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Importing, Exporting, and Opening Files

Susan Kehila
Updated

This section describes how to open, import, and export the various Browzwear file types.

For more information, expand the following:

Opening and Saving a BW File

Opening a BW File

To open a BW file:

  1. On the Main menu, click File, then Open. A file explorer window is displayed.

  2. Navigate to where the BW file is located and select it.

  3. Click Open. The file opens in the application.

Saving a BW File

  • You can save a legacy file as a BW file or a legacy VSGX file.

    To save as BW:

    1. On the Main menu, click File, then Save As. A file explorer window is displayed.

    2. Navigate to where you want to save the file.

    3. In the Save as type drop-down, click either Garment + Avatars & Accessories (*.bw) or Garment (*.bw).

      drop-down.png

      For more information, refer to BW File Modes and BW File Behavior.

    4. Type a name for the file, then click Save.

    To save as VSGX:

    1. On the Main menu, click File, then Save As. A file explorer window is displayed.

    2. Navigate to where you want to save the file.

    3. In the Save as type drop-down, click VStitcher Legacy File (*.vsgx).

    4. Type a name for the file, then click Save.

  • A BW file is saved by default as a BW file and may be saved with or without avatar and accessories. For more information, refer to BW File Modes and BW File Behavior.

BW File Modes

When saving a BW file, there are the following modes:

  • Garment + Avatars & Accessories (*.bw): The saved file includes the avatar and any accessories such as shoes.

  • Garment (*.bw): The saved file does not include the avatar and any accessories such as shoes. Therefore, file size is smaller than if saved in the other mode.

Note

For more information about the differences between the BW file modes, refer to BW File Behavior.

By default, BW files are saved without avatars and accessories. To change the mode:

  1. On the Main menu, click File, then Save As. A file explorer window is displayed.

  2. Navigate to where you want to save the file.

  3. In the Save as type drop-down, click either Garment + Avatars & Accessories (*.bw) or Garment (*.bw).

    drop-down.png

  4. Type a name for the file, then click Save.

Tip

Alternatively, if you have already saved a file as a BW file, you can change the mode for the file so that it is saved with or without avatars and accessories according to what you want.

To change the mode:

  1. On the Main menu, go to File.

  2. Click to select or clear Include Avatars & Accessories, as required.

    Option selected: bw-inc.png

    Option cleared: bw-exc.png

BW File Behavior

When using a BW file that has been shared with you, there are the following use cases affecting the snapshots:

  • ONE: Using a BW file which does not include an avatar

    If you use a BW file which has been shared with you and does not include an avatar, the saved snapshot behavior depends on whether the original file used a scanned or parametric avatar.

    • Scanned avatar: on trying to open a saved snapshot, the software checks to see if you have the same avatar. If so, that avatar is loaded. If not, you are unable to open the saved snapshot.

    • Parametric avatar: on trying to open a saved snapshot, the software checks to see if you have the same avatar with the same measurements. If so, that avatar is loaded. If not, a message box is displayed asking if you want to use the saved snapshot avatar or the avatar on your computer.

  • TWO: Opening a BW file which does include an avatar

    If you use a BW file which has been shared with you and which does include an avatar, on opening a saved snapshot, the avatar is loaded.

Importing a DXF File

If you import a DXF file into VStitcher while you have another garment loaded, the following dialog box is displayed.

import-option-1.png

  1. Select:

    1. New Garment to close the existing file and create a new garment.

    2. Merge into Existing Garment to merge the file into the existing garment.

  2. Click OK. The Import Options dialog box is displayed. For more information, refer to Import Settings.

Import Settings

When you import a DXF file into VStitcher while no other garment is loaded, or after selecting the appropriate merging option, the following dialog box is displayed.

v82mrkd.png

  1. Adjust the settings as appropriate. Changes are displayed in the 2D window after you click Preview.

    Note

    As the Import Options dialog box is displayed, the pattern pieces of the DXF file are displayed in the 2D window with a selection of measurements to help you determine the right dialog box settings. A bounding box highlights:

    • The first piece (largest)

    • The last piece (smallest)

    • The piece with the size in the middle of the range of sizes.

    Label

    Description

    1

    Shape Rotation

    Determines the rotation of the pieces.

    DXF Units

    Determines the unit of measurement used. For more information, refer to DXF Units Overview.

    Size Multiplier

    If adjusting the DXF Units does not result in accurately sized pattern pieces, adjust the Size Multiplier accordingly: click dis-drpdown.png and select the multiplier you want to use. For example, if the sizes of the pattern pieces look to be far too small, select x 10 or x 100. After that:

    1. Click Preview.

    2. In the 2D window, check how the pattern pieces and sizes display.

    3. If the pattern pieces look correct, click OK to import the DXF file. If otherwise, select another Size Multiplier and repeat the process.

    2

    Detect corner points

    Enabled by default. Clear this setting if you do not want corner points detected. Whether this option is required, is dependent on the structure of the imported DXF file.

    Import DXF Turn Points

    Enabled by default. Clear this setting if you do not want corner points detected. Whether this option is required, is dependent on the structure of the imported DXF file.

    Perform curves optimization

    Enabled by default, thus removing unnecessary intermediate points on curved lines. Clear this setting if you do not want curves to be optimized.

    3

    Align grade by grain line

    Select to enable the grading of pieces to follow the grain line.

    Autograde ungraded internal elements

    Disabled if there are no ungraded internal elements. If enabled, select to automatically grade (size) internal elements. For further information, refer to Autograding Internal Lines .

    Preview

    Enabled after the first change of a setting. Click to see a preview of the imported file in the 2D window.

    Tip: Hover over the Preview button to view a tooltip confirming the preview status.

