To import parts exported from Workshop in to ShipConstructor, follow the steps in each of the sections below for frames, decks, stringers and plates.

Ø        Open ShipConstructor to the appropriate Project and Unit

Ø        Type SCIN at the command line

Ø        Select the Frames.frm file you exported

A dialog will appear allowing you to change settings.

Ø        Leave all the settings at their defaults. Click OK

Since ShipConstructor 2008, some functionality such as the SCIN command has changed. If this does not work on your machine, you can also import the 3D DXF into the 3D Unit drawing using a standard AutoCAD Insert | Block command:

Ø        Select Insert | Block

Ø        Set file type to DXF in the select file dialog, select the file, click Open.

Ø        Untick all “specify on screen options”

Ø        Select the explode checkbox and click OK

Ø        Do a Zoom Extents to view the imported geometry.

After you have imported your frame geometry, you can create a Planar Group in ShipConstructor.

For each frame that has been imported, perform the following steps

Ø        Select the polylines that define the frame and its openings (ignore rider bars if you have them)

Ø        Create a New Planar Group using ShipConstructor | Planar Group | New

Ø        Enter the frame details and click OK

Ø        The newly created frame will be shown in red and is converted to an M-link (Xref).

In ShipConstructor Navigator, you will see the new Planar Group drawing has been added under Structure | Frames. When you open this Frame drawing, you will see the original frame geometry from Workshop. This is a “SCConStructHullTraceConstrLine” which can be used directly for part modelling.

Tip: You may wish to make a backup copy of the frame to the _Rev layer before you modify this geometry to save you from having to bring it in again later.

Decks are imported in exactly the same way as frames as described above.

Stringers require a different method of importing compared with frames and decks.

Ø        Open the appropriate unit drawing.

Ø        Create a new curved group using ShipConstructor | Curved Group | New

Ø        Open the new group

Ø        Import the Workshop stringers using SC Structure | Stiffener | New Twisted

Ø        Select a group of stringer files that you exported from Workshop. Use Shift-Click to select multiple files in the Open dialog

Ø        Click Open

Ø        Enter the properties for the Stringers

Ø        Click OK

The stringers should now all be read in, check by doing a zoom extents and possibly changing the viewing orientation. You may also want to XREF in the frames to check the relative location of the stringers and frames.

You will most likely want to import groups of stringers where all of the stringers in each group have the same stringer shape. This is so that you can assign a common stringer shape to all of the stringers when importing.

To import plates

Ø        Open the appropriate unit drawing

For each plate that you wish to import, repeat the following steps

Ø        Create a new curved group using ShipConstructor | Curved Group | New

Ø        Open the new group

Ø        Choose ShipConstructor | Curved group | Insert Curved Plates

Ø        Select the plate DXF file that you exported from Workshop

Ø        Click OK

Ø        At the prompt, type Enter to complete the plate options

Ø        If you see a warning relating to plate stock, choose the appropriate plate stock from the dialog box and click OK

Zoom extents to view the plate. If both production layer and solid layers are turned on, you will see the expanded plate, with any construction lines that were exported in Workshop (usually the stringer paths and other contours) and also a mesh representation of the 3D plate shape.