DXFTypeError: name has to be a string.

[Gianmaria92]

Good morning,
when I try to open a .dxf in python, I get the error ‘DXFTypeError: name has to be a string.’
The .dxf file is generated by c#, and is readable by standard software such as DraftSight for example.
What am I missing?

[mozman]

That's not enough information...

[Gianmaria92]

tang_1000.zip
Please find the file attached, I try to open it as simple as in the guide:

import ezdxf
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.backends.backend_agg import FigureCanvasAgg as FigureCanvas
from ezdxf import recover

def convert_dxf_to_tiff(input_directory, output_directory):
    if not os.path.exists(output_directory):
        os.makedirs(output_directory)

    for filename in os.listdir(input_directory):
        if filename.endswith(".dxf"):
            filepath = os.path.join(input_directory, filename)
            try:
                doc = ezdxf.readfile(filepath)

[mozman]

This file is a DXF R12 file which includes structure elements from later DXF formats, this confuses ezdxf, maybe I can add this to the recover module.

VPORT
5
1
70
1
0
VPORT
5
2
100        <<< DXF R13 and later
AcDbSymbolTableRecord           <<< DXF R13 and later
2
*ACTIVE
70
0

Although AutoCAD can read this file, it is still a sign of a poor DXF eporter.

[mozman]

I fixed this issue and added your example file "tang_1000.dxf" as a test case. I hope this is ok for you. I don't think this is confidential data:

[Gianmaria92]

That's great, thanks. Ok for me.
What can I do now to read those kind of files?
Thanks

[mozman]

You have to use the recover module:

from ezdxf import recover

doc, auditor = recover.readfile("your.dxf")

Here are the docs for the recover module: https://ezdxf.mozman.at/docs/drawing/recover.html