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Transform DRAFT 12.1 Data for DRAW

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Transform DRAFT 12.1 Data for DRAW

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Last UpdatedMar 02, 2026
3 minute read

DRAW includes functionality that allows you to transform visual elements (sheets, backing sheets, overlays, symbol templates, Isodraft symbol templates and sheet templates) when migrating Draft 12.1 project data to DRAW. The transformation is not required for new projects created in AVEVA E3D Design, or for new visual elements created in DRAW.

Visual elements, originally created in Draft 12.1, must be transformed before being viewed or modified by in DRAW. When the transformation is complete and the session is saved, the process is not reversible, other than by reverting or backtracking a database session.

Transformed visual elements can be identified in either PDMS Draft or AVEVA E3D Design Draw via the read-only ACPICT attribute which is the AVEVA E3D Design DRAW picture flag. The attribute value OFF indicates a PDMS Draft visual element, the attribute value ONLY indicates an AVEVA E3D Design Draw visual element.

Transformation can be achieved in two ways.

Draft 12.1 visual elements can be transformed when they are first opened in Draw. By default, a confirm window displays asking you to OK the transformation. Click Yes to transform the visual elements. When this process is used, it is necessary to manually refresh the overlays. See Refresh Overlays below for further information.
Draft 12.1 visual elements can be transformed manually in advance. See Manual Transformation of PDMS DRAFT Data below for further information.

Refresh Overlays

If overlays are not to be transformed manually in advance (for example, they are still required for untransformed Draft 12.1 sheets), it becomes necessary to manually refresh the overlays in advance in order for them to display correctly on DRAW sheets. Refresh overlays is not required if the overlays are to be transformed. Refresh overlays can be processed at any level in the hierarchy that contains overlays.

Refresh overlays does not affect Draft 12.1 overlays that are necessary for a mixed DRAFT 12.1 and AVEVA E3D Design project environment.

You can refresh overlays using the command:

REFRESHOVERLAYS [THUMBNAILS|NOTHUMBNAILS] [NOPROMPT]

The default is THUMBNAILS, because although it slows down conversion, there are not expected to be very large numbers of overlays.

Note:
NOPROMPT is automatic in tty mode, in graphical mode the default is to prompt you to confirm transformation.

When the refresh overlay process is complete, a log file is created and stored in the directory %AVEVA_DESIGN_USER%. The file name is of the form DraftLibraryRefresh-20141114-144807.log. The log file details the transformed elements.

Manual Transformation of PDMS DRAFT Data

Manual transformation of DRAFT 12.1 visual elements can be processed at SHEE, DRWG, REGI, DEPT or WORLD level. The process operates on the current element and its members. The transformation is implemented separately for SHEEts and other library items.

Running the process repeatedly is safe, visual elements that are already transformed are skipped.

When transforming an entire project, the transformation process must be run at WORLD level in DRAW for each MDB.

You can transform sheets using the command:

TRANSFORMSHEETS [THUMBNAILS|NOTHUMBNAILS] [NOPROMPT]

The default is NOTHUMBNAILS, because it makes the transformation a lot slower. The GENERATETHUMBNAILS command can be called separately.

Note:
NOPROMPT is automatic in tty mode, in graphical mode the default is to prompt you to confirm transformation.

You can transform library items using the command:

The default is THUMBNAILS, because although it slows down conversion, there are not expected to be very large numbers of library elements.

Note:
NOPROMPT is automatic in tty mode, in graphical mode the default is to prompt you to confirm transformation.

When the transformation process is complete, a log file is created and stored in the directory %AVEVA_DESIGN_USER%. The file name is of the form DraftTransform-20141114-144807.log. The log file details the transformed elements.

Thumbnails

The thumbnails functionality allows you to view thumbnails of the transformed sheets and library items. created in Draft 12.1. Thumbnail creation is not required for sheets and library items created in DRAW. Thumbnail previews display, for example, when you wish to open a sheet.

You can create thumbnails using the command:

GENERATETHUMBNAILS ALL|SHEETS|LIBRARYELEMENTS [FORCERECREATE] [NOPROMPT]

The default is to skip elements which already have thumbnails, unless FORCERECREATE is specified.

Note:
NOPROMPT is automatic in tty mode, in graphical mode the default is to prompt you to confirm transformation.

When the thumbnail creation process is complete, a log file is created and stored in the directory %AVEVA_DESIGN_USER%. The file name is of the form DrawThumbnailRefresh-20141114-144807.log. The log file details the created thumbnails.

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