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Data integrity and round-trip fidelity for DXF/DWG files, preserving unknown objects, xdata, extension dictionaries, and various CAD elements during save/reopen cycles.

Technical Positioning
Full compatibility with AutoCAD's DXF/DWG format, ensuring no data loss for unmodeled elements and consistent handle remapping. The goal is to 'keep everything CADCraft doesn't edit'.
SaaS Insight & Market Implications
This issue highlights a critical data integrity challenge for CADCraft: preventing data loss during DXF/DWG round-trips. The 'Saving drops whatever we don't model' problem, an alpha blocker, directly impacts user trust and interoperability. Failure to preserve unknown objects, xdata, and extension dictionaries means CADCraft cannot reliably act as a pass-through editor for complex files, forcing users into a destructive workflow. This limitation severely restricts its utility in collaborative environments or workflows involving multiple CAD applications. Achieving full fidelity, even for unmodeled data, is paramount for market acceptance as a 'clean-room AutoCAD-style app,' directly addressing a core user pain point of file corruption or unexpected data alteration.
Proprietary Technical Taxonomy
round-trip losses unknown objects foreign xdata extension dictionaries UCS table layer states true colours colour books

Raw Developer Origin & Technical Request

Source Icon GitHub Issue Oct 11, 2026
Repo: storytold/cadcraft
fix(dxf): audit and close remaining round-trip losses — unknown objects, foreign xdata, extension dictionaries, UCS, layer states (gaps.md FF1)

## Summary
"Saving drops whatever we don't model" (`docs/gaps.md` Top-10 #1 and FF1, an alpha blocker) has been partly fixed by #201, #204, #208, #209, #213, #223, #147 and #162. Open PRs add MULTILEADER (#459), groups (#417), VIEW/VPORT tables (#463) and SORTENTSTABLE (#439). The row no longer says what is still lost.

## Scope
- Audit, with synthetic DXF files built from the public DXF Reference, what survives open → save → reopen on current main, for:
- unknown entities in model space, paper space and blocks;
- unknown objects in the named object dictionary and nested dictionaries;
- foreign xdata (other APPIDs) on entities, tables and blocks;
- extension dictionaries (102 {ACAD_XDICTIONARY) on entities and table records;
- IMAGE + IMAGEDEF + IMAGEDEF_REACTOR;
- UCS table, layer states, block descriptions;
- true colours and colour books on every object type;
- transparency;
- hyperlinks (xdata PE_URL);
- DICTIONARYVAR, XRECORDs, persistent reactors.
- Fix what is still lost, keeping data as raw groups where we don't model it, with handles remapped consistently. Owner/reactor handles must point at real objects after save.
- Do the same through the DWG bridge where the bridge allows it, and list acadrust gaps.
- Update the Top-10 #1 and FF1 rows to the true state.

## Expected
Opening a colleague's file and saving it keeps everything CADCraft doesn't edit.

Developer Debate & Comments

No active discussions extracted for this entry yet.

Adjacent Repository Pain Points

Other highly discussed features and pain points extracted from storytold/cadcraft.

Extracted Positioning
Implementation of the 'Attach' function (likely related to external references or image attachments) and general feature completeness.
Functional parity with standard CAD commands, ensuring UI elements correspond to implemented backend functionality.
Extracted Positioning
User customization and preferences, specifically for crosshair appearance and right-click menu functions.
Providing configurable user interface elements to match individual workflow preferences, consistent with professional CAD software.
Extracted Positioning
Core CAD functionality issues: DWG file handling (file picker, block display), object selection cursor, hatching persistence, command memory, and save prompt on exit.
Basic, reliable CAD operations and user experience consistent with industry expectations for DWG compatibility and intuitive interaction.
Extracted Positioning
Internationalization (I18n) for complex scripts, specifically Persian (Farsi) font support, Right-to-Left (RTL) text rendering, and custom font import.
Comprehensive text rendering capabilities for global markets, including support for complex scripts and user-defined fonts.
Extracted Positioning
Expansion into parametric 3D CAD, potentially as an add-on or separate application.
Offering advanced 3D modeling capabilities comparable to Fusion 360, including parametric design, feature-based modeling, and industry-standard file formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Market intelligence mapped to Data integrity and round-trip fidelity for DXF/DWG files, preserving unknown objects, xdata, extension dictionaries, and various CAD elements during save/reopen cycles..

What problem does Data integrity and round-trip fidelity for DXF/DWG files, preserving unknown objects, xdata, extension dictionaries, and various CAD elements during save/reopen cycles. solve?
Based on our AI analysis of the original developer request, its primary technical positioning is: Full compatibility with AutoCAD's DXF/DWG format, ensuring no data loss for unmodeled elements and consistent handle remapping. The goal is to 'keep everything CADCraft doesn't edit'.
Are engineers actively discussing Data integrity and round-trip fidelity for DXF/DWG files, preserving unknown objects, xdata, extension dictionaries, and various CAD elements during save/reopen cycles.?
Yes, we have tracked 1 direct responses and active debates regarding this specific topic originating from GitHub Issue.
What are the foundational technologies related to Data integrity and round-trip fidelity for DXF/DWG files, preserving unknown objects, xdata, extension dictionaries, and various CAD elements during save/reopen cycles.?
Our proprietary extraction maps Data integrity and round-trip fidelity for DXF/DWG files, preserving unknown objects, xdata, extension dictionaries, and various CAD elements during save/reopen cycles. to adjacent architectural concepts including round-trip losses, unknown objects, foreign xdata, extension dictionaries.

Engagement Signals

1
Replies
open
Issue Status

Cross-Market Term Frequency

Quantifies the cross-market adoption of foundational terms like blocks and groups by tracking occurrence frequency across active SaaS architectures and enterprise developer debates.