    4

    Textures

    Toggle to view the pieces in the 2D window with and without textures.

    5

    Nest

    Toggle to view the pieces in the 2D window with and without nested grading lines.

  2. When satisfied with the import settings, click OK.

DXF Units Overview

When a DXF file is imported into VStitcher, the software needs to assess what actual size - measurements - the pattern pieces are. It knows, for example, that a particular piece is 20 units in length, but it doesn’t know if the units are centimeters or inches.

The first thing to note is that, regardless of what measurement system was used when creating the DXF file, the pattern pieces are displayed using the measurement type set in your VStitcher preferences. Therefore, if your preferences are set to centimeters, the pattern pieces display in centimeters. Changing the DXF Units selection has no effect on your preferences. If your preferences are set to centimeters, they stay set to centimeters.

When importing a file, you should check how the pattern pieces display in the 2D window and the size measurements. If these look correct, you can leave DXF Units untouched. If these don’t look correct:

  1. Change the DXF Units selection. (If Centimeters, select Inches, and the other way around.)

  2. Click Preview.

  3. In the 2D window, check how the pattern pieces and sizes display.

  4. If the pattern pieces look correct, click OK to import the DXF file. If otherwise, go to Size Multiplier and make the appropriate selection.

Tip

If you know what unit of measurement was used when the pattern pieces were created, select the matching DXF Units option.

Importing a VSP File

To open a VSP file:

  1. On the Main menu, click File, then Import. A file explorer window is displayed.

  2. Navigate to where the VSP file is located and select it.

  3. Click Open. A message is displayed about importing the avatar.

    import-avatar.png

  4. Click Yes. A file explorer window is displayed. You must unpack the VSP file, saving it as a VSGX file.

  5. Navigate to where you want to save the VSGX file.

  6. If you want to rename the file, type the new name.

  7. Click Save. The file is saved and opens in the application. You may be asked to select a snapshot to open in the application.

Exporting a DXF File

You can export a DXF file containing the pattern shapes. For example, this allows you to work on the file using third-party CAD software.

To export a DXF file:

Note

If there are cut marks that are not sliced, a warning is displayed at the bottom of the dialog box. It is recommended to use VStitcher to convert such cut marks to slices, complete with the appropriate seam allowance, before exporting a file, printing to file, or creating a tech pack. For more information, refer to Slicing a Piece.

  1. On the Main menu, click File, then Export. A file explorer window is displayed.

  2. For Save as type, ensure you have selected DXF ASTM/AAMA (*dxf).

  3. Type in a name for the file.

  4. Navigate to the location where you want to save the file, and click Save. The Export DXF dialog box is displayed.

    dxf-export.PNG

  5. Edit, select or clear the elements you want to include in the exported file. For more information, refer to the following table.

    Property

    Description

    Units

    Select one of the following as units of measurement for the file:

    • mm

    • cm

    • inch

    Convert to Spline

    The quantity of points on curved lines to be included. The more points, the greater the accuracy. Select one of the following as the quantity of points to be included in the file:

    • Minimum

    • Average

    • Maximum

    Internal Points

    Select to include internal points in the file.

    Cut Lines

    Select to include cut lines in the file. If selected, you have the option of selecting Sew Lines as Internal Lines to be included in the file.

    Artworks/Trims Position Markers

    Select to include position markers for artwork and trim.

    Grade Rule Table

    Select to include a base size with a reference file of the grade rules for third-party systems supporting the AAMA format. If unselected, the file includes all graded sizes, nested in one DXF file.

    Internal Lines

    Select to include internal lines in the file. If selected, you have the option of including or excluding the following:

    • Cut Mark

    • Shrink

    • Puffy

    • Fold

    • Iron

    • Diamond Darts as Internal Lines

  6. Click OK.

Importing and Exporting a BWDB File

You can import and export your DB Admin Database. This is done separately from importing, opening, or importing a garment.

To import a DB Admin Database:

  1. On the Main menu, click File, then Import. A file explorer window is displayed.

  2. Navigate to where the BWDB file is located and select it.

  3. Click Open. The database is imported.

To export a DB Admin Database:

  1. On the Main menu, click File, then Export. A file explorer window is displayed.

  2. In Save as type, select Packed Database (*.bwdb) from the drop-down.

  3. In File name, type a name for the file.

  4. Navigate to where you want to save the BWDB file.

  5. Click Save. The database is exported.

For more information, refer to DB Admin Overview .

Exporting a USD File

From Version 2024.2, it is possible to export garment details into a Universal Scene Description (USD) file, which supports compatibility with other 3D tools for additional 3D editing, animating and rendering. Before you export the file, ensure that the garment is dressed.

Note

Make sure that the destination application supports importing the USD file format.

To export a USD file:

  1. On the Main menu, click File, then Export. A file explorer window is displayed.

  2. Enter a name for the file and select the Universal Scene Description (USD) format from the Save as type drop-down list.

  3. Click Save. The Export 3D Object dialog box appears.

  4. Under USD Settings, select the USD Type: Binary or Ascii.

    usd.PNG

  5. Click Export to export the file.

Tip

  • Server Located Files

    Don't work with a file saved on a server, because typically performance is adversely affected. It is recommended to work with a file saved to your computer.

  • VSGX Files

    Don't:

    • Save unrelated items in a VSGX folder. This can cause the VSGX file to become corrupted.

    • Move a VSGX file without moving all the associated folders.

    • Share a garment by sending the VSGX file and associated folders. Generally, it is preferable to export a VSP file instead.

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    Lyn Edwards

    What about saving from newer version of Browzwear to an older version??  2022.1 to 2021.3 ?

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