Exporting Files

FlatCAM Evo writes Gerber, Excellon, SVG, DXF, PNG and PDF files, and the G-code of a CNC Job object. The exports use the active object or the selected objects, depending on the entry. Each export uses its own options in the preferences.

Where to find it

• File > Export submenu: Export SVG, Export DXF, Export PNG, Export Excellon, Export Gerber.
• File > Print (PDF) (Ctrl+P): saves the selected objects as one PDF file.
• File > Backup > Export Preferences to file: saves the preferences to a .FlatConfig file.
• Project Items context menu: right-click an object in the Project tab, then open the Export submenu. The entries are DXF, SVG, PNG and PDF.
• G-code: select the Save button in the CNC Job object panel. See CNCJob Object.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Exporting-Files-1.png - the File > Export submenu with its five entries.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Exporting-Files-2.png - the Project Items context menu with the Export submenu open, showing DXF, SVG, PNG and PDF.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Exporting-Files-3.png - the CNC Job object panel with the Save button for the G-code.

Quick start

1. Select an object in the Project tab.
2. Select File > Export > Export Gerber (or Export Excellon). The save dialog opens.
3. Enter a file name and select Save.
4. Check the file in a Gerber viewer or in a text editor.

Parameters

File > Export entries

Entry	Exports	Options
Export SVG	The active object as an SVG file. The object can be a Geometry, Gerber, Excellon or CNCJob object. Only the active object is used.	SVG Paths-Only (see below).
Export DXF	The selected objects as one DXF file. If no object is selected, the active object is used. Gerber, Excellon, Geometry and CNCJob objects are supported. Other objects are skipped with a warning.	DXF options (see below).
Export PNG	An image of the plot area, as it is shown in the window. The image has no transparency.	—
Export Excellon	The selected Excellon object as an Excellon file.	Excellon export options (see below).
Export Gerber	The selected Gerber object as a Gerber file.	Gerber export options (see below).

DXF options (Preferences > Geometry, group Export)

Parameter	Description	Default
Format (geometry_dxf_format)	The Autodesk DXF version. The list is R12, R2000, R2004, R2007, R2010, R2013 and R2018.	R2010
Layers (geometry_dxf_layers)	Tool: one layer per tool. Object: one layer per object.	Tool
Gerber (geometry_dxf_gerber_traces)	How Gerber traces are exported. Outline: the copper shape. Centerline: the trace axis.	Outline
Travel moves (geometry_dxf_travel)	Exports the travel moves of a CNC Job. The travel moves go to a grey layer.	Checked
Arcs and circles (geometry_dxf_arcs)	Exports arcs and circles as DXF arc and circle entities, not as polylines.	Checked

Layer names for a CNC Job are <name>_cut and <name>_travel. In tool mode, the cut layer has the tool number, for example <name>_T1_cut.

SVG options (Preferences > Geometry, group Export)

Parameter	Description	Default
SVG Paths-Only (geometry_paths_only)	When checked, the SVG export writes only paths.	Checked

Gerber export (Preferences > Gerber, group Export)

Parameter	Description	Default
Units (gerber_exp_units)	The units of the file. Inch (IN) or mm (MM).	Inch (IN)
Int/Decimals (gerber_exp_integer, gerber_exp_decimals)	The number of digits in the whole part (left spinner) and in the decimal part (right spinner). Range 0 to 9.	2 and 4
Zeros (gerber_exp_zeros)	LZ (L): leading zeros are removed and trailing zeros are kept. TZ (T): trailing zeros are removed and leading zeros are kept.	LZ (L)

Excellon export (Preferences > Excellon, group Export)

Parameter	Description	Default
Units (excellon_exp_units)	The units of the file. Inch (INCH) or mm (METRIC).	Inch (INCH)
Format (excellon_exp_format)	Decimal (dec): the coordinates have a decimal point. No-Decimal (ndec): the coordinates have no decimal point. The digits are set by Int/Decimals.	Decimal (dec)
Int/Decimals (excellon_exp_integer, excellon_exp_decimals)	The number of digits in the whole part and in the decimal part. Range 0 to 9. Used with No-Decimal.	2 and 4
Zeros (excellon_exp_zeros)	LZ: leading zeros are kept and trailing zeros are removed. TZ: trailing zeros are kept and leading zeros are removed.	LZ
Slot type (excellon_exp_slot_type)	Routed (routing): the slots are routed with the M15 and M16 commands. Drilled(G85) (drilling): the slots use the G85 command.	Routed (routing)

Image export (Project Items context menu)

Entry	Exports	Options
PNG	The object as a black shape on a white image. Gerber, Excellon and Geometry objects are supported.	Resolution from tools_film_png_dpi, default 300.
PDF	The object as a black shape on a white PDF page. Gerber, Excellon and Geometry objects are supported.	—

Print (PDF) (File > Print (PDF))

Parameter	Description	Default
Selection	The selected objects are printed in one PDF. If no object is selected, all objects are printed.	—
Page size (global_workspaceT)	The paper size of the page. A value of Bounds fits the page to the drawing.	A4
Orientation (global_workspace_orientation)	p (portrait) or landscape.	Portrait (p)

Print order: the first selected object is drawn on top of the others. Excellon objects are drawn on top of all objects, and CNC Job objects are drawn below them.

G-code export (CNC Job object)

Parameter	Description	Default
Save button	Opens the Export Code ... dialog and saves the G-code. The tooltip is "Opens dialog to save CNC Code file."	—
File filter	For the Roland (RML1 .rol), NCCAD (KOSY .knc) and HPGL (.plt) post-processors, the dialog uses that file type. For all other post-processors, the dialog lists the G-code file types.	The first type is .nc.

Export Preferences to file (File > Backup)

Parameter	Description	Default
File name	The dialog caption is Export FlatCAM Preferences. The suggested name is preferences_<date>.FlatConfig.	—

The file holds the preferences in effect. Edits that were not applied in the preferences form are not saved to the file.

Advanced

• Save folders. Each export dialog opens in the last save folder. The dialog adds a subfolder with the object name and a suffix, for example <name>_svg, <name>_png or <name>_pdf. The Print (PDF) dialog adds the object name and a date.
• Background work. DXF, PNG and PDF exports run in a background task. A status message shows the result in the log.
• Multiple objects in DXF. With two or more objects selected, the DXF file holds all objects. Each object has its own layers. This is the same layer naming as for one object.
• Tcl. The export functions are available in Tcl scripts. See Tcl Command Reference.

See also

• Importing Files: the same formats in the other direction.
• Projects: saving the project file. The project file is not an export.
• Preferences Gerber, Preferences Excellon, Preferences Geometry, Preferences CNCJob: the export settings.
• Gerber Object, Excellon Object, Geometry Object, CNCJob Object: the objects that are exported.
• Command Line and Headless.