2D & 3D DXF Import

The File menu provides two different DXF workflows:

• Import DXF - 2D flattens one drawing and opens a classification dialog.
• Import DXF - 3D opens a persistent 3D workspace that can combine several sources, nominate several sections, and create scenario groups.

Both workflows import geometry. They do not import a complete material catalog, loads, solver settings, or computed results, and JSlope has no DXF export.

Import DXF - 2D

The parser reads LINE, POLYLINE, LWPOLYLINE, SPLINE, ARC, CIRCLE, ELLIPSE, 3DFACE, and SOLID geometry. It runs in a web worker where available and falls back to the main thread otherwise. Input is preflighted and sanitized; if a normal parse fails, a reduced quick-view pass keeps drawable geometry and drops unsupported content.

The importer flattens curves to a best-fit 2D section. In the Import DXF - 2D dialog you can inspect the original 3D view, flip the section, choose the external left X coordinate, and optionally close an open external boundary at a specified bottom elevation.

Select one or more curves in the flattened preview and assign one of these roles:

Import assigned curves into the current model and review material/support assignments. Existing catalogs remain; an incoming External Boundary or Water Table is rejected when that singleton already exists, so reassign it to another type or None.

Import DXF - 3D workspace

The 3D workflow opens the 3D DXF Import rail, perspective viewport, and 3D Properties / 3D Layers inspector.

1. Use Add DXFs to add one or more terrain or reference drawings.
2. Inspect source surfaces and original linework. Source properties include name, object type, colour, opacity, visibility, transform, and spatial reference.
3. Nominate section planes in the perspective view. You can create multiple or offset sections and resize, move, flip, include, or delete each section.
4. In a section preview, drag-select curves and assign the same geometry roles available in the 2D importer. Set the group name and, if needed, close the external boundary.
5. Mark the wanted sections Include in import, optionally simplify the generated geometry, then choose Create Scenario Groups.

Each included section becomes a slope scenario group. Section creation can be cancelled while it is running, and the workspace remains available for further edits until it is discarded.

Spatial and hosted data

The workspace can be local or use a configured spatial workspace. A hosted workspace can provide processed terrain or streamed surfaces; Esri imagery and elevation can also be selected while online. These options make network requests and are distinct from the local LEM compute path. Esri terrain is unavailable offline, and hosted datasets that are still processing or lack a compatible terrain split cannot be selected.

The .jw3 workspace file

Use Save .jw3 to preserve the 3D section-building workspace and Open .jw3 to resume it. A .jw3 archive stores source DXF text, source properties and spatial references, nominated sections and curve assignments, terrain/hosted surface state, and the 3D view. Hosted data needed by the selected workspace may also be downloaded into the archive while saving.

A .jw3 file is not a JSlope analysis project. It resumes section preparation; after Create Scenario Groups, save the editable analysis as .jws.

Notes and limitations

• DXF is geometry-only and import-only.
• Layer and colour information is retained for inspection but is not an automatic colour-to-material mapping.
• Triangulated sections depend on usable 3DFACE/SOLID data or triangulatable source points. Poor or disconnected geometry can produce section warnings or no usable external boundary.
• Always inspect generated curves, closure, orientation, material assignments, and units before analysis.