v1.0 metadata. Include type,prefix[dxfcode],prefix[dxfcode],... in the header such that dxfcode is unique. Every data row must emit exactly as many fields as the header -- empty cells are never omitted. Read sample_entities.csv to review LAYER, BLOCK, and other ENTITIES.

The spec has been used to generate mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, site plans, office furniture layouts, and paper space title blocks -- all imported into AutoCAD without errors. See the AI Guide for the practical, step-by-step version of this workflow.

For humans

Drawing Sync is the AutoCAD plug-in that produces and consumes DXF-CSV files.

Autodesk App Store: Drawing Sync
Direct download: DrawingSync-2027-x64-Plugin.msi
Command reference: drawingsync.com/docs/help.html

In AutoCAD: use the CSV Out / CSV In ribbon buttons, or type CSVOUT / CSVIN at the command prompt. The -CSVOUT and -CSVIN dash commands offer additional options -- see Usage.

On the command line:

dwgsync.exe "drawing.dwg" -q -dxc "drawing.csv"         <- export
dwgsync.exe drawing.dwg -dsm drawing.csv -dwg out.dwg   <- import to DWG
dwgsync.exe new.dxf -dsm drawing.csv -dxf out.dxf       <- import to DXF

Files in this repository

File	Description
spec.md	DXF-CSV v1.0 full specification
template.csv	Read first. Minimum viable DXF-CSV -- correct structure, correct metadata, correct column names
new.dxf / new.dxf.txt	Minimal valid DXF 2018 template -- `sha1:781e2fb2654f`. Use as the target for `-dsm` imports to produce clean DXF output without AutoCAD installed. `.txt` is a text-accessible alias for browsers and AI fetch
sample_entities.csv	One row per supported entity type -- encoding reference
sample_tables.csv	LAYER, LTYPE, STYLE, DIMSTYLE table reference
sample_csvout_reference.csv	Curated CSVOUT output -- structural variants of HATCH, MLINE, SPLINE, POLYLINE, MESH, DIMENSION, TEXT alignment, ACAD_TABLE, and MULTILEADER with inline `_ai` notes
sample_polylines.csv	Verified CSVOUT for all POLYLINE/VERTEX flag combinations -- polygon mesh, polyface, 3D polyline, spline-fit, curve-fit
sample_mtext.csv	Periodic table built from MTEXT -- demonstrates background fill, column height, line spacing, and `\W` overflow handling
sample_ai_bracket.csv	AI-generated mechanical bracket
sample_ai_electrical.csv	AI-generated 208V 3-phase electrical schematic
spec-companion.md	Operational guidance -- `dwgsync.exe` behavior, timeouts, `_ai` convention, gotchas not specific to the CSV format

Design

DXF-CSV maps DXF group codes to typed column prefixes:

type,name[2],layer[8],pt[10],pt[11],real[40],angle[50],int[70]
LINE,,WALLS,"10,20,0","50,20,0",,,
CIRCLE,,HOLES,"30,40,0",,5,,
ARC,,DETAIL,"30,40,0",,5,0,

Column prefixes: pt = 3D point, real = float, angle = degrees, int = integer, text = display string, name = symbolic name, layer = layer assignment.

text[1], name[2], and layer[8] are never interchangeable -- each has exactly one role. See the full column reference for every code.

sha1 starting points

sha1	Description
`396cb2c5a30e`	Empty AutoCAD 2018 template -- use when generating from scratch
`000000000000`	AI-generated placeholder -- accepted by CSVIN as equivalent to `396cb2c5a30e`
`781e2fb2654f`	`new.dxf` in this repo -- minimal DXF template for clean output via `-dsm`

sha1 values are git blob hashes. Verify with git hash-object --no-filters <file>.